Member Article

Ireland’s first national online will finding service launched for the public and solicitors

A first-of-its-kind digital will finding service – WillFinder - has been launched across the Republic of Ireland enabling members of the public, and solicitors, to locate wills of deceased persons ensuring that they act upon the wishes of the most recent wills made by testators, or to avoid inadvertently assuming an intestacy has occurred.

The online service will enable single regional searches, or multiple searches across all of the Republic of Ireland if needed, reducing time and costs associated to finding and acting upon wills.

Helping solicitors find wills

Up until Will Finder, Irish solicitors either had to hope they held the deceased’s most recent will or write numerous letters hoping to find a will if none could be found in the most obvious location (usually inside the deceased’s property).

Utilising latest technology, Will Finder transforms will location for solicitors by simplifying the often complex and daunting process of will location, making it more accessible and efficient for everyone involved. The platform streamlines the administrative burden associated with finding wills by asking all the relevant questions needed for the search on the website.

The platform’s user-friendly interface that guides solicitors through the entire process, from inputting information to uploading documents. This time-saving solution enhances productivity, allowing solicitors to focus on providing expert advice and personalised services to their clients, ultimately strengthening client relationships and boosting revenue.

Wards of Court & Client Incapacity

The process of finding a will can be like finding a “needle in a haystack” where clients have lost capacity or a committee is appointed. The due diligence requirements for finding a late client’s last will are now far easier and simpler to define and remove the guesswork out of a will search.

Family and the public

Will Finder’s platform eliminates the barriers of cost and complexity and makes finding a will more accessible to the public. Individuals are able to initiate a search for a will for a deceased relative or friend from the comfort of their homes, guided by intuitive prompts and explanations. The service could even help friends or neighbours who cared for the deceased, by helping with this crucial final step.

Technology to simplify probate matters in Ireland

Geoff Odds, chair of the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers (IAPPR), commented: “We’re hugely encouraged that Ireland now has access to a digital service that ensures that the deceased’s final wishes are carried out, giving them peace of mind. Will Finder is set to become a game-changer in Ireland’s legal landscape, fostering greater transparency, due diligence, accessibility, and convenience in the realm of estate administration. With its innovative approach, it empowers both solicitors and the public, ensuring that every citizen can efficiently and effectively search for a will.”

Maeve Mullin of Finders Ireland, the probate research firm which has launched Will Finder to market, commented:

“In the course of our work on assumed intestacy cases, we have found wills at a later stage of investigation many times. Will Finder creates an inexpensive “first step” which will prevent an estate being wrongly claimed by intestate heirs.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Stoch .