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Contributed by: Mairéad Hennessy, Owner at Taxkey, www.taxkey.ie

A will is a written declaration setting out the way in which a person's property, assets and other wealth is to be distributed on their death. If a person dies without making a will, they are said to have died intestate. A person who dies with a will (a testator) is said to have died testate.

Having a will ensures that an individual's estate is dealt with according to their own wishes after their death. Without a will, their assets may end up being distributed by prescribed rules. It is not the case that if a husband or wife dies, their entire estate passes automatically to their spouse. The estate will be distributed in accordance with the rules of intestacy.

There are formalities involved in making a will in Ireland which a testator will need to consider. The testator may write the will themselves or have a solicitor write it for them. A solicitor can provide advice about the will and ensure that the will is legally valid.