Online Will vs. Solicitor in Ireland — Which Should Cork Residents Choose?

Online will-writing services have grown significantly in recent years, and many Cork adults wonder whether they should use one or pay for a traditional solicitor. This guide gives an honest comparison.

What Are Online Will Services?

Online will services let you answer questions about your assets and wishes through a website, which then generates a will document. Some services involve a solicitor review; others generate the will automatically with no legal input. Costs range from free to €200.

Advantages of Online Will Services

• Cost: Typically cheaper than a solicitor — sometimes as low as €50–€150
• Convenience: Available 24/7; no need to travel to a solicitor's office
• Speed: Can produce a draft will in 20–30 minutes
• Simple estates: For very straightforward situations (single person, no property, simple beneficiaries), can be adequate

Risks and Disadvantages of Online Wills

• No Irish law advice: Generic services may not be properly tailored to Irish law — the Succession Act 1965, legal right shares, and CAT rules are specific to Ireland
• No advice on legal right shares: Without knowing the legal right share rules, you may draft a will that effectively disinherits your spouse in ways that create a legal dispute after death
• No tax planning: Online services don't advise on CAT thresholds, agricultural relief, dwelling house exemption, or other strategies that could save your family significant money
• Execution errors: The signing and witnessing requirements must be met exactly — a will that is not properly executed is invalid. Online services don't supervise execution.
• Ambiguous wording: Unclear will provisions lead to family disputes. A solicitor's drafting is typically more precise.
• No comprehensive estate review: A solicitor notices issues (e.g., pension nominations not aligned with will, jointly owned property passing differently than you think) that an online questionnaire misses

When Is an Online Will Acceptable?

An online will service may be appropriate if you:

• Have a very simple estate with no property, no business, and no complex family situation
• Are using it as a stopgap before seeing a solicitor (e.g., urgency situation)
• Use a service that includes solicitor review of the final document
• Are confident about the execution requirements and witness correctly

When Should You Always Use a Cork Solicitor?

• You own property (land or buildings)
• You have a business, farm, or significant investments
• You have children from a previous relationship
• You want to leave assets to an unmarried partner
• Your estate may be subject to significant CAT
• You have foreign assets
• You want to set up trusts for children or vulnerable beneficiaries
• Your family situation is complex in any way

Our Recommendation

For the vast majority of Cork adults, a professional solicitor-drafted will is the right choice. The price difference is modest — €150–€300 for a basic will — and the peace of mind and legal certainty it provides is significant. See: Best Wills Solicitors Cork.