The short answer
Yes. A will prepared using an online service or downloaded template can be legally valid in Ireland. Irish law does not make a will valid or invalid because it was drafted online. What matters is the person making it, the content of the document and whether the final will is signed and witnessed in accordance with the Succession Act 1965.
The phrase “online will” can be misleading. In Ireland, preparing a document online does not mean that the legal act of making a will happens entirely on a screen. The final written will still has to satisfy the statutory execution rules.
What actually makes an Irish will valid?
The core requirements come from sections 77 and 78 of the Succession Act 1965. In simple terms:
- the person making the will must have the required age and testamentary capacity;
- the will must be in writing;
- it must be signed at the foot or end by the testator, or by another person in the testator's presence and at their direction;
- the signature must be made or acknowledged while at least two witnesses are present at the same time; and
- each witness must sign in the testator's presence.
So “online” describes how the document may be prepared or obtained. Validity comes from the final document and how it is executed.
Does an online will need two witnesses?
Yes. Downloading a document, typing your details into it or buying a template does not remove the two-witness requirement.
The two witnesses must both be present when you sign or acknowledge your signature. Each witness then signs in your presence. The Act does not require the witnesses to sign in each other's presence, although completing the whole signing together in one sitting is the clearest practical method.
Use independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries and whose spouses are not beneficiaries. If an attesting witness or their spouse receives a gift under the will, section 82 can make that gift void as regards that person.
Is an online will the same as an electronic will?
No. An online service may help you prepare a conventional written will. That does not mean a typed name, electronic signature, video recording or saved PDF by itself replaces the execution requirements in section 78.
MakeAWILL.ie provides downloadable documents and signing guidance. The customer completes and executes the final will in accordance with the Irish signing requirements.
When is an online template a good fit?
A template can be a practical option when your circumstances are genuinely straightforward. For example:
- your family situation clearly matches the product;
- your assets are mainly ordinary Irish property, savings, investments and possessions;
- you know who should inherit;
- you do not need bespoke tax or trust planning;
- there is no likely family dispute;
- there are no concerns about capacity or undue influence; and
- you can follow the signing instructions carefully.
In that situation, the value of an online template is convenience and structure, not a different legal standard.
When should you use a solicitor instead?
Use individual legal advice where your situation requires judgement rather than standard drafting. Typical examples include:
- blended families or children from earlier relationships;
- a farm or business;
- property outside Ireland;
- significant inheritance-tax planning;
- a vulnerable dependant or bespoke trust;
- an intention to exclude or make unusual provision for a spouse, civil partner or child;
- a likely dispute; or
- concerns about capacity, pressure or undue influence.
Can a cheap online will still be valid?
Yes. Price does not determine validity. A €9.99 will is not legally inferior because it costs less, just as an expensive document is not automatically valid if it is signed incorrectly.
The relevant questions are whether the document fits the circumstances and whether the legal formalities are followed.
What should you look for in an Irish online-will service?
- Clear jurisdiction: it should be designed for Ireland rather than adapted casually from UK or US wording.
- Clear audience: it should say which family situation the template is designed for.
- Execution guidance: the signing process should be explained plainly.
- Core will structure: executor, residue, fallback provisions and relevant family clauses should be addressed.
- Honest boundaries: a trustworthy service should tell complex users to get professional advice.
What MakeAWILL.ie actually provides
MakeAWILL.ie sells downloadable Irish will packs for five defined family situations. It is a template service, not a law firm, tax adviser or bespoke legal drafting service.
Which situation describes you?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a solicitor to make a valid will?
No. Irish law does not generally require a solicitor to draft a will. Complex circumstances can nevertheless make professional advice the safer route.
Can I sign an online will digitally?
A document prepared online still has to satisfy the statutory Irish will-execution requirements. Do not assume an ordinary electronic signature replaces the process set out in section 78.
Does buying a template make the will valid?
No. Purchasing or downloading a document is only the preparation stage. The final will must be completed suitably and executed correctly.
Can I make a will on my phone?
You can research or obtain documents online, but the finished will still needs to be put into the written form and executed in accordance with Irish law.
Official legal references
Important: This article provides general information, not legal advice. The suitability of a template depends on the person's actual circumstances.
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