Estate Planning
Estate planning is essential for protecting your assets and securing your family’s future. At McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP, we offer tailored advice on wills, estate administration, and inheritance tax planning. Our solicitors take the time to understand your needs, giving you peace of mind that your wishes will be honoured and your loved ones cared for.
Helping You Provide Financial Security For Your Family
Our estate planning services focus on helping you ensure that your assets are passed on according to your wishes, reducing tax liabilities, and providing financial security for your loved ones. We work to protect your beneficiaries, arrange guardianship for children, and support dependants, while also minimising the potential for family disputes through clear asset distribution. With our guidance, we’ll help you to preserve your legacy and simplify the legal and financial processes for your heirs.
Our family law team can assist you with the following estate planning matters:
- Drafting Wills – We draft legally valid wills that clearly set out your wishes for asset distribution. Our team provide advice on tax implications, appointing executors, and guardians for children, while also addressing complex situations like blended families or business assets. Our expertise minimises the risk of disputes and ensures the will complies with Irish legal requirements.
- Probate & Estate Administration – We assist our clients with all aspects of administering a deceased person’s estate. We can help you obtain a Grant of Probate (if there is a will) or a Grant of Letters of Administration (if there is no will) to legally authorise the executor or administrator to manage the estate. We also help our clients to identify and values assets, settles debts and taxes, and ensures the distribution of the estate according to the will or intestacy rules.
- Business Succession Planning – Providing expert advice to our clients on the transfer of business assets, potential tax implications, and protecting the business’s value.
Secure your assets and finances for future generations by scheduling a free initial consultation with one of our experienced solicitors. Simply complete our confidential consultation form today and a member of our family law department will get back to you.
Call us Freephone to Discuss Your Case:
1800 390 555
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we are often asked in relation to estate planning.
How can I avoid family disputes?
Start by creating a clear and legally binding will that outlines the distribution of your assets. Communicate your wishes openly with family members to manage expectations and reduce potential surprises. Consider using trusts to protect assets and appoint a reliable, impartial executor. Update your will regularly to reflect life changes such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of children. Including specific instructions for sentimental items can also help prevent conflicts. Seeking professional legal advice ensures your estate plan is comprehensive, compliant with current laws, and tailored to minimise potential disputes.
What sort of trust is most suitable for children?
A bare trust is a popular choice, often used by parents to protect funds for minor children, ensuring access for education or other needs once they turn 18. Setting up a bare trust in Ireland offers tax benefits, including exemptions from Capital Acquisition Tax and small gift tax.
Is it necessary to set up an enduring power of attorney (EPA)?
An EPA is essential for ensuring that your financial and personal affairs are managed if you lose mental capacity. It allows you to appoint a trusted person to make decisions on your behalf, avoiding court involvement and delays in accessing your assets. Without an EPA, family members may face legal complications when trying to manage your affairs, and decisions could be made by someone who does not know your preferences. An EPA provides peace of mind, ensuring your wishes are respected and simplifying the process for your loved ones during challenging times.
Why should I consult a solicitor?
Consulting a solicitor ensures your will and other legal documents are correctly drafted, minimising the risk of disputes or challenges. Your solicitor will provide advice on tax-efficient strategies and help set up trusts tailored to your needs. They also ensure your estate plan complies with current laws and adapts to changes in your circumstances, like marriage or the birth of children. Professional guidance also simplifies complex situations, such as blended families or business ownership, ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes and protecting your loved ones’ future.
About McCarthy + Co
McCarthy + Co. are a team of solicitors with more than 30 years of experience in providing legal advice, guidance and assistance to clients across Ireland.
We are a family-run business with offices in Dublin and Cork, but we have dealt with clients everywhere from Galway and Limerick to Waterford. We are honest, plain-speaking and thorough – we will work alongside you to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Our Awards & Accreditations
We are a multi-award winning firm, accredited by the Law Society of Ireland.
Our Partners
Directly contact our partners via email about your case.
Flor McCarthy
Email: flor@mccarthy.ie
Follow Flor on Social Media
Twitter: @flormccarthy LinkedIn: /in/flormccarthy/
Flor McCarthy wears multiple hats, not only as the managing partner of one of Ireland’s leading law firms, but also as an author, speaker and an acknowledged expert in client service, innovation and marketing.
Beginning his academic journey at UCC, Flor furthered his education with a master’s degree in law from UCD. After gaining valuable experience as a solicitor in Dublin, the allure of home and the family brought him back to West Cork to contribute his expertise to the family business.
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John McCarthy
Email: john@mccarthy.ie
Follow John on Social Media
LinkedIn: /in/johnmccarthysolicitor/
John McCarthy is a seasoned solicitor with more than 20 years of experience, specialises in personal injury and medical negligence claims, focusing particularly on high-value compensation cases. His extensive litigation experience spans Circuit Court, High Court and Supreme Court levels.
John's practice involves a diverse range of cases, from personal injury and wrongful death to property damage, defective products, professional negligence and judicial reviews.
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