What is estate planning?

Estate planning is the process of arranging how your assets will be protected and passed on after your death. It covers wills, trusts, tax planning, and succession, ensuring your wealth reaches the people you choose with minimal tax, delay, or dispute.

Do I need an estate plan in Ireland?

Yes. Without a plan, your estate may be distributed under Ireland's intestacy rules rather than your wishes, and your family could face higher Capital Acquisitions Tax, probate delays, or disputes. A structured plan gives you control and protects your loved ones.

How does estate planning reduce Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT)?

Strategic estate planning uses tax-free thresholds, exemptions, reliefs, and tools like Section 72 policies to lower the CAT your beneficiaries pay. This means more of your estate stays with your family rather than going to the taxman.

Can estate planning help me avoid probate in Ireland?

Estate planning can simplify or reduce the probate process by structuring how assets are held and transferred. While not all probate can be avoided, a clear plan helps your family bypass unnecessary legal delays and access their inheritance sooner.

How do I protect a child or dependent with special needs in my estate plan?

You can set up a trust that holds and manages assets on their behalf, ensuring they're cared for without compromising their entitlements. A trustee oversees the funds, giving you confidence that a vulnerable dependent is provided for long-term.

What's the best way to pass on a family business in Ireland?

Business succession planning puts clear structures in place for transferring ownership smoothly. Combined with available tax reliefs, it helps the business continue operating, protects its value, and avoids disputes or financial strain during the transition.

How can I prevent family disputes over inheritance?

A clearly defined estate plan removes ambiguity about who inherits what. By documenting your wishes formally and explaining your decisions, you eliminate the confusion and misunderstandings that often lead to costly and painful family conflicts.

What is generational wealth transfer?

Generational wealth transfer is the strategic passing of assets from one generation to the next. Thoughtful planning preserves family wealth over time, reduces tax erosion at each transfer, and keeps assets working for the people who follow you.

What is a Section 72 policy in Ireland?

A Section 72 policy is a specialised life assurance plan designed to cover the inheritance tax (Capital Acquisitions Tax) your beneficiaries would otherwise owe. The payout goes directly toward the tax bill, so your heirs receive their full inheritance.

How does a Section 72 life assurance policy reduce inheritance tax?

The policy doesn't reduce the tax itself — it covers it. When you pass away, the proceeds are used to pay the CAT due, meaning your beneficiaries don't have to sell assets or use their own funds to settle the bill.

Who can take out a Section 72 policy?

The person leaving the inheritance (the benefactor) must arrange and fund the policy themselves. It's set up during your lifetime, with the intention that the eventual payout covers the inheritance tax your chosen beneficiaries will face.

Can I change the beneficiaries of a Section 72 policy?

Yes. A Section 72 policy is flexible, allowing you to adjust beneficiaries over time as your family circumstances change. This keeps the policy aligned with your current wishes throughout your life.

What happens if a Section 72 policy pays out more than the tax owed?

Any amount beyond the inheritance tax liability simply becomes part of your overall estate. It's then distributed according to your will, so no portion of the payout is wasted.

What is the inheritance tax threshold for children in Ireland in 2025?

As of 2025, a child can inherit up to €400,000 tax-free from a parent. Anything above this threshold is subject to Capital Acquisitions Tax at 33%. Thresholds can change, so confirm current figures when planning.

Is a Section 72 policy worth it?

For estates likely to exceed the tax-free threshold, a Section 72 policy can be highly valuable — it ensures the tax bill is covered without forcing beneficiaries to sell assets. Whether it suits you depends on your estate's size and circumstances.

Protect Your Legacy with Smart Estate Planning

Estate planning is not just about passing on your wealth, it is about making sure what you have built is protected, passed on tax-efficiently and handled according to your wish.

Without a proper estate plan in place, your estate could face unnecessary taxes, legal complications, delays or disputes between family members. A carefully structured plan helps ensure your wealth is transferred smoothly, tax-efficiently while minimising costs and complications

Based in Dublin, our expert advisors work with individuals and families across Ireland to build estate plans that genuinely fit their circumstances.

Ready to start? Book a 30-minute Zoom consultation today and take the first step toward securing your estate.

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How Can We Help You Plan Your Estate?

Our team here in Ireland will closely work with legal and tax professionals to create a tailored estate plan that aligns with your long term-goals

Wills & Enduring Power of Attorney: What happens to your assets when you are gone? We will ensure your final wishes are legally documented and your affairs are managed properly if you ever become unable to manage them yourself.
Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) Planning: How much tax will your family have to pay when they inherit your wealth? We will help Irish families structure their estate in a way that reduces that burden, so more of your wealth stays where it belongs.
Gifting Strategies: Did you know you can start passing on wealth to your loved ones today? We will help you in transferring your wealth to you family while complying with all the Irish tax regulations.
Asset Transfer & Succession Planning: Do you own a property or business in Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland? We will guide you through passing it on to the right people, at the right time, in the right way.

Why Estate Planning Matters – Key Benefits

A well-structured estate plan does more than tick a legal box, it gives you clarity, security and your wealth the protection it deserves. Here's how the right plan makes a real difference:

Get your assets to the right people

Your wealth goes directly to the beneficiaries you choose, without legal hurdles getting in the way.
Protect the people who need it most

Set up trusts for children, dependents with special needs, or beneficiaries who are not yet ready to manage a large inheritance.
Spare your family lengthy probate delays

A clear plan helps your loved ones avoid the drawn-out legal processes that so often hold up inheritance.
Keep more of your estate by reducing tax

Smart planning lowers Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) liabilities, so more of what you have built stays with your family rather than going to the taxman.
Safeguard your family business

Ensure a smooth transition of ownership so the business you have worked hard to build continues to thrive.
Prevent disputes before they start

A clearly defined plan removes the confusion and misunderstandings that can turn into painful family conflicts.
Preserve wealth for generations to come

Thoughtful, strategic transfer keeps family assets intact and working for those who follow.

Section 72 Life Assurance: Smart Inheritance Tax Planning

In Ireland, large inheritances are subject to Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT), which can leave your loved ones facing a substantial tax bill at an already difficult time. A Section 72 policy is a specialised life assurance plan designed specifically to cover that tax, so your heirs receive their full inheritance without the financial strain.

How does a Section 72 Policy Work?

Pays your inheritance tax directly: The proceeds go straight toward covering the tax bill, taking the pressure off your beneficiaries.
Set up and funded by you: As the person leaving the inheritance, you arrange and pay for the policy, putting the protection in place yourself.
Flexible as life changes: You can adjust beneficiaries over time, so the policy keeps pace with your family's circumstances.
Any excess boosts the estate: If the payout is more than the tax owed, the remainder is simply added to your overall estate.

Why It Matters:

If your estate exceeds the tax-free threshold, currently €400,000 for a child inheriting from a parent in 2026, your beneficiaries could face 33% tax on anything above that amount. On a large inheritance, that's a serious sum. A Section 72 policy ensures that bill is covered, protecting both your wealth and your family's financial security.

Wondering whether a Section 72 policy is right for you? Speak to our estate planning experts to explore your options.

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Secure Your Family’s Future – Start Planning Today

Estate planning isn't just for the wealthy, it's for anyone who wants to protect what they have built, ease the tax burden on their loved ones and pass on their wealth smoothly. The best time to put a plan in place is now, while the decisions are still yours to make.

Book a 30-minute Zoom consultation with our Dublin-based estate planning experts and take the first step toward securing your legacy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Estate planning is the process of arranging how your assets will be protected and passed on after your death. It covers wills, trusts, tax planning, and succession, ensuring your wealth reaches the people you choose with minimal tax, delay, or dispute.
Yes. Without a plan, your estate may be distributed under Ireland's intestacy rules rather than your wishes, and your family could face higher Capital Acquisitions Tax, probate delays, or disputes. A structured plan gives you control and protects your loved ones.
Strategic estate planning uses tax-free thresholds, exemptions, reliefs, and tools like Section 72 policies to lower the CAT your beneficiaries pay. This means more of your estate stays with your family rather than going to the taxman.
Estate planning can simplify or reduce the probate process by structuring how assets are held and transferred. While not all probate can be avoided, a clear plan helps your family bypass unnecessary legal delays and access their inheritance sooner.
You can set up a trust that holds and manages assets on their behalf, ensuring they're cared for without compromising their entitlements. A trustee oversees the funds, giving you confidence that a vulnerable dependent is provided for long-term.
Business succession planning puts clear structures in place for transferring ownership smoothly. Combined with available tax reliefs, it helps the business continue operating, protects its value, and avoids disputes or financial strain during the transition.
A clearly defined estate plan removes ambiguity about who inherits what. By documenting your wishes formally and explaining your decisions, you eliminate the confusion and misunderstandings that often lead to costly and painful family conflicts.
Generational wealth transfer is the strategic passing of assets from one generation to the next. Thoughtful planning preserves family wealth over time, reduces tax erosion at each transfer, and keeps assets working for the people who follow you.
A Section 72 policy is a specialised life assurance plan designed to cover the inheritance tax (Capital Acquisitions Tax) your beneficiaries would otherwise owe. The payout goes directly toward the tax bill, so your heirs receive their full inheritance.
The policy doesn't reduce the tax itself -it covers it. When you pass away, the proceeds are used to pay the CAT due, meaning your beneficiaries don't have to sell assets or use their own funds to settle the bill.
The person leaving the inheritance (the benefactor) must arrange and fund the policy themselves. It's set up during your lifetime, with the intention that the eventual payout covers the inheritance tax your chosen beneficiaries will face.
Yes. A Section 72 policy is flexible, allowing you to adjust beneficiaries over time as your family circumstances change. This keeps the policy aligned with your current wishes throughout your life.
Any amount beyond the inheritance tax liability simply becomes part of your overall estate. It's then distributed according to your will, so no portion of the payout is wasted.
As of 2025, a child can inherit up to €400,000 tax-free from a parent. Anything above this threshold is subject to Capital Acquisitions Tax at 33%. Thresholds can change, so confirm current figures when planning.
For estates likely to exceed the tax-free threshold, a Section 72 policy can be highly valuable -it ensures the tax bill is covered without forcing beneficiaries to sell assets. Whether it suits you depends on your estate's size and circumstances.