Under Irish succession law, a child is not automatically entitled to benefit under a parent’s will. If a parent wants to disinherit a child or children they are perfectly entitled to do so.
However, after death, a child can make a claim to the court under section 117 of the Succession Act 1965 seeking a share of the parent’s estate on the following grounds:
The parent ‘has failed in his moral duty to make proper provision for the child in accordance with his means’.
In considering section 117 claims, a court will consider the entirety of the parent’s affairs. Certain criteria to consider were set out by Court in 2003 in ‘In the Estate of ABC deceased XC, YC & ZC v RT, KU & JL [2003]’ which include:
- Is the child of an age and situation in life where they may reasonably expect support from their parent;
- Did the parent owe a moral duty to provide for the child, and did he in fact fail that duty;
- Has the parent made provision for expensive education or other gifts, which would discharge the moral obligation;
- ‘Proper provision’ is to provide within the parent’s means – but this does not mean it must be adequate;
- Has the child an exceptional talent that should be fostered;
- Has the child a physical or mental disability;
- Has the child worked, for example, on the parents farm, and lived with the assumption it would ultimately be his;
Although a court has very wide powers to make provision for an applicant child, it cannot in effect make a new will for the parent.
Any claim must be brought within 6 months of a Grant of Probate or a Grant of Probate with Will Annexed issuing from the Probate Office. There is no need for the personal representative to notify any child of their entitlements to bring such a claim.
For more information on children’s entitlements contact Hannah Clinton. Please get in touch with McGrath Mullan info@mcrgrathmullan.ie or call us here +353 (0) 1 873 5012 .