Official form guide
Charitable Bequest Form
This is the official Charitable Bequest Form issued by the Courts Service of Ireland. You use it when making a gift or bequest to a charity through your will or estate planning.
Need help with Form Charitable Bequest Form?
Open it in the AI Editor for field guidance, checks, and PDF export.
Form Overview
Courts Service of Ireland - Charitable Bequest Form
This is the official Charitable Bequest Form issued by the Courts Service of Ireland. You use it when making a gift or bequest to a charity through your will or estate planning.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Always ensure the charity's official registered name is typed exactly as it appears on their CRO registration.
- 2Misspelling the charity's legal name
- 3Not detailing the exact nature of the bequest (e.g., 'a sum of money' vs. 'my collection')
- 4Failing to sign/date the form correctly
- 5Submitting it too late after death
Plain English
Think of this as the paperwork that tells the Irish courts exactly what you are leaving to a good cause. It confirms your charitable intentions so everything is handled correctly after you pass away.
Submission Date
- Filing date: There is no fixed annual deadline; submission must happen when the charitable gift becomes effective, usually upon death or execution of the Will.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
AI co-pilot
Fill it faster. Catch mistakes before you file.
What this form is for
- You are writing a Will and want to leave money or assets to a charity.
- You need official documentation confirming your intention to make a bequest.
- The gift is part of your estate planning, not just a simple donation today.
- You might be required by the solicitor handling your will to use this specific form.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Donating cash/goods *now* (not in a Will)
If you are donating immediately, check if a simpler receipt suffices.
✓ Check the required attachment list.
Leaving property to a charity via a Trust Deed
The bequest form confirms the intent within the trust structure.
✓ Ensure the deed references this specific form/intent.
Charitable Bequest Form (or related document)
Making a gift under intestacy rules (no Will)
If there is no formal will, you might need an affidavit confirming the charitable intention.
✓ Confirm with your solicitor if a supplementary declaration is needed.
Deadline or filing window
There is no fixed annual deadline; submission must happen when the charitable gift becomes effective, usually upon death or execution of the Will.
Before you submit
- 1Ensure your full name and address match official records.
- 2Clearly state the exact name of the charity receiving the bequest.
- 3Specify what is being bequeathed (e.g., '£10,000' or 'my entire collection of books').
- 4Confirm if the gift is a specific item or a percentage/share of the estate.
- 5Sign and date the form where indicated.
- 6If required by your solicitor, have it witnessed according to Irish requirements.
How to file this form
- 1Complete all sections thoroughly using black ink.
- 2Attach any supporting documents (e.g., evidence of assets being gifted).
- 3Sign and date the form in the designated area.
- 4Have the required number of witnesses sign the document.
- 5Submit the signed package to your solicitor or estate planner.
Known limitations
- 1This form does not guarantee a specific outcome; it confirms intent only.
- 2It is not automatically filed with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) portal, though it supports CRO filings.
- 3The form itself may require supplementary declarations depending on the complexity of your estate.
- 4Not confirmed in official source: There is no stated monetary limit for how much can be bequeathed using this form.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Proceedings
3 items
The names of the parties exactly as they appear on the originating document.
The court record number for the case, if one has been assigned.
The court and the office where the document is being filed.
Substance
2 items
What you are asking the court to do, or the information the form requires.
The facts relied on and any documents exhibited with the filing.
Execution
1 items
Signed, sworn or certified as the form requires, with proof of service where needed.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->This is the standard Charitable Bequest Form from the Courts Service of Ireland. It remains the primary document for declaring charitable gifts within a will.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Check for updated logo placement or Courts Service branding.
- Verify the current form number (Charitable Bequest Form).
- Look at the date printed on the form to ensure it's recent.
- Confirm if there are new boxes added for specific types of charitable giving (e.g., environmental vs. medical).
- Check the required fields list against any accompanying guidance notes.
Quick Facts
Form Details
- Revision date
- 05/09/25
Downloads & source
Sources
- SRCIssued by: Courts Service of Ireland (COURTS)
- SRCForm Name: Charitable Bequest Form
- SRCPurpose: Declaring charitable gifts via estate planning.
- SRCNot confirmed in official source: Specific revision date stamp on the form.
Common confusion points
Confusing 'Bequest' (a gift via a will) with a simple 'Donation' (a gift now).
Not realizing that the charity must be legally registered in Ireland for this form to apply smoothly.
Forgetting to specify if the bequest is 'absolute' or 'conditional'.
Submitting it without witness signatures when required by your solicitor.
Source transparency
Copyright & Licensing — Irish Government Forms
BrieflyGo links to and explains official public form sources. We are not a government agency, and this page is for general form guidance, not legal advice.
Understand the agreement before you sign it.
Review risky clauses in plain English, fix the document, and keep it moving toward signature.