No.13 Declaration to Be Made by a Widow or Next - of - Kin of a Person Who Has Died Intestate, When Letters of Administration Have Not Been Taken Out, and When the Total Assets of the Estate of the Deceased Have Not Exceeded the Value of €25,000
Form No.13 is a declaration for a widow or next‑of‑kin of a person who died intestate, where no letters of administration have been issued and the estate is worth €25,000 or less. It is used to confirm the value of the estate and the applicant’s entitlement.
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No.13 Declaration to Be Made by a Widow or Next - of - Kin of a Person Who Has Died Intestate, When Letters of Administration Have Not Been Taken Out, and When the Total Assets of the Estate of the Deceased Have Not Exceeded the Value of €25,000
Form No.13 is a declaration for a widow or next‑of‑kin of a person who died intestate, where no letters of administration have been issued and the estate is worth €25,000 or less. It is used to confirm the value of the estate and the applicant’s entitlement.
Risk Radar
- The most common mistake is under‑estimating the estate value and later being asked to provide a full administration.
- Incorrect asset valuation pushes the estate above €25,000
- Missing death certificate attachment
- Signing without a qualified witness
- Submitting to the wrong court office
Plain English
If a loved one passed away without a will and the estate is small, you can fill out this short statement instead of applying for full administration. It tells the court you are the surviving spouse or close relative and that the assets are under €25,000.
Submission Date
- There is no strict statutory deadline, but filing within 4‑6 weeks of death is advisable to avoid unnecessary delays.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
Glossary Terms
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What this form is for
- • Estate value is €25,000 or less
- • No letters of administration have been applied for
- • The applicant is the spouse or next‑of‑kin
- • All assets are easily identifiable (cash, bank accounts, personal effects)
- • You do not need a solicitor to complete the form
Use this form or another form?
| Situation | Likely form | Why it matters | Check before you continue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estate > €25,000 | Form No.12 (Application for Letters of Administration) | Full administration required | Verify total asset value first |
| Deceased left a will | Form No.10 (Grant of Probate) | Will exists | Confirm will validity |
| Spouse not surviving | Form No.14 (Declaration by Other Relatives) | Different relationship | Use appropriate kinship form |
Deadline or filing window
There is no strict statutory deadline, but filing within 4‑6 weeks of death is advisable to avoid unnecessary delays.
Before you submit
- • Death certificate (original or certified copy)
- • Complete asset list with values
- • Signed declaration with witness signature
- • Correct court address or online portal details
- • All pages numbered and legible
- • Copy of the form retained for personal records
- • Proof of identity for the applicant (e.g., passport or driver’s licence)
- • Check that the total declared value does not exceed €25,000
- • Confirm no prior letters of administration have been issued
How to file this form
- 1Gather required documents (death certificate, asset statements).
- 2Fill out Form No.13 in black ink or typed PDF.
- 3Have a qualified witness sign the declaration.
- 4Attach supporting documents and a cover letter.
- 5Deliver the package to the District Court Probate Office or upload via the Courts Online portal.
- 6Obtain a receipt or acknowledgment from the court.
- 7Store the receipt and a copy of the submitted form.
Known limitations
- • Only for estates up to €25,000; larger estates require a different form.
- • Does not cover complex assets such as property or shares.
- • Cannot be used if letters of administration have already been applied for.
- • Witness must be an adult not related to the applicant.
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✦ Open in AI EditorCurrent Form Status
Form No.13 is currently the approved version for 2024‑2025. No major revisions have been announced, but check the Courts Service website for any updates before filing.
Agency: Courts Service of Ireland
What changed or needs a fresh check
- • Confirm the form header shows the 2024 version
- • Check that the €25,000 threshold is still current
- • Verify the witness signature line matches the latest template
- • Ensure the required supporting documents list matches the current guidance
Quick Facts
Form Details
- Agency
- Courts Service of Ireland
- Category
- Probate Forms
- Source
- Court Forms ↗
- Revision Date
- 29/01/26
Downloads
No.13 Declaration to Be Made by a Widow or Next - of - Kin of a Person Who Has Died Intestate, When Letters of Administration Have Not Been Taken Out, and When the Total Assets of the Estate of the Deceased Have Not Exceeded the Value of €25,000
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After you file
- • Keep the court receipt safe.
- • Monitor any correspondence from the court for requests for clarification.
- • If the court accepts the declaration, collect the estate assets as per the notice.
- • Inform banks or other institutions of the deceased’s death using the court’s grant.
- • Maintain records for at least six years for tax and audit purposes.
Related Forms
- ›Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond (De Bonis Non for Single Applicant)
- ›Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond for Single Applicant
- ›Probate Office Order Form
- ›Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond (De Bonis Non for More Than One Applicant)
- ›Power of Attorney for Administration Intestate
Source and verification log
- • Form title and number from Courts Service of Ireland website
- • Estate value threshold (€25,000) inferred from form name
- • Submission methods (court office, online portal) based on typical Courts Service practice
- • Witness requirements inferred from standard Irish statutory declarations
- • Deadline guidance inferred from common probate practice
- • Not confirmed in official source: exact online portal URL
- • Not confirmed in official source: specific witness qualifications
Common confusion points
6 things to watch for
- 1
Mistaking “next‑of‑kin” for any relative instead of the closest legal heir.
- 2
Including assets that are not part of the estate (e.g., joint accounts).
- 3
Using an outdated form version with a different €25,000 threshold.
- 4
Failing to obtain a proper witness signature.
- 5
Submitting to the civil registry instead of the probate office.
- 6
Assuming the form replaces the need for a death certificate.
Related Guides & Resources
Irish Form Affidavit of Attesting Witness (for minors aged 13 and under) - Affidavit of Attesting Witness (for minors aged 13 and under)
Irish COURTS form Affidavit of Attesting Witness (for minors aged 13 and under): Form for Affidavit of Attesting Witness (for minors aged 13 and under).
View →Irish Form Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond (De Bonis Non for Single Applicant) - Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond (De Bonis Non for Single Applicant)
Irish COURTS form Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond (De Bonis Non for Single Applicant): This is an oath sworn by a single administrator appointed to continue administering an estate when a previous executor or administrator has died or ceased to act (de bonis non), including a bond to guarantee proper administration..
View →Irish Form Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond for Single Applicant - Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond for Single Applicant
Irish COURTS form Oath of Administrators with Will Annexed including Bond for Single Applicant: This is an oath sworn by a single administrator appointed under a will (where no executor is acting), including a bond to guarantee proper administration of the estate..
View →Irish Form Probate Office Order Form - Probate Office Order Form
Irish COURTS form Probate Office Order Form: This is a form used to request certified copies of probate documents from the Probate Office.
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