Tomasz's Story: Making a Will as a Non-Irish National
How an Irish will protects your assets across Europe
Tomasz came to Ireland from Poland ten years ago. He'd built a good life in Galway — a home, a business, and a network of friends. But when his brother fell ill back in Poland, it made him think about what would happen to his Irish assets if something happened to him. He had property in Galway and some savings, but he also still owned a small flat in Warsaw that his elderly parents might eventually inherit. The question that kept him awake was simple but unsettling: would an Irish will even be recognised in Poland? Would his wishes be respected, or would Polish law take over and decide everything?
Tomasz spoke to a solicitor about his concerns. He was worried that making a will in Ireland might create a legal mess — one set of rules here, another set there, and his family caught in the middle trying to sort it all out. What he didn't realise was that Europe had already thought about this problem.
The solicitor explained that thanks to EU succession rules, Tomasz's Irish will would be recognised across Europe, including in Poland. This meant he could make one clear, legally valid will in Ireland that would cover both his Irish assets and his Polish property. The rules are designed so that your wishes follow you, no matter where your assets are located. The solicitor helped Tomasz draft a will that addressed everything — his Galway home, his business interests, and his flat in Warsaw — all in one document that would be respected on both sides of the border.
For Tomasz, the relief was immediate. He knew his parents would be looked after, and that his wishes wouldn't be lost in translation or buried under conflicting laws. Making the will gave him peace of mind he hadn't felt in months.
What the Law Says
As an EU citizen, your will is recognised across all EU member states under the EU Succession Regulation. This means a will made in Ireland is valid in Poland, Germany, France, and every other EU country. You can choose to have your entire estate dealt with under Irish law, or you can choose to have it dealt with under the law of your country of nationality. The key point is that you get to decide — through a properly drafted will — and those decisions are legally binding across borders. This applies whether you are an Irish citizen living abroad or a non-Irish national living in Ireland.
Don't Leave It Too Late
There is no time limit for making a will — you can make one at any age (from 18 onwards) and change it whenever you need to. However, the longer you wait, the greater the risk that something will happen before you've had the chance to put your wishes in writing. If you die without a will, the law decides who inherits, and that decision may not reflect what you would have wanted. For anyone with assets in multiple countries, the consequences of dying without a will can be especially complicated. The time to act is now, not when illness or crisis forces your hand.