The Journey Together Planning Ahead: Wills, Probate, and Peace of Mind
Oct 28, 2025
Jacqueline Dunne, solicitor and founder of Dunn Solicitors with 20 years in wills, probate and end-of-life planning, offers practical legal clarity. She discusses making wills, enduring power of attorney, probate processes, executor duties, costs and remote wills. Jacqueline also introduces The Journey organiser to keep legal and personal information accessible and reduce stress for families.
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Crates Of Statements Overwhelmed The Family
- Jacqueline recalls a family delivering two crates of bank statements to her after a death, overwhelming relatives and taking a day to sort.
- She uses the story to show people often know what matters but don't know how to organise it into a concise folder.
Pick An Executor Who Can Handle The Job
- Do choose an executor who is trustworthy and willing, because executors become the solicitor's main contact and manage estate administration tasks.
- Jacqueline warns large estates (farms, land) make the executor role onerous, requiring maintenance and insurance oversight.
Prepare Documents Before Applying For Probate
- Do gather bank account details, property valuations and life policy information before contacting a solicitor to speed up probate.
- Jacqueline explains solicitors use those figures to calculate estate value for Revenue and to apply for the grant of probate.