Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of citizens that die here annually without having made a will; if there is a breakdown of age for these persons; his views on whether efforts should be made to encourage persons to make a will; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25649/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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No data are available on the number of citizens that have made a will or the age profile of those who have not done so. The annual report of the Courts Service for 2011 indicates however that of the 16,350 applications made to the Probate Office during that year, 12,520 (76.5%) arose from cases where a will had been made and 3,820 (23.5%) were in respect of cases of intestacy. The Succession Act 1965 contains specific provisions governing the distribution of the estates of deceased persons in such cases of intestacy. Solicitors are normally in the best position to advise their clients on the merits of making a will and the need for due care when doing so. The Law Society also generally promotes the making of wills. Useful information on the making of wills is available from a number of public sources including, in particular, the web site of the Citizens Information Board, www.citizensinformation.ie.