Title: What happens to a deceased person's money and possessions?
Headings: What happens to a deceased person's money and possessions?
What happens to a deceased person's money and possessions?
Introduction
Money in the bank, insurance policies and savings
Bank accounts in joint names
Credit union accounts
Occupational and personal pensions
The legal right share
Where a legal right share does not apply
Divorce, separation and desertion
Cohabiting partners
Rights of children under a will
The family or shared home
What happens when there is no will?

Content: Where the bank has no instructions, the intentions of the deceased person will have to be examined (for example, by referring to their will)
Credit union accounts
If the deceased person had a credit union account and completed a valid Nomination Form when opening the account the money in the account up to a maximum of €23,000 goes to the person or persons nominated on the form. Any remaining balance forms part of the deceased's estate and is distributed in accordance with the will or succession law if there is no will. Occupational and personal pensions
The rules governing occupational and personal pensions depend on the terms of the pension. If the deceased person was a member of a pension scheme, you should contact the scheme administrators to find out if there is a pension for the spouse, civil partner and/or children. Self-employed people may have pension arrangements that involve some of the investments becoming part of the deceased's estate. Divorced people and those whose civil partnership has been dissolved may have access to some part of the pension scheme depending on whether or not a pension adjustment order was made at the time of the divorce or dissolution. The legal right share
If you have left a will, and your spouse or civil partner has never renounced or given up their rights to your estate, then they are entitled to a legal right share of your estate. This legal right share is: One-half of your estate if you do not have children
One-third of your estate if you do have children
Your spouse/civil partner does not have to go to court to get this share, as your executor must give this share where applicable. If you leave a gift to your spouse or civil partner in your will, they can choose to accept the gift instead of their legal right share or they can insist on their legal right share (and the specific gift as part of that legal right share, if it is of less value than the legal right share).