When a relationship ends, it is easy to assume that the legal paperwork will automatically catch up with the new reality. A will deserves a separate review. Moving out, agreeing to separate and obtaining a divorce are different events, and their effects should not be treated as interchangeable.
Start by finding the current signed will. Check who is appointed as executor, who receives the residue and whether there are gifts or responsibilities that no longer reflect your wishes. Do not alter the original by crossing out a former partner's name.
Separation does not answer everything
A couple can live apart while remaining married. Succession rights may depend on a separation agreement, a judicial separation order and any valid waiver or extinguishment of rights. An informal understanding between the parties is not a safe basis for assuming that those rights have ended.
Give your solicitor the actual documents, including property, maintenance and pension orders. A summary remembered from discussions may omit a term that matters for the estate.
Review after divorce
Divorce affects the former spouses' legal status and succession rights, but it should not be treated as a complete rewrite of an existing will. Express gifts, appointments and the possible effect of court orders still require consideration. Irish law also provides for certain applications for provision from a former spouse's estate.
The practical answer is to make a deliberate plan, supported by advice on the family-law position. This is particularly important where there are ongoing financial obligations or children who depend on either parent.
Consider the new household
If you later live with a new partner, that person does not automatically acquire the same inheritance rights as a spouse. If you remarry, the marriage itself can affect the validity of an earlier will. These changes need to be considered together.
Review life assurance, pensions and joint ownership at the same time, because a will may not control all of those benefits. Also reconsider who should act as executor or manage a child's inheritance.
A relationship breakdown is already demanding. Bringing the existing will and family-law documents to one focused review can reduce the risk of leaving contradictory instructions. The aim is a coherent arrangement that reflects both your present wishes and the obligations that remain.
Sources and further reading
General information, not advice on your individual circumstances. Laws and tax rules can change; check the linked official guidance and obtain professional advice where needed.