When a person dies, their assets are immediately frozen and cannot be touched. To unlock these assets, the last will of the deceased must be officially proven. This is done by applying for a document, known as a Grant of Probate, issued by the High Court. This Grant establishes the rights of the person(s) appointed as executor(s) to deal with the deceased's assets.

This legal service is provided by solicitors to those in charge of the affairs of a deceased person. It's one of the services offered by a new website, www.wills.ie. The site is run by Brian A. Carroll solicitors in Fermoy, Co Cork.

Wills.ie offers an online probate service that claims to save time and money. The technology used by the site allows each case to be tracked from home. You can also use the site to make a customised downloadable will. The most simple standard will is free and more complex wills cost from €80 (£63) to €500.

The site provides easy-to-follow background information on wills and probate. If an estate has cash assets of less than about €6,000, wills.ie states that financial institutions may be persuaded to release monies on an undertaking from the personal representatives and/or beneficiaries. Where this is possible, the site tells us, there is no need to subscribe to its service.

If the deceased has sufficient funds in an account, facilities are often granted by banks to pay the funeral expenses by direct debit from this account.