Hello, I write from upstate New York and plan to again visit Ireland with my father. My father, Walter Cronin, age 95, is an Irish Citizen thru his parents who were both born in County Kerry. Walter is interested in claiming his father's land in Kerry. I too have my Irish citizenship and will be visiting Ireland with him. Can you please tell me what my father has to do to stake the claim on his father's land? The land is vacant upon our last visit to the homestead. We plan to go to Ireland in the fall. Thank you and I await your reply. Ann Cronin Miller

Vic wrote: > Can you please tell me what my father has to do to stake the claim on > his father's land? That all depends on whether his father owned the land, whether he left a will and whether other of his family survives. Current ownership can be established by ordering a search at the Land Registry in Dublin. Wills from within the last few decades can be searched at one or other of the local courthouses and if you find one contact the executor of the estate to make your claim (if any) under the will. If there is no will then search for letters of administration at the same place and contact the administrator of the estate to make your claim as a close relative. You can do all of this by post before you go. If you have a legitimate claim but are facing opposition then hire a solicitor (=lawyer) from well outside the area to force things. A local solicitor may have undisclosed conflicts of interest. -- SIABAIR (Old Irish) /shabba/ 'ghost', 'phantom', 'spectre'