Wills & Estates · Southern Sydney
6 contested wills & family provision firms in Southern Sydney, New South Wales, including Hurstville, Sutherland, Cronulla, Bankstown.
6 firms
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Eligible people who were left without adequate provision can ask the court for a greater share. Other disputes challenge whether the will is valid, for example because of lack of capacity or undue influence. Most claims settle at mediation. Time limits are strict and vary by state.
Family provision claims can reshape an estate and often split families. Getting early advice helps resolve claims before costs eat into the inheritance.
Family provision laws differ by state, including who can claim and the time limit, which ranges from six months in Victoria to twelve months in NSW. Most claims resolve at mediation, and costs are often paid from the estate.
Understand the next step
Tell the lawyer whether the concern is about the validity of a will, provision for a person or the administration of an estate. These questions can require different evidence and legal steps.
Do not assume that disagreeing with an inheritance is enough to establish a claim; ask for an assessment of the actual grounds and costs.
Southern Sydney includes several distinct local centres. A residential conveyance, small-business lease and family property settlement can each need different expertise even when all involve the same home or premises.
For contested wills & family provision, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant NSW experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Southern Sydney. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
List family members, property, debts, companies, trusts and superannuation. Identify where original documents are held and which assets are jointly owned.
Ask what each document or application would achieve. Confirm which state rules and asset-ownership arrangements need to be considered.
Agree on signing, storage and future reviews, or on the executor’s responsibilities for records and distributions. Identify changes that should prompt further advice.
Compare a simple-will quote with more involved planning or estate administration. Ask about searches, applications, valuations and coordination with an accountant.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Provide the date of death and any estate correspondence promptly. Ask about relevant deadlines before distributing assets, signing a release or assuming a dispute can wait.
In New South Wales, most criminal and minor civil matters start in the Local Court, with more serious matters in the District Court and Supreme Court. Tenancy, strata, consumer and guardianship disputes usually go to NCAT. Solicitors are licensed by the Law Society of New South Wales, and complaints about lawyers go to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.
Good to know
Spouses, children and some others, depending on the state. Some states allow claims by people who were dependent on the deceased.
Costs vary widely. In some cases the court orders costs to be paid from the estate, but this is not guaranteed.
Most matters start in the Local Court. More serious cases go to the District Court or the Supreme Court of NSW. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Cassab and Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Corestone Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Beverly Hills, NSW · Southern Sydney
First Choice Family Lawyers provides legal services in Beverly Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Wills & Estates.
Riverwood, NSW · Southern Sydney
Warren & Warren Incorporating the office of Adrian G Byrne provides legal services in Riverwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Earlwood, NSW · Southern Sydney
Lane O Rourke provides legal services in Earlwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Practising certificates in New South Wales are managed by the Law Society of New South Wales. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.