Estate litigation lawyers act in family provision claims and disputes about the validity of a will.
firms
209
regions
16
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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.
Why contested wills & family provision matters
Family provision claims can reshape an estate and often split families. Getting early advice helps resolve claims before costs eat into the inheritance.
The Australian context
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.
Contested Wills & Family Provision lawyers near you
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orman Solicitors provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stidston Warren Lawyers provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Franchising · Family Law · Intellectual Property & Trade MarksFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Pleasant, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Mount Pleasant, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Jandakot, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Jandakot, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Midland, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bechelet & Co provides legal services in Midland, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family ProvisionFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sawtell, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robson & Oliver Solicitors provides legal services in Sawtell, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law · Parenting & Child Custody
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wangaratta, VIC · Hume & North East
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Wangaratta, VIC. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Class Actions+7 morePersonal Injury · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Contested Wills & Family Provision · TPD & Superannuation Claims · Medical Negligence · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hastings, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Probate Professionals The provides legal services in Hastings, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marc Hardman & Associates provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mildura, VIC · Mallee
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Mildura, VIC. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Class Actions+7 morePersonal Injury · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Contested Wills & Family Provision · TPD & Superannuation Claims · Medical Negligence · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Personal Injury and Class Actions.
Medical Negligence+7 morePersonal Injury · Class Actions · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Wills & Estates · Workers Compensation · Unfair DismissalNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Yass, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Davis Faulkner & Co provides conveyancing services in Yass, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Burrill Lake, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Shoalhaven Lawyers provides legal services in Burrill Lake, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Employment Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Haille Paine Solicitors provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Allars Mottee Hannaford provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dillon Legal provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kempsey, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cooney Harvey Doney Lawyers provides legal services in Kempsey, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Notary Public & JP ServicesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulladulla, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Shoalhaven Lawyers provides legal services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Employment Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Contested Will and Estate Lawyers provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Simons George Legal provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Contract Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Contract Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial LawNo win, no fee
Understand the next step
A practical guide to contested wills & family provision
What to discuss at the first meeting
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.
How the engagement may progress
01
List family members, property, debts, companies, trusts and superannuation. Identify where original documents are held and which assets are jointly owned.
02
Ask what each document or application would achieve. Confirm which state rules and asset-ownership arrangements need to be considered.
03
Agree on signing, storage and future reviews, or on the executor’s responsibilities for records and distributions. Identify changes that should prompt further advice.
Fees and the scope of work
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.
Dates to raise at first contact
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.
Questions to ask a contested wills & family provision adviser
Which type of issue do these facts raise?
What time limit and evidence should be addressed first?
Does the scope address assets outside my own name?
Who is the client if relatives attend together?
What information is needed before documents can be finalised?
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.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Who can contest a will?
Spouses, children and some others, depending on the state. Some states allow claims by people who were dependent on the deceased.
What does it cost?
Costs vary widely. In some cases the court orders costs to be paid from the estate, but this is not guaranteed.
How much does a will cost?
Many firms offer simple wills for a fixed fee. Wills involving trusts, blended families, business interests or overseas assets cost more because they need more planning.
Can I contest a will?
Close family members, and some others who depended on the person who died, can apply for a greater share if they were not adequately provided for. Strict time limits apply, often within months of the death, and they differ between states.
