Wills & Estates
Estate litigation lawyers act in family provision claims and disputes about the validity of a will.
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.
Contested Wills & Family Provision firms in the directory
209 firms
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Alexis Legal provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
ASG Lawyers provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Concord, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Bongiorno Lawyers provides legal services in Concord, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Deceased Estate Lawyers Perth provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Gullickson Lawyers provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Ulladulla, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides conveyancing services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Narooma, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Narooma, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mount Isa City, QLD · Outback & Torres Strait
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Isa City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP and Personal Injury.
Newtown, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Millar Trost Legal provides legal services in Newtown, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Mountains Lawyers Legal Solutions provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Debt Recovery.
Griffith, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Paula Johns Legal provides legal services in Griffith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Staunton & Thompson Lawyers provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Townsville Wills & Estates Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Grace Jill G provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Burgess Thomson provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Gill & Lane Solicitors provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Strongmark Legal provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Foster, VIC · Gippsland
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Foster, VIC. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Mona Vale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
P.J. Donnellan & Co provides legal services in Mona Vale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Queensland Probate provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
John Stonham & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
John Stonham & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Warren & Warren Incorporating the office of Adrian G Byrne provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
