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
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Capitol Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Family Law.
Geelong West, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
McIntyre & Statton provides legal services in Geelong West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Paige Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Directlaw The Law Firm provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Building & Construction and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Warragul, VIC · Gippsland
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Warragul, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Class Actions and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Brisbane Elder Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Elder Law & Aged Care, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Milton, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Brisbane Elder Law provides legal services in Milton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Elder Law & Aged Care, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Young, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Carmody K P & Co provides legal services in Young, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Rose Park, SA · Adelaide Metro
Clarke hemmerling Lawyers provides legal services in Rose Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Clayton James provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Contested Wills & Family Provision, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Goulburn, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Evans Family Lawyers provides legal services in Goulburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Personal Injury and Wills & Estates.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Grace Jill G provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Probate & Estate Administration.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Grace Jill G provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Contested Wills & Family Provision, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Grace Jill G provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Criminal Law.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Joe Mamone Lawyer provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Lancaster Graham provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Insolvency & Restructuring.
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.
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
Lawsearch Australia Pty Ltd provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Colac, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Maddens Lawyers provides legal services in Colac, VIC. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Trinity Beach, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Trinity Beach, QLD. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Gladstone Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Gladstone Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Class Actions and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Garbutt, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Garbutt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
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.
