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
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Class Actions and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Wallsend, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Mid Coast Retirement Law provides legal services in Wallsend, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Monaco Compensation Lawyers Noosaville provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Workers Compensation, TPD & Superannuation Claims and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Modbury North, SA · Adelaide Metro
Montague Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Modbury North, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Newport, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
P.J. Donnellan & Co provides legal services in Newport, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
NSW · Mid North Coast
Paff Jonathon provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
ROC Legal provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Probate & Estate Administration.
Fairfield, NSW · Western Sydney
Selva Daniel Lawyers provides legal services in Fairfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Sydney Cbd, NSW · Sydney CBD
Simpson P.K. & Co. provides legal services in Sydney Cbd, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Simpson P.K. & Co. provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Belrose, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in Belrose, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Castle Hill, NSW · Hills District
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in Castle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
NSW · Western Sydney
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Helensburgh, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Warren & Warren Incorporating the office of Adrian G Byrne provides legal services in Helensburgh, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Pendle Hill, NSW · Western Sydney
Warren & Warren Incorporating the office of Adrian G Byrne provides legal services in Pendle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
Warren & Warren Incorporating the office of Adrian G Byrne provides legal services in Campbelltown, 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.
