Wills & Estates · Canberra
20 probate & estate administration firms in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, including Canberra City, Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong.
20 firms
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Farrar Gesini Dunn provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Probate is the court's confirmation that a will is valid and that the executor may deal with the estate. Where there's no will, a family member applies for letters of administration. Lawyers prepare the application, deal with banks and the land titles office, and advise executors on their duties.
Executors are personally responsible for administering the estate correctly. Mistakes with debts, tax or distributions can leave them personally liable.
Probate is granted by the Supreme Court of each state. Executors must usually advertise their intention to apply, deal with the ATO on final tax returns and wait out claim periods before distributing.
Understand the next step
Explain your role and whether an executor has been appointed or an application already made. Administration involves collecting information, addressing liabilities and recording decisions, not simply distributing belongings.
Confirm the scope of executor assistance, application work, asset transfers and accounting before comparing fees.
A Canberra address does not automatically mean ACT law is the only law involved. Commonwealth decisions, workplace matters and transactions involving nearby NSW can require different experience and procedures.
For probate & estate administration, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant ACT experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Canberra. 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 the ACT, the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court share the caseload without an intermediate court. Tenancy, discrimination, planning and guardianship disputes go to ACAT. Canberra also hosts many federal bodies, so public law and Commonwealth employment matters are common. The ACT Law Society regulates practitioners and handles complaints.
Good to know
Not always. It depends on the assets and the institutions involved. Many banks require probate above certain amounts, and land usually requires it.
Obtaining probate often takes a few months. Finishing the administration takes longer, especially if there are claims or property to sell.
Most matters start in the Magistrates Court. More serious cases go to the Supreme Court of the ACT. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Turner, ACT · Canberra
Tetlow Legal provides legal services in Turner, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Phillip, ACT · Canberra
Signus Legal provides legal services in Phillip, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Phillip, ACT · Canberra
Boland legal family lawyers provides legal services in Phillip, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Artisan Legal provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Canberra City, ACT · Canberra
Clifford Lois provides legal services in Canberra City, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
GPG Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Weston, ACT · Canberra
Jordan Lawyers provides legal services in Weston, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Narrabundah, ACT · Canberra
Collaery Lawyers provides legal services in Narrabundah, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Coronial Inquests and Medical Negligence.
Deakin, ACT · Canberra
Campbell & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Deakin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Forde, ACT · Canberra
Boland Legal provides legal services in Forde, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
R & J LAWYERS provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Phillip, ACT · Canberra
National Business Lawyers provides legal services in Phillip, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
MV Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Capital Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Batterham & Co provides legal services in Griffith, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Gil-Jones Barker provides legal services in Turner, ACT. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Conder, ACT · Canberra
Boland legal family lawyers provides legal services in Conder, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Certus Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Wanniassa, ACT · Canberra
Erindale Discount Meats provides legal services in Wanniassa, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
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 Australian Capital Territory are managed by the ACT Law Society. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.