Wills & Estates · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
35 probate & estate administration firms in Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches, New South Wales, including Chatswood, North Sydney, Hornsby, Manly.
35 firms
Ermington, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Calvin Nelson & Co provides legal services in Ermington, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
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.
This search area brings together North Shore and Northern Beaches centres. For a property purchase, family matter or estate, compare the actual office location rather than assuming every firm is close to your suburb.
For probate & estate administration, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant NSW experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches. 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 New South Wales, most criminal and minor civil matters start in the Local Court, with more serious matters in the District Court and Supreme Court. Tenancy, strata, consumer and guardianship disputes usually go to NCAT. Solicitors are licensed by the Law Society of New South Wales, and complaints about lawyers go to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.
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 Local Court. More serious cases go to the District Court or the Supreme Court of NSW. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Lindfield, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
All Aspects Conveyancing Pty Ltd provides legal services in Lindfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Newport, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Newport Law provides legal services in Newport, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wahroonga, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Knibb Kaine & Associates provides legal services in Wahroonga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Gladesville, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Adrian F Guido & Co provides legal services in Gladesville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Newport, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Bundock Law provides legal services in Newport, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
David Marinic & Associates provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Iconveyancing.com.au provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Hornsby, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Miller Noyce provides legal services in Hornsby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
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.
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.
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 New South Wales are managed by the Law Society of New South Wales. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.