Wills & Estates · South East Melbourne
49 probate & estate administration firms in South East Melbourne, Victoria, including Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne, Moorabbin.
49 firms
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Rotman & Morris provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial 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.
Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne and Moorabbin span a broad search area. A firm’s suburb, meeting options and experience with your matter are more informative than the South East Melbourne label alone.
For probate & estate administration, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside South East Melbourne. 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 Victoria, the Magistrates' Court hears most criminal and minor civil matters, with the County Court and Supreme Court handling more serious cases. Residential tenancy, planning, building and discrimination disputes often go to VCAT. Lawyers are regulated by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner, which also handles complaints.
Probate & Estate Administration firms in South East Melbourne
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 County Court or the Supreme Court of Victoria. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Allied Lawyers & Conveyancing - Waverley Office provides conveyancing services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Kingston Lawyers provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
Littlejohn Legal provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
VK Lawyers and Conveyancers provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Mulgrave, VIC · South East Melbourne
Eminent Lawyers provides legal services in Mulgrave, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Willerby's Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Highett, VIC · South East Melbourne
De Kretser Law provides legal services in Highett, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Spirit Legal provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Pakenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Mepstead Lawyers provides legal services in Pakenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Berwick, VIC · South East Melbourne
Leyton-Palma Lawyers provides legal services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Denise Dwyer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Family Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
ACE LEGAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Balaclava, VIC · South East Melbourne
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Balaclava, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Wills & Estates.
Oakleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Russo Pellicano Carlei Lawyers provides legal services in Oakleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Malewska & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
Prior Law provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Cranbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Cranbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Wills & Estates and Public Liability.
Oakleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Campbell & Shaw provides legal services in Oakleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Oakleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Campbell & Shaw provides legal services in Oakleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
Gigliotti Lawyers Moorabbin provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Insolvency & Restructuring and Wills & Estates.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
ADAM KERNAHAN provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Vera Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
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 Victoria are managed by the Victorian Legal Services Board. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.
