Probate lawyers help executors obtain probate and administer the estate.
firms
970
regions
16
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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.
Why probate & estate administration matters
Executors are personally responsible for administering the estate correctly. Mistakes with debts, tax or distributions can leave them personally liable.
The Australian context
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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Moloney P N provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Workers Compensation · Personal Injury · Employment Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTPFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hoppers Crossing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Quick Settlement provides legal services in Hoppers Crossing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sautelle White Lawyers provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Midland, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bechelet & Co provides legal services in Midland, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family ProvisionFree first consult
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hely Legal provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sawtell, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robson & Oliver Solicitors provides legal services in Sawtell, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law · Parenting & Child Custody
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Brunswick East, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Seoud Solicitors provides legal services in Brunswick East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Litigation and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCommercial Litigation · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Debt Recovery · Probate & Estate Administration
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Joondalup, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legato Law provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Binding Financial Agreements and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Perth Wills Centre provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hastings, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Probate Professionals The provides legal services in Hastings, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Orange, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Campbell Paton & Taylor provides legal services in Orange, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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Weston, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jordan Lawyers provides legal services in Weston, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marc Hardman & Associates provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Moloney P N provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Personal Injury.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Personal Injury · Workers Compensation · Employment Law · Partner & Family Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTPFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roberts Beckwith Partners provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
van Kempen & Associates provides conveyancing services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Strata & Body Corporate · Agribusiness & Rural Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bay Vista Settlements provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreFamily Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Greensborough, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Burns & Tinney Lawyers provides legal services in Greensborough, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parkes, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Matthews Williams provides legal services in Parkes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Debt Recovery · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration
Understand the next step
A practical guide to probate & estate administration
What to discuss at the first meeting
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.
How the engagement may progress
01
List family members, property, debts, companies, trusts and superannuation. Identify where original documents are held and which assets are jointly owned.
02
Ask what each document or application would achieve. Confirm which state rules and asset-ownership arrangements need to be considered.
03
Agree on signing, storage and future reviews, or on the executor’s responsibilities for records and distributions. Identify changes that should prompt further advice.
Fees and the scope of work
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.
Dates to raise at first contact
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.
Questions to ask a probate & estate administration adviser
Is an application needed for this estate?
Which tasks can I undertake and which will you handle?
Does the scope address assets outside my own name?
Who is the client if relatives attend together?
What information is needed before documents can be finalised?
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
Frequently asked questions
Is probate always required?
Not always. It depends on the assets and the institutions involved. Many banks require probate above certain amounts, and land usually requires it.
How long does it take?
Obtaining probate often takes a few months. Finishing the administration takes longer, especially if there are claims or property to sell.
How much does a will cost?
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.
Can I contest a will?
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.
