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
Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hosking Lawyers provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
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Murray Bridge, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Joseph Ramsay Sanders Lawyers provides legal services in Murray Bridge, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Traffic Offences and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreTraffic Offences · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Castle Hill, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LegalPro Lawyers provides legal services in Castle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Traffic Offences.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Traffic Offences · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Drink & Drug Driving · Business & Commercial Law
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lough & Wells Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Medical Negligence · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Public LiabilityNo win, no fee
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Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Michael Mason Lawyer provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration
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Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Petersen Westbrook Cameron Lawyers provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBuilding & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Contract Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CBD Law provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Building & Construction · Probate & Estate AdministrationNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Baulkham Hills, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Conveyancing Shop provides conveyancing services in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
E.Law International provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing · Employment Law4 languages
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Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Haille Paine Solicitors provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Malewska & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Wills & Estates+5 moreImmigration & Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Defamation · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Michael Birch provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Building & Construction and Wills & Estates.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreBuilding & Construction · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★2.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prior Law provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law
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Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Allars Mottee Hannaford provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Budd & Piper Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Property & Leasing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Elder Law & Aged Care · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Morisset, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dawson Solicitors provides legal services in Morisset, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dillon Legal provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lee Sames Egan provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Samaras Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Probate & Estate Administration · Buying or Selling a Business
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West Ryde, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Webb Thom & Associates provides legal services in West Ryde, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · De Facto Relationships · Commercial Property & Leasing · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Your Will and Estate provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
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.
