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
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Edgeworth, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Edgeworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Empower Will Contest Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Contested Wills & Family Provision, Probate & Estate Administration and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Greenwich Legal provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Unfair Dismissal, Employment Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Unfair Dismissal+7 moreEmployment Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jason Dolbel Solicitor provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mogo, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Mogo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
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Scarborough, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lawrence Sinclair Lawyers provides legal services in Scarborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Employer Advisory & Industrial RelationsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Moruya, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McMahon Vincent Lawyers provides legal services in Moruya, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nevin Lenne Gross provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Personal Injury · Divorce & SeparationNo win, no fee
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Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nevin Lenne Gross provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation
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Werribee South, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
NS8 Group Lawyer & Advisors provides legal services in Werribee South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Unfair Dismissal, Employment Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Unfair Dismissal+6 moreEmployment Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Corporate Law & M&AFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cessnock, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Oliver Campbell Heslop Solicitors provides legal services in Cessnock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Open Book Lawyers provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
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Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
R & J LAWYERS provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Doncaster, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rodda Legal provides legal services in Doncaster, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
S+ P Lawyers provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Commercial Property & Leasing · Skilled & Business Visas
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Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Smith Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Partner & Family Visas+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Probate & Estate Administration · Military & Veterans Law
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Devonport Cbd, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Temple-Smith Partners provides legal services in Devonport Cbd, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown McComish Solicitors provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cedric Spencer Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Contract Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law
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.
