Wills & Estates
Probate lawyers help executors obtain probate and administer the estate.
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.
Probate & Estate Administration firms in the directory
970 firms
Burwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Somerswood Lawyers provides legal services in Burwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Probate & Estate Administration and Wills & Estates.
Karana Downs, QLD · Ipswich
Stoltz Law Firm provides legal services in Karana Downs, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Stoyles & Stevens provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Seymour, VIC · Hume & North East
TBA Law provides legal services in Seymour, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Townsville Wills & Estates Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Strathpine, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Cusack Galvin & James provides legal services in Strathpine, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Burgess Thomson provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Marrickville, NSW · Southern Sydney
CM Lawyers provides legal services in Marrickville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Dundas, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Marriotts Legal Costers provides legal services in Dundas, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
Allison Clark Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Bexley North, NSW · Southern Sydney
V.S. George Lawyers provides legal services in Bexley North, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Upper Coomera, QLD · Gold Coast
Jeff Horsey Solicitor provides legal services in Upper Coomera, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Strongmark Legal provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Wyndham Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Pascale Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Traffic Offences.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Mona Vale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
P.J. Donnellan & Co provides legal services in Mona Vale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Queensland Probate provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Dulwich, SA · Adelaide Metro
Clarke hemmerling Lawyers provides legal services in Dulwich, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
BE Conveyancing + Law Collective provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
NSW · Adelaide Metro
Robbins Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Pera Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Tax Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wangara, WA · Perth North
EJ Wall & Associates provides legal services in Wangara, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Bli Bli, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Thompson Southern Law Practice provides legal services in Bli Bli, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
