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
Prospect, SA · Adelaide Metro
Matthew Mitchell Solicitors provides legal services in Prospect, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Cannonvale, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Hinschen Lawyers provides legal services in Cannonvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
KPA Lawyers provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
LGee and Julius Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Wyong, NSW · Central Coast
Direct2U Law & Conveyancing provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Box Hill South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Kenna Barry & Co provides legal services in Box Hill South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
Laurence Wilson & Associates provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Brunswick, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Randles, Cooper & Co provides legal services in Brunswick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation.
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
Kent Law Group provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Business & Commercial Law.
Sivan Legal provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Payne Butler Lang provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Innes Park, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Payne Butler Lang provides legal services in Innes Park, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
Mason Mia & Associates provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and De Facto Relationships.
Clayton, VIC · South East Melbourne
Portelli & Co provides legal services in Clayton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Precision Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Balgowlah, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Iconveyancing.com.au provides legal services in Balgowlah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Sunbury, VIC · Northern Melbourne
McNab McNab & Starke Lawyers provides legal services in Sunbury, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Business Lawyers & Advisers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Family Law.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Bignell Josh provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Warwick, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Lilley , Spanner & Stacey provides legal services in Warwick, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
Reynolds and Reynolds Legal Services Pty Ltd provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Agribusiness & Rural Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Aitkenvale, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Benchmark Lawyers provides legal services in Aitkenvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Railway Estate, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Turnbull Cameron provides legal services in Railway Estate, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Asquith Legal provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Probate & Estate Administration.
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.
