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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Zervos Lawyers provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cartwrights Lawyers provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Elder Law & Aged Care · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Davis Faulkner & Co provides legal services in Boorowa, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Contested Wills & Family Provision
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Homeland Conveyancing. provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Immigration & Visas
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lockett McCullough Lawyers Noosa provides legal services in Carrara, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Family Law · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Antoinette Campbell Mediation & Legal Solutions provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Buying or Selling a Business
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arthur E George & Sons provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Aussizz Legal provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Culleton Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Commercial Litigation and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 moreCommercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary TrustsNo win, no fee
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cutlers The Law Firm provides legal services in The Entrance, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Property & Conveyancing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Daniel Lawyers & Associates (incorporating Patrick Cash & Associates) provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contract Law
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Daniel Lawyers & Associates (incorporating Patrick Cash & Associates) provides legal services in Essendon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contract Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family Law Resolutions Pty Ltd provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sambanis Family Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Newstead, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sheehans Country Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Shotters Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fry Ian K & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Victoria Point, QLD. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Building & Construction+4 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Neal Collin Lawyers provides legal services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Probate & Estate Administration
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Neesham White Gentle provides legal services in Monbulk, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
