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.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ROC Legal provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Public Liability.
Personal Injury+7 moreContested Wills & Family Provision · Public Liability · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Workers Compensation · Wills & Estates · Skilled & Business VisasNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Westley DiGiorgio Norcock provides legal services in Naracoorte, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CKL Lawyers provides legal services in Caulfield North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts3 languages
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Conveyancing Works provides legal services in Canterbury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Traffic Offences and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Eden Lawyers provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Simon Ratcliffe Insurance Pty Ltd provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Employment Law · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
BHM Lawyers provides legal services in Batemans Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Personal Injury · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child CustodyNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Moore Solicitor provides legal services in Margate, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Probate & Estate Administration.
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Taree, 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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Balaclava, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Beck Legal provides legal services in Swan Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
De Silva Hebron provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
De Silva Hebron provides legal services in Darwin Cbd, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Galilee Solicitors provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Probate & Estate Administration.
★★★★★★★★★★3.1(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jacqueline Gore & Associates Pty Ltd provides legal services in Goulburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kilcoyne Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mabel Chua Barrister & Solicitor provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring · Debt Recovery · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ROC Legal provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Contested Wills & Family Provision and Public Liability.
Personal Injury+7 moreContested Wills & Family Provision · Public Liability · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Workers Compensation · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Wills & EstatesNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rossi Simicic Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · De Facto Relationships · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Batterham & Co provides legal services in Griffith, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
David Marinic & Associates provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DLM Law provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Building & Construction.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Family 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.
