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
Prior Law provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Tax Lawyers provides legal services in Como, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Riverwood, NSW · Southern Sydney
Warren & Warren Incorporating the office of Adrian G Byrne provides legal services in Riverwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Rockdale, NSW · Southern Sydney
Bryant-Thomas Legal Services provides legal services in Rockdale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
CBD Law provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Epping, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Cleeland & Stevens provides legal services in Epping, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Haymarket, NSW · Sydney CBD
E.Law International provides legal services in Haymarket, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Horsley Tim provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
McCarthy Legal provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Torquay, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in Torquay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Victor Harbor, SA · Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island
Richards Adam provides legal services in Victor Harbor, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Molendinar, QLD · Gold Coast
AJ Family Law provides legal services in Molendinar, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Browns Lawyers provides legal services in Miami, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
ROC Legal provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Contested Wills & Family Provision, Personal Injury and Probate & Estate Administration.
Hope Island, QLD · Gold Coast
Stacks Law Firm Tweed Heads provides legal services in Hope Island, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Stojanovic Solicitors provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
Bernie Flood provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Property Settlement.
Kilmore, VIC · Hume & North East
BK LAWYERS CONVEYANCERS provides legal services in Kilmore, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Brian T.D. Cash provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Property & Conveyancing and Debt Recovery.
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
Duffy Elliot Lawyers provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Yarrawonga, VIC · Hume & North East
Hargraves provides legal services in Yarrawonga, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bombala, NSW · Snowy Monaro
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Bombala, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
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.
