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
Mooloolaba, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Gardiners Lawyers provides legal services in Mooloolaba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Juris Nexus Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wodonga, VIC · Hume & North East
MGR Solicitors (McSwineys Solicitors) provides legal services in Wodonga, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Vermont South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Vermont South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Laurieton, NSW · Mid North Coast
Searson Shannon & Co. Pty Ltd provides conveyancing services in Laurieton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Vickers Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Portland, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Portland, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Ermington, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Calvin Nelson & Co provides legal services in Ermington, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Capitol Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Family Law.
Mawson Lakes, SA · Adelaide Metro
Christine Korobacz Solicitors provides legal services in Mawson Lakes, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Roma, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Ferrier & Co Solicitors Roma provides legal services in Roma, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Gil-Jones Barker provides legal services in Turner, ACT. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Manilla, NSW · New England & North West
GW Johnston Lawyers provides legal services in Manilla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Hunt, McCullough Kollias & Co provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Freemans Reach, NSW · Western Sydney
John Taylor provides legal services in Freemans Reach, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Le Souef Peter provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Subiaco, WA · Perth CBD
Pacer Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Subiaco, WA. Listed practice areas include Agribusiness & Rural Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Tuncurry, NSW · Mid North Coast
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Tuncurry, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Lindfield, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
All Aspects Conveyancing Pty Ltd provides legal services in Lindfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Bassil George & Associates provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Bowen Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Thomastown, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Dellios West & Co provides legal services in Thomastown, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
JH Mobile Lawyer provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Nambucca Heads, NSW · Mid North Coast
Lee Sames Egan provides legal services in Nambucca Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing 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.
