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
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
MCE LEGAL provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
McNab McNab & Starke Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Osborne Park, WA · Perth North
Michael Paterson & Associates provides legal services in Osborne Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Hornsby, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Miller Noyce provides legal services in Hornsby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Modbury North, SA · Adelaide Metro
Montague Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Modbury North, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Condobolin, NSW · Central West & Orana
Moore & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Condobolin, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Wills & Estates.
Cobargo, NSW · South Coast
Morrissey Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Cobargo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Milton, NSW · South Coast
Morrissey Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Milton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Eli Waters, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in Eli Waters, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
NSW · Wide Bay-Burnett
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
NashClavey - Mandurah provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Probate & Estate Administration.
Bournewood, NSW · Central West & Orana
Nelson Keane & Hemingway provides legal services in Bournewood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Ettalong Beach, NSW · Central Coast
O'Connor & Co provides legal services in Ettalong Beach, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
O'Connor Partners Commercial Lawyers provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Mount Barker, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
O'DEA LAWYERS provides legal services in Mount Barker, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Workers Compensation and Property & Conveyancing.
Newport, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
P.J. Donnellan & Co provides legal services in Newport, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
NSW · Northern Melbourne
Patrick Smith Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Bundaberg Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Payne Butler Lang provides legal services in Bundaberg Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Rozelle, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Peter Condon & Associates provides legal services in Rozelle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Forbes, NSW · Central West & Orana
Philip Gilderdale - Solicitor & Conveyancer provides legal services in Forbes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Drink & Drug Driving and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Alice Springs, NT · Alice Springs & Central
Povey Stirk Lawyers & Notaries provides legal services in Alice Springs, NT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Contract Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Probate Excellence provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
R & J LAWYERS provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
Reynolds and Reynolds Legal Services Pty Ltd provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Agribusiness & Rural Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
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.
