Wills and estates lawyers prepare wills, powers of attorney and estate plans, and help executors after a death.
firms
2,842
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
A professionally drafted will reduces the risk of disputes and makes sure your wishes are carried out. Estate lawyers also advise on superannuation nominations, testamentary trusts and how assets held jointly or in trusts pass outside the will.
Why wills & estates matters
Without a valid will, state intestacy rules decide who inherits, which may not reflect your wishes, and your family faces more delay and cost.
The Australian context
Each state has its own succession legislation, such as the Succession Act 2006 in NSW and the Wills Act 1997 in Victoria. Superannuation doesn't automatically form part of your estate; it's paid according to fund rules and binding nominations.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arthur Browne & Associates provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+4 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroubra, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Benchmark Lawyers provides legal services in Maroubra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment · Citizenship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sandy Bay, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Paula Sutherland & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Sandy Bay, TAS. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Trio Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Family Law · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Barry J R Wilson & David B Wilson provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams Lawyers - Mount Waverley provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nurture Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cannonvale, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
PD Law provides legal services in Cannonvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Competition & Consumer Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Purcell Taylor Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · TPD & Superannuation Claims · Criminal Law · Family Law · Personal Injury
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Browns Plains, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Steindl Bradley & Associates provides legal services in Browns Plains, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Summers Legal provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Commercial Litigation · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Taperell Rutledge Lawyers provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Truly Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment · Immigration & Visas · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
YLP Legal provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Singleton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Aqua Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Singleton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cariad Legal provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
FOXLAW provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Building & Construction · Buying or Selling a Business
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rooty Hill, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hemant Prakash & Associates provides legal services in Rooty Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Family Law+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Boronia, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Boronia, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
Understand the next step
A practical guide to wills & estates
What to discuss at the first meeting
Decide whether you are making a will, reviewing an old one or seeking advice after a death. The lawyer needs to know who owns the assets and who is intended to benefit before recommending documents.
Ask separately about superannuation, trusts and powers of attorney instead of assuming a simple will covers every asset and decision.
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 wills & estates adviser
What assets would this planning address?
When should I review the documents again?
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 a DIY will kit valid?
It can be, if properly signed and witnessed, but errors in wording or execution are common and can lead to disputes.
Does super pass under my will?
Not automatically. Super is paid according to the fund's rules and any binding nomination you've made.
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.
Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Employment Law · Partner & Family Visas
Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
