Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Denise Dwyer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 morePowers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ACE LEGAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Patterson Lakes, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(27)Google rating from 27 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DCA Lawyers provides legal services in Patterson Lakes, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Notary Public & JP Services+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.2 languages
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cottier Stenning Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · General Practice (regional generalist) · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOsNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macpherson Kelley provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property & Trade Marks and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreIntellectual Property & Trade Marks · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Insolvency & Restructuring · Franchising2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: italian
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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fleming & Rhoden Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Balfe & Webb provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Dandenong North, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legoll Legal Practitioners provides legal services in Dandenong North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clyde Lawyers provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreImmigration & Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Oakleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Russo Pellicano Carlei Lawyers provides legal services in Oakleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Malewska & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Wills & Estates+5 moreImmigration & Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Defamation · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★2.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prior Law provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law
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Cranbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Cranbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Wills & Estates and Public Liability.
Personal Injury+7 moreWills & Estates · Public Liability · Workers Compensation · Medical Negligence · Partner & Family Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate AdministrationNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Oakleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Campbell & Shaw provides legal services in Oakleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Oakleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Campbell & Shaw provides legal services in Oakleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gigliotti Lawyers Moorabbin provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Insolvency & Restructuring and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing
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Hampton Park, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
RK Legal Advisors Pty. Ltd. provides legal services in Hampton Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Port Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★2.5(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Behan Legal provides legal services in Port Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bancroft Lawyers provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Tax Law
A properly drafted will is the simplest way to decide who receives your assets and who looks after your children. Estate lawyers also prepare enduring powers of attorney and guardianship appointments, so someone you trust can act for you if you lose capacity. After a death, they help executors apply for probate, collect assets, pay debts and distribute the estate. When a family member believes they were left without adequate provision, estate litigators act on either side of the claim. Each state has its own succession laws and time limits.
Why wills & estates matters
Most Australians don't have an up-to-date will, and disputes over estates are rising as property values climb.
The Australian context
Succession law is state-based, so the rules on wills, probate and family provision claims differ by state, while superannuation follows federal rules.
Understand the next step
A practical guide to wills & estates in South East Melbourne
Choosing the right kind of assistance
Planning your affairs, administering an estate and challenging an inheritance are different engagements. Explain your role: will-maker, executor, beneficiary, attorney or concerned relative. Ownership and family relationships help the lawyer identify the necessary work and any conflicts between the people involved.
Working with a firm in South East Melbourne
Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne and Moorabbin span a broad search area. A firm’s suburb, meeting options and experience with your matter are more informative than the South East Melbourne label alone.
For wills & estates, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside South East Melbourne. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
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
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
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.
What does an executor do?
An executor locates the will, applies for probate if needed, gathers the assets, pays debts and taxes, and distributes what is left according to the will. Lawyers can do most of this work for them.