South East Melbourne
Wills and estates lawyers prepare wills and powers of attorney, administer estates after a death, and act in disputes over inheritances.
109 firms
South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hayes & Associates provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Sandringham, VIC · South East Melbourne
KPA Lawyers provides legal services in Sandringham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Le Souef Peter provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
Lyttletons Lawyers provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Beaumaris, VIC · South East Melbourne
MJS Law provides legal services in Beaumaris, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
OAKLEYS LAW provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Litigation.
Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
Orr & Associates provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
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.
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
RMS Lawyers provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Pakenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Pakenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, TPD & Superannuation Claims and Personal Injury.
Narre Warren, VIC · South East Melbourne
Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Narre Warren, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, TPD & Superannuation Claims and Personal Injury.
Sandringham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Vic Rajah Family Lawyers Sandringham provides legal services in Sandringham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
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.
Most Australians don't have an up-to-date will, and disputes over estates are rising as property values climb.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.