Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hamilton, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Melville, Orton & Lewis Solicitors provides legal services in Hamilton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Debt Recovery and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreDebt Recovery · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(29)Google rating from 29 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maddens Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Personal Injury+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Class Actions · Agribusiness & Rural LawNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Colac, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arundell Murray & Ryan provides legal services in Colac, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown McComish Solicitors provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Horsham, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Saines Lucas Solicitors provides legal services in Horsham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Workers Compensation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Workers Compensation · Medical Negligence · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Building & Construction · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Irvine Lawyers Warrnambool provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation4 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: german, polish, spanish
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arthur E George & Sons provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Horsham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Workers Compensation · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Family LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Nhill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Portland, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Workers Compensation · Probate & Estate Administration · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Partner & Family Visas · Family LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Ararat, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Workers Compensation · Probate & Estate Administration · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Partner & Family Visas · Family LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Arthur E George & Sons provides legal services in Port Fairy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Port Fairy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Notary Public & JP Services · Residential Tenancy · Commercial Property & Leasing
HUNTER NEWNS & HOLT provides legal services in Hamilton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Maddens Lawyers provides legal services in Colac, VIC. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Personal Injury+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Class Actions · Agribusiness & Rural LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: spanish
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 Western District & Wimmera
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 Western District & Wimmera
Warrnambool, Hamilton, Horsham and Portland represent different parts of the Western District and Wimmera. For farming, business or property work, describe the transaction and ownership rather than assuming a general regional practice offers every service.
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 Western District & Wimmera. 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.
