Law Plus Probate & Estate Administration Lawyers on Your Side
Steady, compassionate guidance through the legal side of losing someone — so you can focus on what matters.
Probate & estate administration
You don't have to work this out alone
If you've just lost someone and you've been named executor — or there's no will and nobody knows what to do next — the legal to-do list can feel overwhelming. Banks asking for probate, superannuation funds wanting forms, a house that needs to be transferred or sold, and family members asking questions you can't answer yet. It's a lot, especially while you're grieving.
Our job is to take the legal burden off your shoulders. We'll tell you at the outset whether probate is actually needed (it often isn't), what's involved, what it will cost, and how long it's likely to take. Then we handle the court application, deal with the institutions, and guide you through each step of administering the estate properly — because executors who get it wrong can be personally liable.
Some families want us to manage everything. Others just want the probate application handled and will do the legwork themselves. Both are fine with us, and we'll quote accordingly.
What we help with
We support executors, administrators and families through every stage:
- Probate applications — preparing and filing the application, managing court requirements and obtaining the grant.
- Letters of administration — where there's no will, or no executor able to act, we help the right person get authority to manage the estate.
- Executor support — step-by-step guidance on collecting assets, paying debts, handling tax and distributing to beneficiaries.
- Estate administration — full-service management of the estate from first steps through to final distribution.
- Contested estates — defending family provision claims for executors, or advising eligible people on whether a claim is worth making.
How we work
- A free 15-minute consultation to assess the estate and whether probate is needed.
- Fixed fees for straightforward probate applications.
- Clear written estimates for larger or contested estates.
- Regular updates so you're never wondering what's happening.
When an estate becomes a dispute
Sometimes grief is compounded by conflict: a will that seems unfair, a beneficiary who questions the executor's decisions, or a claim from someone who believes they should have been provided for. These disputes are emotionally charged, and they rarely improve with time or heated family meetings.
We approach contested estates commercially and compassionately. For executors, that means understanding your obligations, defending the estate where appropriate, and resolving claims before they consume the estate's value in legal costs. For people considering a claim, it means an honest assessment of your prospects — strict time limits apply to family provision claims, so getting advice early matters.
Most contested estate matters settle through negotiation or mediation. Where court is unavoidable, we'll tell you plainly what that involves before you commit to it.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Probate is the Supreme Court's formal recognition that a will is valid and that the executor has authority to deal with the estate. It's not always required — small estates or assets held jointly may transfer without it. Banks, super funds and the land titles office each have their own thresholds, and we can tell you quickly whether probate is needed in your situation.
The estate is distributed according to a legal formula called intestacy. A close family member usually needs to apply for letters of administration to get authority to manage the estate. We handle these applications and advise on who is entitled to apply and inherit.
Locating the will, arranging the funeral, identifying and protecting assets, applying for probate if needed, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the estate to beneficiaries. Executors can be personally liable for mistakes, so getting advice early — even if you do most of the work yourself — is wise.
A straightforward grant typically takes a few months from start to finish, including advertising requirements and court processing time. Complicated estates, missing documents or disputes can take longer. We'll give you a realistic timeframe once we've seen the estate.
Eligible people — usually spouses, children and dependants — can make a family provision claim if they believe they weren't adequately provided for. We act for executors defending estates and for eligible people considering a claim, and most matters resolve through negotiation or mediation rather than a court hearing.