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Estate administration and probate lawyers

Executing a Will and administering an estate after someone has died can be a stressful and complex process. To help ease the burden and guide you through the process of obtaining a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, Maurice Blackburn has partnered with Safewill, one of Australia’s leading digital Wills providers, trusted by thousands of Australians every month.

Safewill deliver convenient, efficient service, without long wait times.

Simply choose a time that suits you and talk to their local lawyers.

With complimentary guidance and no-obligation advice to get you started, the Safewill team can get your application lodged in as little as three weeks.

What is probate?

Probate is the process that is completed when a person dies and leaves their assets to distribute. It is the legal process for reviewing the assets and determining all the inheritors and can be initiated with or without a Will.

The probate is conducted by an executor named in the Will or an administrator if there is no Will.

Although probate can be done informally, a Grant of Representation may be required before these duties can be completed.

Safewill simplifies your journey as an executor of a Will and is the highest-rated end-of-life platform in Australia.

Safewill simplifies your journey as an executor of a Will and is Australia’s most trusted fixed-fee Probate law firm. 

What are letters of administration?

When someone dies without leaving a legal Will, it is legally referred to as ‘passing away intestate’.

When this happens, you need to apply for Letters of Administration.

Letters of Administration give legal authority to the person (or people) who can act as the Administrator of an estate when an Executor has not been appointed.

Reasons why an Executor may not be appointed include:

  • there is no Will
  • the person named as Executor of the Will has also died and no substitute was appointed

The Will’s administrator is usually the person who is entitled to the estate. This person may be a spouse, dependent, or the next of kin of the deceased.

Safewill’s legal experts are experienced in managing intestate situations and can ensure you have access to the advice and support you need to help finalise the estate.

Their practical, easy to understand guidance helps you:

  • complete your application
  • understand your requirements to obtain Letters of Administration
  • distribute the estate
  • adhere to your legal duties as Administrator/Executor

What is estate administration?

Administering an estate means following all the legal processes to distribute the estate in the way the Will directs.

Before an estate can be administered or executed, it’s essential that the appropriate authority to do so has been granted by the Court. This is done by obtaining a Grant of Representation.

Generally, the type of Grant of Representation required depends on whether the deceased person had a valid Will.

If the instructions of a Will have appointed you to administer an estate, you are known as the executor. This means you are responsible for calling in the assets of the estate, paying any debts and liabilities, and then distributing the estate’s assets according to the terms of the Will.

What does a Will Executor do?

Safewill’s experienced team can guide you through every step of executing/administering a Will, including:

  • drafting the court application (where required)
  • obtaining the Grant of Probate
  • collecting the estate’s assets
  • paying estate liabilities (like debts and bills)
  • distributing the estate

Applying for a Grant of Probate is a legal process that needs to be managed correctly.

Through Safewill, every important step will be managed as efficiently as possible to help you manage everything you need.

  • Summary of estate: assets and liabilities

This includes details of real estate, bank accounts, shares and all other investment assets, as well as any debts owed by the deceased.

  • The original Will

You’ll need to locate the original signed Will. This may be held by a trusted professional, such as a lawyer or accountant, or it might be stored with important papers belonging to the deceased. If the original Will can’t be located, Probate may still be possible in some cases, using a copy of the original Will.

  • A certified copy of the death certificate

You can obtain the full death certificate of the deceased from the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry in the deceased’s state or territory.

You may also be asked to provide original (or copies of) relevant documents that confirm your relationship with the deceased, such as birth or marriage certificates.

To guide you through this process, Safewill’s experienced probate team are here to help.

They’ll help you prepare your application, undertake all the required tasks and distribute the estate’s assets as the Will directs.

Safewill’s fixed-fee can also be paid through the estate, so you have nothing to pay upfront to access the legal support you need.

Finalising an estate

Why is getting a Grant of Probate important?

If the estate includes assets in real estate, bank accounts, shares or superannuation that require Probate to be released, these assets cannot be collected on the estate’s behalf. Without a Grant of Probate, the estate can’t be finalised.

How long does the process take?

There are important timelines around applying for a grant of Probate and Letters of Administration and the Safewill team will help ensure you understand what needs to be done – and when.

It is generally expected that executors and administrators of a Will undertake their duties within a reasonable timeframe – and Safewill’s probate experts are here to help you do this smoothly and correctly.

Why do I need experienced estate administration and probate lawyers?

Losing someone is hard – and dealing with the legal paperwork can feel overwhelming.

That’s why Maurice Blackburn has partnered with Safewill – to provide you with Australia’s lowest cost, fixed-fee Probate service.

Legal support for Will Executors and Adminsitrators

If you are the Executor or Administrator of a Will, it’s essential that you understand all the legal steps you need to take to ensure the estate is distributed and finalised correctly.

That’s why Maurice Blackburn has partnered with Safewill, to provide you with Australia’s lowest cost, fixed-fee Probate service.

Start your online application for Probate or Letters of Administration with Safewill 

Fixed-fee Will Probate service you can trust

Safewill’s fully managed service takes care of the entire Will administration process from start to finish, including lodgement of documents on your behalf, and anything else that pops up along the way.

Looking after your Will Probate needs from start to finish includes:

Fixed price, no surprises

Helping you say goodbye to hidden fees and complicated legal costs – with no upfront payment and just one fixed-fee of $1,980, including GST, plus government fees

Expert review

Providing friendly, practical consultation with Safewill’s Wills and Estate lawyers. 

Probate or Letters of Administration

Explaining and managing different types of grants that may be required for more complex Will cases, including Letters of Administration

Document preparation

Preparing the right legal documentation to suit your unique circumstances

Signing and lodging

Helping you sign documents and handle the logistics of lodging the documents at Court

Liaising with the Court

Answering questions from the Court on your behalf

Publishing notices

Ensuring all notices required for your case are published

Recommended actions

Once your grant of Probate is secured, Safewill provide you with easy-to-follow steps to ensure your legal duties are fulfilled – and the estate is finalised

Probate and Letters of Administration FAQs

Safewill is the leading provider of Will-writing services in Australia. Their online platform puts all Australians in control of creating their legal Will simply, securely and without hidden fees.

Letters of Administration is an approval granted by the Court, allowing a person to administer the estate of a person who has died without a Will (called "dying intestate"). Letters of Administration allow the Will Administrator to distribute the deceased’s assets according to that rules of intestacy in the relevant state or territory.

In most states and territories, the "next of kin" of the deceased person will have the authority to apply for Letters of Administration. This will usually be that person’s spouse, children or other nearest living relative.

In most cases, without a Grant of Letters of Administration, the deceased’s next of kin will be prevented from accessing and managing the assets of the estate (i.e. bank accounts, share accounts, property and other assets).

Occasionally, the deceased’s next of kin will not require Letters of Administration to access and distribute the estate’s assets, but a Grant is normally required. Letters of Administration may not be required in the following situations:

  • All assets owned by the deceased were held as joint tenants (also known as joint proprietors)
  • The estate has minimal assets (this depends on the organisation, and is usually considered on a case-by-case basis)
  • If there is a Will (if this is the case, a Grant of Probate would be required)

If you are the deceased’s next of kin and are applying for a Grant of Letters of Administration, you should be prepared to take on significant responsibilities in relation to dealing with the estate.

It is the Administrator’s responsibility to administer the estate. If there is more than one eligible next of kin, then all eligible next of kin should apply to be appointed as Administrators. If an eligible next of kin does not wish to apply, they will need to provide their written consent to the other eligible next of kin allowing them to apply without them.

Specifics can vary, depending on the state or territory. Generally, though, an Administrator will be required to:

  • Organise and carry out funeral arrangements
  • Obtain a death certificate
  • Identify all eligible beneficiaries entitled to inherit pursuant to the laws of intestacy the relevant state or territory
  • Notify utility providers and financial institutions of the death
  • Redirect post and contact financial institutions to put a halt on any direct debits
  • Find and contact beneficiaries, and keep them updated on the estate administration process
  • Contact financial institutions, service providers and government agencies to validate the deceased’s assets and liabilities
  • Create an inventory of the estate including cash, real estate and securities, insurance policies, superannuation, outstanding work entitlements and any personal and household effects
  • Keep records of any financial and administrative transactions incurred during the estate administration process
  • Provide a distribution report to each beneficiary
  • Gather important documents and fill out the paperwork to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration with the relevant Court
  • Pay off any debts, taxes and other expenses incurred for burial or funeral arrangements
  • Distribute the remainder of the estate to beneficiaries including paying legacies, establishing testamentary trusts, and bequeathing gifts or donations
  • Prepare account and tax information for beneficiaries after Letters of Administration is granted

Probate is the legal approval that is granted to a Will Executor or Administrator, by the Supreme Court probate office. This legal document enables the Executor to access the deceased’s assets and gives them the legal right to deal, manage and distribute deceased estates as directed by the wishes outlined in the Will.

In Australia, Probate is required when executors need to show evidence of their legal authority to deal with the deceased person's estate. A Grant of Probate provides this proof. Asset holders have clearly defined policies regarding when Probate is required.

Safewill offers transparent, fixed fee pricing, supported by quality service.

Applying for Probate is necessary, but the financial burden doesn’t have to be.

Known as dying intestate, this outcome kickstarts a complex and often stressful process that can have a range of challenging consequences. It can leave children with no legal guardian, loved ones with no support, and leave estates vulnerable to family disputes.

Intestacy is the word used when a person dies without leaving a valid Will. 

Passing away interstate generally Will probate processes more complicated and time-consuming. The situation requires a court process of appointing and granting an executor authority to access, manage and transfer assets within the deceased's estate. 

With no Will, the court must determine and approve who this person will be, as well as how the estate will be distributed.

In the case of an intestate estate, this involves a letter of administration by the next of kin to gain authority to distribute assets. 

Until a letter of administration is granted, money, property and the business affairs of the deceased person can be vulnerable, and family disputes can be likely. 

Once probate is granted, all the estate’s liabilities are paid, and all assets of the estate are distributed, your role as Will Executor will end. However, it is important that you keep all documents and information relating to your administration of the estate somewhere safe in case they are ever required again.

A Will can be contested if the deceased didn't leave enough money in their Will to support their dependents, such as a spouse or child, or if someone believes they have been left out of the Will.

Most Will disputes are resolved through negotiation, even if court proceedings are issued.

Maurice Blackburn do not offer Probate services – which is why we have partnered with Safewill. But, if you are contesting a Will, or need to protect yourself against someone else who is contesting a Will, our experienced Will dispute lawyers can be by your side at every step of the process to help you achieve the best possible outcome. 

Easy ways to get in touch

Safewill’s local support team is ready to answer any questions you have, through real-time live chat. They’re available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Office locations

We’re here to help. Get in touch with your local office.

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We have lawyers who specialise in a range of legal claims who travel to Australian Capital Territory. If you need a lawyer in Canberra or elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory, please call us on 1800 675 346.

We have lawyers who specialise in a range of legal claims who travel to Tasmania. If you need a lawyer in Hobart, Launceston or elsewhere in Tasmania, please call us on 1800 675 346.