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.
Contesting a Will can be tough, but our expert lawyers have helped thousands succeed. We're here to help you get what you deserve.
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:
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:
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.
Safewill’s experienced team can guide you through every step of executing/administering a Will, including:
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.
This includes details of real estate, bank accounts, shares and all other investment assets, as well as any debts owed by the deceased.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
Providing friendly, practical consultation with Safewill’s Wills and Estate lawyers.
Explaining and managing different types of grants that may be required for more complex Will cases, including Letters of Administration
Preparing the right legal documentation to suit your unique circumstances
Helping you sign documents and handle the logistics of lodging the documents at Court
Answering questions from the Court on your behalf
Ensuring all notices required for your case are published
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
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.