The passing of a loved one is an emotionally challenging time, and the subsequent legal responsibilities of managing their estate can feel overwhelming. At Queensland Estate Lawyers, we are here to shoulder the burden of estate administration for you. As dedicated Brisbane lawyers specializing in probate and estate matters, we provide clear, compassionate, and expert legal guidance to executors, administrators, and beneficiaries, ensuring your loved one's wishes are honoured and the process is handled with the utmost care and professionalism.
Schedule a Confidential ConsultationWhen you are appointed as an executor or need to manage an estate without a will, the path forward involves specific legal procedures. Our firm https://qldestatelawyers.com.au/ offers a complete suite of services to manage every aspect of estate administration in Queensland.
A Grant of Probate is the Supreme Court's official recognition of a Will's validity and the executor's authority to administer the estate. We manage the entire process, including:
When a person dies without a valid Will (intestate), an administrator must be appointed. We assist eligible next-of-kin through the process of obtaining Letters of Administration, which includes:
Beyond obtaining the necessary Grant, the practical administration of an estate is a detailed task. We provide end-to-end support:
Disputes can arise regarding the validity of a Will or the provision made for eligible persons. We provide robust representation in:
We believe in demystifying the legal process. Our approach is structured, transparent, and designed to minimise your stress.
We begin with a compassionate, no-obligation discussion to understand your unique situation, explain your role, and outline the steps, timelines, and potential challenges.
We will guide you in gathering all necessary documents, such as the Death Certificate, the original Will (if one exists), and all financial records of the deceased.
Our team meticulously prepares all required legal documents and lodges the application for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration with the Supreme Court in Brisbane.
Once the Grant is received, we assist you in collecting assets, paying any outstanding debts, and managing the estate's finances with precision.
After all debts are cleared and the mandatory waiting period has elapsed, we oversee the final distribution of assets to the beneficiaries and prepare the final estate accounts.
In a sensitive area of law like estate administration, choosing the right legal partner is crucial. Here's why families and executors in Brisbane trust us.
Our practice is focused exclusively on Queensland succession law. We have an in-depth understanding of the Succession Act 1981 (Qld) and the specific procedures of the Brisbane Supreme Court.
We never lose sight of the fact that we are working with people during a period of grief. We pride ourselves on our empathetic communication and our ability to simplify complex legal jargon.
We have successfully guided hundreds of clients through the estate administration process, from straightforward estates to highly complex, multi-faceted ones.
Where possible, we offer fixed-fee arrangements for our estate administration services. This provides you with cost certainty and peace of mind, eliminating unexpected bills.
You will work directly with a experienced lawyer who will understand your case inside and out, ensuring consistency and a trusted relationship.
Probate is granted when there is a valid Will and it appoints an executor. Letters of Administration are granted when there is no valid Will, and the court appoints an administrator (usually the next-of-kin) to manage the estate.
No. Probate is typically required when the deceased owned assets solely in their name, such as real estate or significant share portfolios or bank accounts. For smaller estates held jointly (e.g., a joint bank account with a surviving spouse), probate may not be necessary. We can advise you on this during a consultation.
A straightforward estate with a valid Will can often be finalised within 6-9 months. More complex estates, or those involving disputes or difficult-to-sell assets, can take 12 months or longer. The process involves a mandatory 6-month "waiting period" from the date of death before final distribution can occur, to allow for any potential claims against the estate.
Your primary duties are to protect the estate's assets, pay all valid debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining assets to the rightful beneficiaries according to the Will. This involves a high standard of care and legal responsibility.
If a Will is contested, the estate administration is typically put on hold ("stayed") until the dispute is resolved, either through negotiation, mediation, or a court decision. Our lawyers are highly experienced in both bringing and defending such claims.
"After my father passed away, the responsibility of being his executor felt immense. Queensland Estate Lawyers guided me through every single step with incredible patience and clarity. They handled all the complex paperwork with the court and banks, which was a huge relief. I couldn't have done it without them."
"We needed to obtain Letters of Administration for my uncle's estate. The team was professional, efficient, and most importantly, kind. They explained everything in plain English and fixed their fees, so there were no surprises. Highly recommended."