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How long does probate take in ACT?

Updated 20 August 2026 · 5 minute read

As at August 2026, the ACT Supreme Court is granting clean probate applications in 4–8 weeks. That's the registry's part — the full timeline from death to money moving is longer, and mostly sits outside the court.

The numbers right now

4–8 wksFiling to grant (about six weeks is typical)As at August 2026
14 daysOnline notice period before filingACT Supreme Court
2–4 wksDeath certificate from BDM before anything startsAll states

The full ACT timeline

  1. Weeks 0–4: death certificate and paperwork

    BDM issues the certificate after the funeral director lodges the registration; banks provide date-of-death balances for the inventory.

  2. Then: the notice period

    Notice of intended application published on the ACT Courts online probate notices page, then a 14-day wait before filing (~$63).

  3. Filing to grant: 4–8 weeks

    The registry examines the application and issues the sealed grant if everything is in order.

  4. After the grant: releasing assets

    Banks typically release funds 1–3 weeks after receiving the grant; property transmissions take longer. Many executors then wait out the family provision window — 6 months from the grant in ACT — before final distribution.

The delay to avoid

A requisition — the registry querying an error — typically adds 4–8 weeks in every state. Inventory mistakes are the top cause. Get the numbers right the first time, or pay someone who does this weekly.

Want the ACT grant lodged clean the first time?

Fixed-fee firms know each registry and its quirks. Quotes in one business day.

Get fixed-fee probate quotes
Can the ACT registry expedite?

Genuine urgency — a property settlement, a business payroll — can be raised with the registry with evidence. Routine impatience can't.

When do beneficiaries actually get paid?

Commonly 6–12 months from death for full distribution, once the grant, debts, tax and the family provision window are all dealt with.

Where do I see the process itself?

How to apply in ACT — every step and document.

Sources

  • ACT Courts — wills and probate (courts.act.gov.au)
  • ACT probate notices (online)
  • ACT probate fees 2026–27 (nationalprobate.com.au/act/probate/costs)