How to apply for probate in ACT
Updated 20 August 2026 · 8 minute read
Probate in Australian Capital Territory is granted by the ACT Supreme Court, and filing runs through Registry filing with the ACT Supreme Court; probate notices are published on the ACT Courts website. Here's the ACT application from start to finish — the same sequence a law firm follows, minus the mystery.
Before you start
- The original will — not a copy (check the solicitor's safe custody and the bank)
- The death certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages (allow 2–4 weeks)
- Date-of-death balances in writing from every bank and registry
- A first look at whether you need probate at all
The ACT process, step by step
Publish the online notice of intention
The notice runs on the ACT Courts probate notices page; wait 14 days before filing.
Prepare the application
Originating application, executor's affidavit and the statement of assets and liabilities.
File with the registry and pay the tiered fee
Documents, the original will and the death certificate are filed with the ACT Supreme Court registry.
Receive the grant
Allow four to eight weeks for a clean application.
What it costs to file
| Estate value | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $50,000 | $0 |
| $50,000 – $250,000 | $1,164 |
| $250,000 – $500,000 | $1,471 |
| $500,000 – $1 million | $2,224 |
| More than $1 million | $2,961 |
Estates under $50,000 pay no filing fee. Publishing the online notice costs about $63. Full cost picture, including solicitor fees: cost of probate in ACT.
ACT family provision claims must be filed within 6 months of the grant.
The documents, explained
Every form in the ACT application, and what the registry is checking in each: ACT probate forms.
Requisitions — registry queries that stall the application — mostly come from inventory errors and informally-executed wills. If the estate has property, interstate assets or any family tension, a fixed-fee firm is cheap insurance against restarting the clock.
Rather hand the ACT application to someone?
Fixed-fee quotes from firms that lodge these every week. Upfront prices, no obligation.
Get fixed-fee probate quotesCommon questions
Can I apply myself in ACT?
Yes — self-applications are accepted, and simple estates succeed regularly. Requisition rates run higher for self-filed applications, which adds weeks when it happens.
How long will it take?
Currently 4–8 weeks from filing for a clean application — the full picture, including notice periods, is in how long probate takes in ACT.
What if there is no will?
You apply for letters of administration in ACT instead — same registry, same fees, more affidavits.
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)