Fixed-fee probate lawyers in WA
Probate is handled remotely, so any WA firm can act for you wherever you live. We have checked the firms that do this work so you do not have to. Get a fixed-fee quote before you commit.
We have checked 28 firms that handle probate and deceased estates in Western Australia: 21 apply for grants of probate, 7 handle letters of administration, 14 offer full estate administration and 3 take contested estates. None of them publish a fixed fee on their website, so ask for one in writing before you commit.
We do not publish firm names or contact details. Every firm behind this page is a real practice we have checked against its own published details. Tell us about the estate and we match you with a fixed-fee firm licensed in Western Australia. You get their introduction by email; reply to it and they send you a quote, so you are not ringing around.
Do you need probate for a Western Australia estate?
Often not. Banks, share registries and super funds each have their own threshold below which they release funds on a certified death certificate and an indemnity, and real estate held as joint tenants passes without a grant at all. A grant becomes unavoidable when there is solely owned property to transfer or sell, when an institution insists on one, or when the estate is large enough that nobody will release anything without it. Start with Do I need probate? and check the bank thresholds before you pay anyone.
How probate works in Western Australia
Probate in Western Australia is granted by the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Filing runs through WA Probate Online application wizard (eCourts portal) for straightforward estates, paper filing otherwise.
Check eligibility for Probate Online
Straightforward estates with one executor applying can use the online wizard; more complex applications are filed on paper.
Prepare the motion and affidavit
The motion for probate, the executor's affidavit and the statement of assets and liabilities are prepared and sworn.
Lodge with the Probate Registry and pay $418
Online applications upload documents; the original will is delivered to the registry.
Receive the grant
Uncontested applications are typically granted within three to six weeks.
WA family provision claims must be filed within 6 months of the grant - the estate can generally be distributed safely after that window closes.
Full detail: how to apply in WA, current timeframes, the forms. No will? See letters of administration in WA.
What it costs in Western Australia
Two costs, paid by the estate: the court's filing fee, and the lawyer's fee. The court fee is fixed by the state and nobody can discount it. The lawyer's fee is where quotes differ.
| Estate value | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| All estates (flat fee) | $418 |
Western Australia charges a single flat filing fee - among the cheapest in the country - and requires no advertising at all.
Most firms now quote fixed fees for a straightforward grant. Expect roughly $1,500-$3,000 + GST for grant-only work in WA, and $4,000-$8,000+ if the firm administers the whole estate (collecting assets, paying debts, distributing). Hourly-rate retainers still exist. For a routine grant, a fixed quote is almost always the better deal, which is why every firm we match you with quotes one.
What pushes a quote up: a lost or damaged original will, assets in more than one state (a reseal or second grant), requisitions from the registry, family tension or a threatened family provision claim, and business interests, trusts or farmland in the estate. Say so up front and the quote will be accurate. Full breakdown: cost of probate in WA, or try the cost calculator.
What a fixed-fee quote should cover, and what to ask
A fixed fee for a grant should include: taking your instructions and reviewing the will, the notice or advertisement the court requires, preparing the application, affidavit and inventory, filing, dealing with routine registry queries, and handing you the sealed grant. It should state the court fee and any advertising cost separately, and say what is excluded, most often estate administration after the grant, reseals in other states, disputes, and tax work.
- Is this a fixed fee for the grant, and what exactly is excluded?
- How many WA grants did you do last month?
- Who will actually do the work, and who do I call with a question?
- If the registry raises a requisition, is fixing it in the price?
- What do you need from me, and how quickly can you file once you have it?
- If I want you to administer the whole estate afterwards, what does that cost?
Western Australia questions
Do I have to use a lawyer for a Western Australia estate?
No. Executors can apply in person, and in Western Australia the court accepts self-prepared applications. Most people use a lawyer for two reasons: self-filed applications attract requisitions (queries from the registry) far more often, which adds weeks, and the executor is personally responsible for getting the distribution right. A fixed-fee grant is the middle path: professional application, known price.
Can a lawyer outside Western Australia handle the estate?
Yes. Probate is granted by the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the application is handled remotely, so any firm licensed in Western Australia can act for a Western Australia estate. What matters is that the firm does WA grants every week, not where its office is.
Who pays the lawyer's fee?
The estate does. Court filing fees and reasonable professional costs are estate expenses, paid from estate funds before anything is distributed. Executors who pay up front are reimbursed. Confirm the quote is a fixed fee for the grant itself, and ask what is excluded.
How long from first call to grant?
Allow two to four weeks for the death certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages before anything can be filed, then the Western Australia timeline: Lodgment to grant (uncontested) (3-6 wks); No advertising requirement before filing (None). A firm with the documents in hand can usually have the application ready within a week of your first call.
Get matched in WA without the browsing
Answer a few questions and we'll match you with a fixed-fee firm licensed in Western Australia and email you their introduction. Reply to it and they'll send you a quote. No obligation.
New to the process? Start with probate in WA - fees, forms and current wait times.