How to apply for probate in NT
Updated 20 August 2026 · 8 minute read
Probate in Northern Territory is granted by the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, and filing runs through Paper filing with the Supreme Court registry in Darwin or Alice Springs. Here's the NT 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 NT process, step by step
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The notice of intended application must run at least 14 days before you lodge.
Prepare the application
Application, executor's affidavit and the statement of assets and liabilities, sworn or affirmed.
File with the registry and pay $1,548
Paper documents, the original will and the death certificate are lodged in Darwin or Alice Springs.
Receive the grant
Allow four to eight weeks for a clean application.
What it costs to file
| Estate value | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| All estates (flat fee) | $1,548 |
The Territory charges one flat fee — the highest flat filing fee in the country — regardless of estate value. Full cost picture, including solicitor fees: cost of probate in NT.
NT family provision claims must be filed within 12 months of the grant.
The documents, explained
Every form in the NT application, and what the registry is checking in each: NT 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 NT 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 NT?
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 NT.
What if there is no will?
You apply for letters of administration in NT instead — same registry, same fees, more affidavits.
Sources
- Supreme Court of the NT — wills and probate (supremecourt.nt.gov.au)
- NT probate fees 2026–27 (nationalprobate.com.au/nt/probate/costs)
- NT Law Handbook — estates