How to apply for probate in SA
Updated 20 August 2026 · 8 minute read
Probate in South Australia is granted by the Supreme Court of South Australia, and filing runs through CourtSA online portal (Probate Registry). Here's the SA 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 SA process, step by step
Register on CourtSA
Applications are prepared and lodged through the CourtSA civil portal.
Prepare the application and affidavit
The application, executor's affidavit and statement of assets and liabilities are completed and sworn.
Lodge and pay the tiered fee
Upload the documents; the original will is provided to the Probate Registry as directed.
Receive the grant
Clean applications are granted in one to six weeks depending on registry workload.
What it costs to file
| Estate value | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $200,000 | $1,020 |
| $200,001 – $500,000 | $2,038 |
| $500,001 – $1 million | $2,715 |
| More than $1 million | $4,075 |
South Australia's tiered fees (2026–27, from 1 July 2026) are comparatively high at every level — a $300,000 estate pays more here than a $2 million estate pays in Tasmania. Full cost picture, including solicitor fees: cost of probate in SA.
Under the Succession Act 2023 (in force since 1 January 2025), family provision claims must be filed within 6 months of the grant. Pre-2025 guidance about SA law is out of date.
The documents, explained
Every form in the SA application, and what the registry is checking in each: SA 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 SA 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 SA?
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 1–6 weeks from filing for a clean application — the full picture, including notice periods, is in how long probate takes in SA.
What if there is no will?
You apply for letters of administration in SA instead — same registry, same fees, more affidavits.
Sources
- Courts Administration Authority SA — probate fees (courts.sa.gov.au)
- CourtSA — probate registry
- Law Handbook SA — deceased estates
- Probate Australia — SA guide