How to apply for probate in VIC
Updated 20 August 2026 · 8 minute read
Probate in Victoria is granted by the Supreme Court of Victoria, and filing runs through RedCrest-Probate (e-filing has been mandatory since November 2024). Here's the VIC 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 VIC process, step by step
Advertise the intended application on RedCrest-Probate
The online advertisement replaces the old newspaper notice. Wait 14 days before filing.
Prepare the online application
RedCrest-Probate builds the application from your answers: originating motion, inventory of assets and liabilities, and the affidavit.
File electronically and pay the fee
Upload supporting documents; the original will is posted or delivered to the Probate Office as directed.
Receive the grant
Clean applications are currently granted about five days after lodgment - the fastest registry in the country.
What it costs to file
| Estate value | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $250,000 | $0 |
| $250,000 - $500,000 | $544 |
| $500,000 - $1 million | $1,088 |
| $1 million - $2 million | $2,538.70 |
| $2 million - $3 million | $5,077.40 |
| $3 million - $5 million | $7,598.80 |
| $5 million - $7 million | $12,693.40 |
| More than $7 million | $17,770.80 |
Victoria's tiers rise steeply for large estates - the top tier is the most expensive filing fee in Australia. Advertising the notice via RedCrest costs $38. Full cost picture, including solicitor fees: cost of probate in VIC.
If you apply more than 3 years after the death, the registrar requires an explanation for the delay. The 14-day advertising period is the practical clock to start early.
The documents, explained
Every form in the VIC application, and what the registry is checking in each: VIC 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 VIC application to someone?
A fixed-fee quote from a firm that lodges these every week. Upfront price, no obligation.
Match me with a probate lawyerCommon questions
Can I apply myself in VIC?
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 ~5 days from filing for a clean application - the full picture, including notice periods, is in how long probate takes in VIC.
What if there is no will?
You apply for letters of administration in VIC instead - same registry, same fees, more affidavits.
Sources
- Supreme Court of Victoria - Probate Office fees (supremecourt.vic.gov.au)
- RedCrest-Probate user guide
- VIC probate fees 2026-27 (nationalprobate.com.au/vic/probate/costs)
- Probate Consultants - VIC processing times