How to apply for probate in WA
Updated 20 August 2026 · 8 minute read
Probate in Western Australia is granted by the Supreme Court of Western Australia, and filing runs through WA Probate Online application wizard (eCourts portal) for straightforward estates, paper filing otherwise. Here's the WA 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 WA process, step by step
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.
What it costs to file
| 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. Full cost picture, including solicitor fees: cost of probate in WA.
WA family provision claims must be filed within 6 months of the grant — the estate can generally be distributed safely after that window closes.
The documents, explained
Every form in the WA application, and what the registry is checking in each: WA 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 WA 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 WA?
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 3–6 weeks from filing for a clean application — the full picture, including notice periods, is in how long probate takes in WA.
What if there is no will?
You apply for letters of administration in WA instead — same registry, same fees, more affidavits.
Sources
- Supreme Court of WA — wills and probate (supremecourt.wa.gov.au)
- WA Probate Online (ecourts.justice.wa.gov.au)
- WA probate fees 2026–27 (nationalprobate.com.au/wa/probate/costs)
- Affinitas Legal — WA probate timeframes