FAQs

Each appointment is different depending on the nature of the estate, its issues and the tasks required. We will usually charge our competitive standard hourly rates for the work required, but where the scope of works can accurately be assessed, we can usually provide a fixed fee for a defined scope. When considering costs of an independent administrator, it is important to also recognise the value of hiring an independent administrator, including reduced disputes, expedited administration, and comprehensive accounting of the estate.

Consistent with the duties imposed by law on all administrators/executors, Michael will communicate effectively and respond to all reasonable requests for information by appropriately interested parties (or their representatives) in the course of an administration.

An independent administrator is a person who is appointed to administer a deceased estate and is independent of the beneficiaries or named executors. They are usually a lawyer or other suitably qualified professional. They can be appointed on a final or interim basis. An independent administrator can be useful where co-executors (or beneficiaries) are in dispute, distrust each other or are unable to cooperate effectively.

An interim administrator (also known as an administrator ad litem) is a person who is appointed to managing and safeguarding the interests of a deceased estate until a final executor or administrator is determined through probate proceedings. Such administrators are usually empowered to deal with specific issues or assets which require immediate management. For example, insurance policies over real estate may need to be renewed; misappropriated assets may need to be recovered; or businesses may need to be wound up or sold. An interim administrator can also be appointed where it is alleged that the named executor has been engaged in wrongdoing and their conduct must be investigated.

You can obtain a reseal from the Supreme Court of Western Australia of a grant of Probate or Letters of Administration from any of Her Majesty’s Dominions.

A reseal of a foreign grant is a process whereby the Supreme Court of Western Australia recognises the validity of a grant of Probate or Letters of Administration issued in another jurisdiction. Once resealed, the original grant will have the same effect and same operation in Western Australia as the original grant.

Rule 9B(1) of the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1967 (WA) require an applicant for a grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to provide a statement of the deceased’s assets and liabilities as at the date of their death. The statement must include all real estate in Western Australia and all movable property and debts, whether in Western Australia or elsewhere. Note that any property the deceased owned as a joint tenant with another person(s) who survived them does not form part of their estate, rather it passes to the surviving joint tenant by survivorship. Download our checklist to help you collate the information needed for the statement of assets and liabilities.

Our advertised fees are for straightforward applications. They don’t include the Supreme Court of Western Australia filing fee which is $408. If your application is not straightforward or if you require additional legal advice or assistance we will give you a quote for our services. For full terms see our Product Disclosure Statement.

As a general rule, the answer is yes – executors and administrators can charge their reasonable legal costs to the estate. What is reasonable depends on the circumstances, but would generally include the costs of transmission applications, transfer to beneficiaries and settlement fees.

A transmission application is an application to Landgate by an executor or administrator to transfer property from a deceased person to their estate. A transmission application must be completed before the property can be sold or transferred to a beneficiary.

A survivorship application is an application to Landgate by a surviving joint tenant of property to remove the name of a deceased person from the certificate of title.

Before real estate can be sold it must first be transferred to the name of the executor or administrator of the estate. There are three steps involved:

1. The executor or administrator must obtain a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration from the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Landgate will not allow any property to be transferred without a Grant.
2. The property must be transferred to the estate, known as an Application by Personal Representative or a transmission application.
3. Finally, the property can be transferred to the beneficiary or, in the case of a sale, to the buyer.

As an executor, you will need to be actively involved in the court proceedings. Your role is two-fold: to provide information regarding the value and nature of the estate and to defend the existing Will. In most cases, an executor will be entitled to have their legal costs paid from the estate, irrespective of the outcome of the proceedings.

A beneficiary of a challenged Will does not need to actively participate in the proceedings. However, if the Court upholds the challenge, the amount you will receive under the Will may be reduced. For this reason, you may want to present your financial and personal circumstances to the Court to persuade it not to reduce your entitlement.

If you intend to challenge a Will, time is of the essence. You must apply within 6 months from the date of any grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (although the Court has a discretion to extend the deadline).

The Court will first consider whether the testator has made an adequate provision for you in your particular circumstances. This includes consideration of:

• your financial position, level of education and age;
• the provision made for you in the Will (if any);
• the relationship the testator had with you and the other beneficiaries;
• the value and nature of the estate;
• any contribution you have made to the testator’s assets;
• the needs of other family members; and
• any conduct that you have engaged in that may disentitle you to a share of the estate.

If the Court finds that an adequate provision has not been made for you, it will effectively re-write the Will so that it reflects what a wise and just testator would have done.

You may be able to challenge a Will if you have one of the following relationships with the testator:

• married or de facto partner immediately before the testator’s death;
• a former spouse or former de facto partner if you received or were entitled to receive maintenance from the testator;
• a child;
• a grandchild or step-child (in certain circumstances); and
• a parent or step-parent.

An applicant for a grant of Letters of Administration must provide a statement of the deceased’s assets and liabilities as at the date of their death. The statement must include all real estate in Western Australia and all movable property and debts, whether in Western Australia or elsewhere. Any property the deceased owned as a joint tenant with another person who survived them does not form part of their estate, rather it passes to the surviving joint tenant by survivorship. Download our checklist to help you collate the information you need.

Any one or more of the adult beneficiaries of the estate (as set out in the Administration Act 1903 (WA)) can apply for a grant of Letters of Administration of an intestate estate. The applicant must seek written consent from any adult beneficiary of the estate. If there is no adult beneficiary who is able to apply, another person may be entitled. Book a consultation for advice about your specific circumstances.

A Grant of Letters of Administration is a document issued by the Court authorising a person to administer the estate of person who died intestate (without leaving a valid Will). The Grant authorises the person (known as the administrator) to administer the estate by collecting the assets, paying liabilities and distributing the estate in accordance with the laws of intestacy.

Our advertised fees are for straightforward applications. They don’t include the Supreme Court of Western Australia filing fee which is $408. If your application is not straightforward or if you require additional legal advice or assistance we will give you a quote for our services. For full terms see our Product Disclosure Statement.

As a general rule, the answer is yes – executors and administrators can charge their reasonable legal costs to the estate. What is reasonable depends on the circumstances, but would generally include the costs of making an application for Probate or Letters of Administration.

If you are unable to find the original Will, you will need to produce evidence to satisfy the Court that the Willmaker did not destroy the Will with the intention to revoke it. Book a consultation to get started.

If the executor renounces their right to obtain a Grant of Probate, the substitute executor named in the Will is entitled to make an application. If there is no substitute executor, one or more of the beneficiaries of the estate may make an application for Letters of Administration with the Will annexed.

An applicant for a grant of Probate must provide a statement of the deceased’s assets and liabilities as at the date of their death. The statement must include all real estate in Western Australia and all movable property and debts, whether in Western Australia or elsewhere. Any property the deceased owned as a joint tenant with another person who survived them does not form part of their estate, rather it passes to the surviving joint tenant by survivorship. Download our checklist to help you collate the information you need.

Please bring the documents and information listed on the relevant checklist.

• Probate checklist
• Letters of Administration checklist
• Reseal checklist

The Supreme Court of Western Australia will take 6 – 8 weeks to review your application and issue a Grant.

A Grant of Probate is a document issued by the Supreme Court of Western Australia confirming an executor’s authority to deal with the affairs of a deceased person. It gives the executor authority to collect the assets and administer the estate according to the terms of the Will.