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Letters of Administration

Letters of Administration

It can be confusing when a loved one dies without a Will. Let us guide you through the process.

If a person dies without a Will their estate is governed by the laws of intestacy which set out how the estate will be divided among surviving family members. The first step is to obtain a Grant of Letters of Administration. This will give you authority to administer the estate.

The grant is just the start. You’ll then need to collect the assets, pay liabilities and distribute the estate according to the formula established by law.

This is no small feat and can be overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. From getting the grant to administering the whole estate, our experienced team can help.

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our services

How we can help you

From getting the grant to administering the whole estate, our team can offer as much help as you need.

Plus

$2,995

This package offers an application for Letters of Administration, personalised advice on how to administer the estate from our expert probate lawyers and a customised step-by-step guide to explain exactly what to do next.

This package includes:

  • An application for Letters of Administration by a beneficiary of the estate
  • Preparing consent notices, as required
  • Signing and witnessing your application
  • Court filing and giving you the grant
  • A conference with our experienced probate lawyers to give you personalised advice on how to administer the estate
  • A customised step-by-step guide summarising our advice

Allow 2 hours for the conference.

Plus court filing fee $408.

Prefer us to handle everything for you? Find out more.

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On the spot

$1,995

Easy, fast and convenient – we’ll prepare your application and you’ll sign it, all during one appointment with one of our expert probate lawyers.

This package includes:

  • An application for Letters of Administration by a beneficiary of the estate
  • Preparing consent notices, as required
  • Signing and witnessing your application
  • Court filing and giving you the grant

Allow 45 minutes for the appointment.

Plus court filing fee $408.

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Guided DIY

$1,495

Unlike services offering document kits or templates, our expert probate lawyers will prepare your application and send it to you to sign. Get started any time using our online form.

This package includes:

  • An application for Letters of Administration by a beneficiary of the estate
  • Preparing consent notices, as required
  • 15 minute telephone call with our experienced team
  • Instructions for you to sign and file your application at the Court

The Court will charge you a filing fee of $408.

This service is not suitable for complex applications or for applicants who are outside of Western Australia.

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Do you need a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration?

A Grant gives you authority to collect the assets and administer the estate. 

Does the estate include real estate?
Real estate means any interest in land - e.g. a home or investment property. If you are unsure, ask us to carry out a Landgate search.
Is the real estate owned as a joint tenant with another person?
Joint tenants is a type of joint ownership common between married couples and de facto partners. If you are unsure, ask us to carry out a Landgate search.
Does the estate include a financial asset valued at more than $20,000?
Are the financial assets owned jointly with another person?
Did the deceased leave a Will? *
Do any of the following circumstances apply?
  • You are unsure whether the Will was properly signed
  • You are not certain that the deceased was of full mental capacity when the Will was signed
  • You are unsure whether the Will is the last Will of the deceased or there is any evidence the deceased wished to revoke the Will
  • The Will is vague or unclear
  • There is any possibility of a dispute arising
  • Any beneficiary (a person entitled to distribution of the estate) is a minor
You will need a Grant of Probate to administer the estate.

We offer fixed price Probate applications.

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You will need a Grant of Letters of Administration to administer the estate.

We offer fixed price applications.

Book now
It is unlikley that you need a Grant to administer the estate.

If you are unsure or would like legal advice, please contact us to book an estate administration consultation.

Book now

Legal guide

Need help with an estate?

Our plain-English legal guide has comprehensive and practical advice to help you to take charge and finalise the estate.

  • The duties and tasks of an executor are clearly and simply explained.
  • Helpful chapters cover every stage of the estate, from organising the funeral to making the final distributions of money and property.
download my instant free copy

FAQs

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.
In most cases we can prepare your application and arrange for you to sign it on the spot at your consultation. It will then take the Supreme Court of Western Australia 6 – 8 weeks to review your application and issue a Grant.
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.
Please bring the documents and information listed on the relevant checklist.
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.
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.
Our advertised fees are for straightforward applications prepared on the spot during your consultation. They don’t include the Supreme Court of Western Australia filing fee. 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.

Why choose us

We provide great service at competitive prices.
01.
We make it easy for you

We offer practical guidance at every step.  Read what our clients say.

02.
Share the burden

Let us take over the administrative work so you don’t have to worry.

03.
Industry experts

We’ve helped hundreds of people administer estates, both large and small.

We're happy to help

Unsure which service is right for you?

Our friendly and experienced team can help you decide.

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Meet our team

We’re a tight-knit, multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, legal executives, accountants and software developers.  We’re also passionate community leaders, sportspeople, podcasters, musicians, parents… and proud that these interests inform our professional lives.
Michael Hodgkins
Legal Practitioner Director
Michael is an experienced succession and property lawyer and has served the Western Australian community as a legal practitioner for over 27 years at Curae Law.  Michael has represented clients, both in and out of court, in matters spanning……
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Nigel Siegwart
Legal Practitioner Director
Nigel leads the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution team and has experience in a wide variety of litigation matters including deceased estate litigation, family provision claims, contractual and construction disputes, trust and property matters. Nigel has an instinctive ability……
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Lucy Dickens
Legal Practitioner Director
Lucy leads our non-contentious Wills and estates team to provide easy to understand succession and estate administration advice. As well as practising law, she brings together people, technology and processes to design and deliver our innovative legal services. Lucy,……
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Maya Pracy
Paralegal
Maya joined Birman & Ride in 2023 as part of the firm’s law cadetship program and acts as the first point of contact for many of our clients. She oversees new business enquiries through phone and email, for Probate,……
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Sean McMurdo
Lawyer
Sean is a dedicated lawyer within the wills and probate team, specialising in guiding individuals through the intricacies of legal matters such as wills, powers of attorney, and powers of guardianship. In the realm of estate planning, Sean offers……
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Testimonials

What our clients say

Just a massive thank you for all that you have done for me and also my dear late friend. You have done so much in such a very short time to alleviate a lot of my concerns.
Mrs M - Estate Administration Client
July 12, 2024
Hi Michael, thank you very much for your expertise and guidance in all these matters. Kind regards.
Mark - Estate Administration Client
July 12, 2024
Thank you Nigel, I am so grateful for your professionalism, outstanding service, prompt response and hard work you put in to help finalise my late father’s Estate in the short time you had taken over as my Lawyer. I was fortunate to come across you, I would also like to thank your friendly staff. I would highly recommend you; I got my life back and I can’t thank you enough.
Mrs Z - Contentious Estate Client
June 27, 2024
Dear Lucy, thank you for the final email. Thank you for all your patience and support throughout this extremely long period of time. Please thank Nigel for me also. Without the both of you, things may have turned out differently.
Deceased Estates Client
June 6, 2024
Thanks for all of your hard work and sage advice on this matter. We couldn’t have achieved the same outcome without you.
Ms G – Contentious Estate Matter
June 6, 2024
Thank you for this information and all of your assistance. As we’ve mentioned before this has been a trying journey and a difficult situation. Your compassion and concern during this time has been appreciated. Blessings.
Perth Probate Centre Client
June 6, 2024
(08) 9220 4490
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Our plain-English guide How to manage a deceased estate has practical advice to help you to take charge and finalise the estate.
Download your free guide now