Navigating Probate With Ease

Welcome to your comprehensive Probate Guide. We understand this can be a challenging time, and we're here to provide reassuring, informative, and supportive guidance through the entire process. Let Probate4U help make the process as smooth as possible.

Understanding Probate

Probate (also referred to as a Grant of Representation) is the legal process that takes place after someone who holds assets dies to ensure their assets are properly distributed according to their Will (if they have one) or by the laws of the Intestacy (if there is no Will).

Here’s what Probate involves:

  • Validating the Will: If there is a Will, the court checks to ensure it is a legally valid document.
  • Executor’s Role: The Executor/s named in the Will (or an Administrator if there is no Will) is officially appointed by the Supreme Court of Victoria to manage and administer the deceased’s estate. This person is responsible for calling in all assets, paying any debts or liabilities, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the Will.
  • Inventory of the Estate: The Executor identifies all the assets (e.g. property, share portfolios, motor vehicles, bank accounts, and personal belongings (including household chattels)) and liabilities of the deceased.
  • Paying Debts and Taxes: Before the Estate is distributed to beneficiaries, any outstanding debts, loans, taxes, and final expenses must be paid.
  • Distributing the Remaining Assets: Once all debts and taxes are settled, the Executor can distribute the remaining assets according to the Will or Intestacy laws.

Probate can be a lengthy and complicated process, especially if the estate is large or there are disputes among beneficiaries.

Where to Start?

Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. Many people struggle with understanding where to begin with the Probate process. From mountains of paperwork to legal jargon, these are the last things you want to deal with when you are grieving the loss of someone important in your life.

Probate4U will provide a full guide to what you need to do to start and complete the Probate process. We offer a hassle-free approach to guide you through each step.

How Probate4U Can Help

At Probate4U, we compassionately and efficiently deal with deceased estates, making the process as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

Let us help you by:

  • Interpreting the Will
  • Guiding Executors and Trustees in regard to their duties and obligations
  • Informing government bodies including Centrelink and the Australian Taxation Office.
  • Applying for Probate of the Will in the Supreme Court of Victoria
  • Dealing with Intestacy (where there is no Will)
  • Applying for Letters of Administration (if there is no Will) in the Supreme Court and identifying who has the right to apply
  • Identifying estate assets and liabilities
  • Obtaining valuations of estate property and other items of value
  • Selling or transferring estate property
  • Paying estate debts
  • Administering trust funds
  • Distributing bequests and inheritances to beneficiaries
  • Preparing Deeds of Family Arrangement if there is a distribution variation to the Will
  • Assisting with information for estate tax returns
  • Contesting Wills and defending any estate litigation brought against the Estate