Australia’s Premium Letters of Administration Solution for Self-Represented Applicants with Affordable Fixed-Fees
Disclaimer: Probate Consultants is not a legal practice. Information on this website about the law on any subject is general in nature and is intended to provide an outline only. It is not comprehensive, nor does it constitute legal or financial advice.
What happens to your things when you pass away?
When someone passes away, they often leave behind property, assets and sometimes debt. This is known as their ‘estate’ and it needs to be managed and finalised.
This Involves:
- Collecting all property and assets.
- Paying any debts.
- Distributing the assets according to the Will if there is one, or the laws of intestacy if there is not.
Where the deceased person left a valid Will, the estate is finalised by the executor(s). This may involve applying for Probate.
Where there is no valid Will, the deceased’s closest next-of-kin can administer the estate. This process often involves applying for Letters of Administration (LOA).
What happens when someone passes away without a will?
Someone who passes away without a valid Will has died intestate. To deal with the property and assets they have left behind, someone who is entitled to benefit from the estate, usually the deceased’s closest next-of-kin, can apply for Letters of Administration.
What are Letters Of Administration?
Letters of Administration are issued by the Supreme Court to the person who is legally entitled to deal with the property and assets of someone who has passed away without a valid will. This person is appointed Administrator of the estate.
What is involved in applying for Letters Of Administration?
Applying for Letters of Administration involves the following general steps:
- Advertising your intention to apply (not required in WA & SA).
- Completing the application forms.
- Signing the application in the presence of an authorised witness.
- Lodging the witnessed application with the Supreme Court.
- Where an advertisement has been published, this can only be done after 14 clear days.
Please Note: We are not currently assisting clients in WA and NSW to apply for Letters of Administration.
How to apply for a grant of Letters of Administration?
There are four main ways to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration:
- Prepare the application yourself.
- Engage Probate Consultants to assist with your application.
- Instruct a lawyer to act on your behalf.
- Authorise a Trustee Company to act as the administrator.
There are pros and cons to each option and finding the best way to apply is an important decision for the next-of-kin.
How much does applying for Letters of Administration cost?
The cost involved in applying for a Grant of Letters of Administration depends on:
- How you decide to apply
- Yourself as a self-represented applicant (SRA)
- SRA supported by Probate Consultants
- Solicitor
- Which State or Territory you apply in
- States and Territories around Australia have different Filing Fee structures, and some require an Advertisement to be published which adds to the cost.
Solicitors
There is no standard cost that solicitors charge for preparing Letters of Administration applications. Fees vary from practitioner to practitioner and practice to practice.
When considering a price quote from a Solicitor, ensure the following has been included:
- GST
- Costs & Disbursements
- Advertisement Fee
- Filing Fee
- Other
Probate Consultants
Probate Consultants have made applying for Letters of Administration Fast, Affordable & Easy for self-represented applicants. We are Australia’s Premium LOA Solution with affordable Fixed-Fees.
We offer all Australians the same Fixed-Fees regardless of the value of the estate. You have complete certainty over the total out-of-pocket cost involved in obtaining Letters of Administration from the beginning – no surprises.
The total cost involved in applying for Letters of Administration includes:
- Our Fixed-Fee:
- $1,888 inc GST: Conventional Applications
- $2,288 inc GST: Complex Applications
- Advertisement Fee (VIC, NSW, QLD, ACT)
- Supreme Court Filing Fee
What happens after Letters Of Administration are granted?
If their application is successful, the deceased’s closest next-of-kin receives a Grant of Letters of Administration. This is a legal document that appoints them Administrator of the deceased estate and is evidence of their authority to deal with the property and assets left behind.
The Administrator is responsible for:
01
Collecting all property and assets
02
Paying any debts
03
Distributing the estate according to the laws of intestacy
How long does it take to obtain a grant of Letters Of Administration?
Probate Consultants guarantee Fast turn-around times for your application.