Wills & Estates Lawyer Fees in Canberra (2026)
For a Canberra will, expect $320–$650 for a plain document and $650–$1,300 for the will plus an enduring power of attorney signed in the same visit. Wills that create a testamentary trust, usually considered where young children or a family business are involved, are $2,150–$5,400. Once a death occurs, the grant from the ACT Supreme Court and the administration of the estate come to $1,600–$16,500, money that normally comes out of the estate itself. Bringing or defending a family provision claim is priced at $27,000–$43,000. The ACT Public Trustee and Guardian offers another route for both wills and estates, so it belongs in any comparison.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: How much does a wills & estates lawyer cost in Australia?
Detailed Pricing — Wills & Estates Lawyer Cost in Canberra 2026
| Tier | Typical professional fee (ex GST) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Simple will | $320–$650 | Per document |
| Standard will with enduring power of attorney | $650–$1,300 | Per package |
| Complex will with testamentary trust | $2,150–$5,400 | Per package |
| Probate application and estate administration | $1,600–$16,500 | Per estate |
| Contesting a will (family provision claim) | $27,000–$43,000 | Per matter |
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- Mortgage-heavy households. At the ABS 2021 Census, 40.2% of ACT households had a mortgage, above the national 35%, and 26.6% owned outright. A home with a loan still on it brings the lender into the estate, and the ATO says the executor must provide for the estate's tax liabilities before assets go to beneficiaries. More moving parts mean more hours inside $1,600–$16,500.
- Public Trustee as executor. The ACT Public Trustee and Guardian can be named executor. Its estate fees are a capital commission on a descending scale, set by the ACT Attorney-General and adjusted each year in line with CPI, and are taken from the estate rather than paid up front. A private executor who hires a firm instead faces the $1,600–$16,500 band, so compare both.
- Low-means referrals. For eligible people on low means, the Public Trustee and Guardian refers wills and enduring powers of attorney to listed law firms that charge capped fees under the Public Trustee and Guardian Fees Determination. Eligibility includes people whose main income is a social security benefit or who hold a health care card, among other tests. Check this before paying $650–$1,300 at full rate.
- Standard or complex needs. The Public Trustee and Guardian describes a standard will as one for people without complex needs, for example where all the children are from the current relationship or there are none. Step-children, earlier marriages, a business or a plan to hold assets in trust take the work past that point and into the $2,150–$5,400 tier.
- Grants from the Supreme Court. In the ACT the Registrar of the Supreme Court grants probate or administration, and where someone dies leaving assets in the Territory the executor or next of kin may need a grant to deal with them. Where there is no will, an eligible person can seek letters of administration, after which the intestacy laws govern the estate. Ask the firm to quote the two routes separately.
- Small estates and handing over. The Public Trustee and Guardian has special statutory powers to deal with small estates by simpler procedures. Executors who have not intermeddled in the administration can also ask it to administer the estate in their place. Both options are worth raising before you instruct a private firm for the full $1,600–$16,500 service.
- Disputes over the estate. Under the ACT Family Provision Act, an application has to be lodged within 6 months after administration of the estate has been granted, unless the Supreme Court extends the time after hearing those affected. Disputed matters are priced at $27,000–$43,000 because they run as court proceedings, so a would-be applicant should get advice well inside that window.
Solicitor, online will or Public Trustee?
Use a solicitor where there is property, a business, a blended family, overseas assets or any chance the will is challenged.
A single person with modest assets and a simple wish can use a low-cost online will; be aware Public Trustee 'free' wills are recovered through commission on the estate.
How to Keep the Wills & Estates Lawyer Cost Sane in Canberra
This guide is general information, not advice. Figures are typical ranges compiled from published Australian sources in 2026 and are not a quote; confirm fees with the provider before engaging them. This page is general information, not legal advice. Professional fees are exclusive of GST; court and tribunal filing fees, government charges and disbursements are separate and are not included in any band above. Hourly figures are market ranges, not a scale.
Frequently Asked Questions — Wills & Estates Lawyer Cost in Canberra
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no provider can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →