Wills & Estates Lawyer Fees in Sydney (2026)
Sydney estate work comes as two quite different bills. While you are alive you pay for documents: $340–$670 for a straightforward will, $670–$1,350 if you add an enduring power of attorney, and $2,250–$5,600 once a testamentary trust is involved. After a death the executor pays for process: $1,700–$17,500 to obtain the grant from the Supreme Court of NSW and wind up the estate, and $28,000–$45,000 if a family provision claim is made. In a city with so many apartments and renters, the first question a lawyer asks is what the person owned and in whose name.
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 Sydney 2026
| Tier | Typical professional fee (ex GST) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Simple will | $340–$670 | Per document |
| Standard will with enduring power of attorney | $670–$1,350 | Per package |
| Complex will with testamentary trust | $2,250–$5,600 | Per package |
| Probate application and estate administration | $1,700–$17,500 | Per estate |
| Contesting a will (family provision claim) | $28,000–$45,000 | Per matter |
You're in.
A local firm will be in touch about your enquiry. No spam, no middleman.
Getting quotes for Wills & Estates Lawyer work in Sydney? Get a quote from a verified local wills & estates lawyer — free, no obligation.
Get Sydney quotes →What Moves the Wills & Estates Lawyer Cost in Sydney
- Apartments and joint ownership. Flats and apartments make up 30.7% of Greater Sydney dwellings, well above the NSW share of 21.7% (ABS 2021 Census). NSW guidance says a joint tenancy goes straight to the surviving co-owner and stays out of the estate, whereas property in the deceased's sole name generally calls for a grant. Tell the lawyer how each property is held, because it can decide whether probate is needed at all.
- The court fee and steps. The NSW Government says the fee for applying for a grant of probate depends on the value of the assets. The process runs from a notification to a published probate notice, a 14-day wait, the application itself and any requisitions the court raises. Ask whether the $1,700–$17,500 quote includes the court fee or passes it on separately, and who answers the requisitions.
- Timing the application. NSW expects an executor's grant application to be lodged inside 6 months from the death; after that, the court expects an explanation for the delay. Property cannot be distributed until the grant is made, so a slow start leaves the estate's assets sitting idle for longer. A firm that keeps the file moving through the requisitions stage earns part of its fee there.
- Renters and smaller estates. With 35.9% of Greater Sydney households renting (ABS 2021 Census), plenty of estates here hold bank accounts, super and a car rather than land. NSW guidance says a grant is not needed when all assets are shared with one person or the total does not exceed a certain amount. Ask the lawyer to confirm whether a grant is required before you commit to the full administration fee.
- Who may claim. In a family provision claim, the applicant asks the Supreme Court for some of the estate, or more of it. Only an eligible person can make one, including a spouse, a de facto partner, a child, a former spouse and someone in a close personal relationship with the deceased. Filing is due no later than 12 months after the death and no grant is needed first, which is why $28,000–$45,000 matters can start early.
- NSW Trustee and Guardian. NSW Trustee and Guardian, a NSW Government agency, prepares wills through professional will makers or solicitors and charges nothing to full Centrelink Age Pension recipients. Its fees are set under its own Act and Regulation, and when it is named executor, its costs of administering the estate usually come out of the estate itself. It is a useful benchmark when weighing a private quote of $340–$670.
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 Sydney
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.