Melbourne’s Specialist Probate Lawyers
- Award Winning
- Cost Effective & Tax Efficient
- No % based fees, Fixed and transparent.
- Fast Turn-Around
- We Service All of Melbourne
- Rated 5 stars from 120 Reviews
Schedule a Meeting
Free no obligation discussion
How can we help you
With Probate
Probates
Letters of administration (where there was no will)
Letters of administration with will annexed
Property conveyancing for surviving proprietors
Property conveyancing for executors / beneficiaries of deceased estates
Liaising with creditors regarding estate liabilities
The Grant of Probate?
Acting for beneficiaries
Estate Planning and Wills
Why Choose Karolidis & Co
Probate and Letters of Administration
Our team of lawyers are experienced in dealing with deceased estates. If you are an executor under a will or next of kin, we can assist in applying for probate or letters of administration.
It is not always necessary to apply for a grant of probate or administration, rather it depends on the assets of the deceased. A grant is however required in the case the deceased left real property (held in their sole name or as tenants in common). An application for probate or administration can only be made to the Supreme Court of Victoria if there are assets located in Victoria.
We always recommend an executor or administrator retain a legal representative to carry out this process. This ensures that the grant is obtained the correct way and that all relevant application forms and procedures, which are required by the Supreme Court, are complied with in the first instance. The Court itself is quite strict, accordingly, engaging a legal representative, who has the required knowledge and understanding of the process, saves a great deal of time for the executor and further removes the burden of having to prepare further documentation where issues are identified at the start of the process.
In the case of more complex matters, for example the original will cannot be located, or an executor cannot act, expert advice should be obtained.
Why Choose Us
Fixed Cost Value for Money
Value-for-money legal help in all aspects of commercial law, with fixed pricing upfront.
Direct Point of Contact
You’ll be dealing with the same small team of advisors-meaning you don’t speak to a new person every time you call.
Business Specialists
Specialists in business law, property and tax – we deal with all tax and legal aspects of business on daily basis.
Tax & Legal All-In-One
Tax and legal at the same place! No need to see a lawyer and then explain the circumstances to your accountant separately
Fast Turn-Around Times
Have an urgent project? Need a fast turn around? Contact our team today and speak to us about how we can assist you with a fast turn around.
Able to meet YOUR deadlines
We provide ourselves with being the most punctual and efficient law firm in Victoria. Our goal is to ensure deadlines are met and minimise delays through our award-winning team and technological efficiencies.
Servicing Melbourne & Australia Wide
We are located in Glenroy, Melbourne but we service businesses throughout Melbourne and across Australia too.
Probate
Probate is a legal process requiring a valid will of the deceased. The executor that is appointed in the will, must apply for the Grant of Probate, in order to attain the right to deal with and distribute, the deceased’s estate to any creditors and beneficiaries.
Letters of Administration
If the deceased did not have a valid will, this means they died intestate. Letters of administration is applied for by the closest next of kin. This process is subject to the intestacy rules, which is a formula or order of persons who are entitled to receive proceeds of the deceased estate.
Generally, the order of priority is as follows:
- lawful spouse or domestic partner
- children, excluding stepchildren, but including children adopted by the deceased
- grandchildren
- parents
- brothers or sisters
- remoter next of kin
Please note that due to changes in the legislation, the above is a general order of priority only. Legal advice should be sought in this regard as there will need to be in-depth consideration of the deceased’s partner, children, any statutory legacy requirements etc.
Letters of Administration – Will Annexed
In some circumstances the deceased may have a will, however, does not have an executor appointed or an executor who is able or willing to obtain probate, in this instance, the applicant will be required to go through the Letters of Administration process. In most cases this application is brought by the beneficiary with the largest portion of the estate.
As a firm we pride ourselves on providing efficient, low cost and expert services, especially during such a difficult time.
We also assist with the following estate related matters:
- Distribution of estate assets
- Estate Conveyancing
- Publish creditors notices
- Liaise with relevant bodies regarding assets and creditors in relation to estate liabilities
- Drafting Deed of Family Arrangement
- Assist in any survivorship application
- Estate Tax Returns
Testimonials
Why Customers Love Karolidis & Co
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I engaged Karolidis & Co to assist me in preparing my will and powers of attorney. The service provided to me was top notch! All my options were explained to me in a clear manner which enabled me to make informed decisions. I 100% recommend … More Karolidis & Co to assist you with all matters pertaining to wills, powers of attorney and estate planning.
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Nick and the team are always so willing to help and prompt to respond. They are a delight to deal with and extremely professional. We highly recommend them for any small business needs, be it legal or accounting.
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Thank you so very much Karolidis & Co for the excellent service you provided and the wonderful attention to detail you displayed.
A special thank you to Dihanna for all your support and the professionalism you displayed throughout this … More period. A true Gem. Wishing you All the very Best now and into the Future.
Take Care. -
Fantastic and professional support from the initial contract review of the property to the actual settlement process that went smooth without any issues in a timely manner.
Once again thank you Victoria and your team for your support and … More assistance during the land settlement process. -
Karolidis & Co assisted with the conveyancing for the sale of our home. They were efficient, professional yet friendly and happy to answer my many questions! I would highly recommend Nick and his team and would happily use their services … More again in future.
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Victoria and the team have supported us recently in the sale of our home and purchase of a new one. Very clear and concise instructions, helpful when I was asking questions about things I knew nothing about, and reasonably priced. Would … More happily use again for my conveyancing needs in the future.
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We have just used Victoria and the team for our property conveyancing. They made the purchase very straight forward and were very attentive to the fine details. I would highly recommend their services and we will be using them again in … More the future for other legal needs when they arise.
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Highly recommend!
Victoria and the rest of the Karolidis & Co have been so professional and explained everything really well, which was awesome for my husband and myself as we navigated buying our first home.
Fees reasonable and service … More excellent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -
We'd like to thank Nick and his team with helping us settle our property. The entire team were professional and knowledgeable; we felt very comfortable with the team's guidance through the settlement process. Highly recommend! … More
Meet The Team
Nick
Principal Lawyer & Accountant
Victoria
Lawyer
Marika
Legal Assistant
Dihanna
Lawyer
Trusted Probate Lawyers in Melbourne
Tax efficient and cost-effective probate services including distribution of property and other assets and preparation of deeds of family arrangement.
During this difficult time our team here at Karolidis & Co pride ourselves on giving you one less thing to worry about.
Contact our team today regarding assistance with a probate agreement. Our award-winning team will walk you through the process, without all the legal jargon, and provide you with affordable legal services.
Why Us?
Our service is 2nd to none see our 100% 5 star reviews!
In terms of fees, our understanding is that most lawyers charge upwards of 1-2% of the estate value rather than for specific services such as us, meaning our fixed fees are considerably better value.
We charge separate fees for obtaining probate, arranging title transfers, etc rather than a % of the estate which we believe is much more transparent and fair!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Probate?
The estate of a deceased person can only be acted upon where probate is granted. Probate is a legal document which recognises a will as valid and allows said wishes to be acted upon. - What if there is no will?
You need a will to obtain a Grant of Probate. If there is no Will you need to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration. - What are Letters of Administration?
Letters of Administrations is a legal document used where the deceased has not left a will, this document is used to legally administer the deceased’s estate. - What is an Executor?
An executor can be a person or group of people named in a will in charge of administering the deceased’s estate. - What is an Administrator?
Where a will maker has failed to appoint an executor, an administrator is a appointed by the court and is in charge of administering the deceased’s estate. - What happens if there is property or land?
If there is house of land held in the deceased’s name only, a Grant of Probate is required to sell or transfer the property. - Are there time limits for applying?
No, however if there has been over 3 years since the time of passing you will require an affidavit is explaining the delay. - How long does a Grant of Probate take in Victoria?
Several weeks, allow time. - How much does probate cost?
Contact our Office today for a quote of all our packages.