Wills, Estate Planning & Probate
Coelho & Coelho have the trusted expertise you need to secure your family and wealth. Whether you need to draft a legally binding will or require efficient probate administration, our lawyers are here to help.
Expert Estate Planning Services
A comprehensive estate plan ensures your wishes are respected and your assets are shielded. Our wills and estates lawyers provide tailored legal advice across all core areas of asset protection:
Legally Valid Wills
Professional drafting to ensure your final wishes are watertight, legally binding, and clear under New South Wales law.
Testamentary Trusts
Sophisticated wealth protection structures designed to shield family assets and optimise tax efficiencies for future generations. Establish a beneficiary support trust or life interest trust where required.
Enduring Power of Attorney
Empowering a trusted person to manage your financial assets and legal affairs seamlessly if your circumstances change.
Enduring Guardianship
Nominating a dedicated decision-maker to oversee your healthcare, medical treatment, and lifestyle choices with dignity.
Probate & Estate Administration for Executors
Fulfilling the role of an executor is a major responsibility, often during a time of personal grief. Our estate administration lawyers ease this burden by guiding you through every legal step efficiently:
Probate Applications
Streamlining Supreme Court applications to secure Grants of Probate quickly and accurately.
Letters of Administration
Expertly guiding next of kin through the Supreme Court application process when a loved one passes away without a valid will (intestacy) or when an executor cannot act.
Estate Debt Settlement
Identifying, verifying, and legally discharging liabilities to protect the estate from future claims.
Asset Distribution
Ensuring the transparent, exact, and timely distribution of estate assets to your rightful beneficiaries.
Call us on (02) 9877 0772 to discuss your estate administration matter.
Our Locations
We welcome clients by appointment to our locations below. In person appointments in North Sydney, Parramatta and Norwest can also be arranged as required.
Epping Main Office
Ground Floor, Suite 5, 41 Rawson Street
Epping NSW 2121
PO BOX 888 EPPING NSW 1710
Macquarie Park Meeting Location
Avaya House, Level 9/123 Epping Rd
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Remote Online
We are able to accommodate remote meetings via Microsoft Teams where suitable and appropriate.
Call us on (02) 9877 0772 or contact us online to arrange your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions: Understanding NSW Estate Administration
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What is the difference between Probate and Letters of Administration in NSW?
The main difference lies in whether the deceased person left a valid Will.
- Probate is applied for by the nominated Executor when there is a valid Will. It is the Supreme Court's formal validation of the Will and the Executor's authority to manage the estate.
- Letters of Administration are applied for by the next of kin when the deceased died without a Will (intestate), or if the named Executor cannot or will not act. The Court appoints an Administrator to manage and distribute the assets according to NSW intestacy laws.
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When is a Grant of Probate required in Sydney?
A Grant of Probate is typically required by financial institutions, land registries, and asset holders before they will release the deceased's assets to the Executor. It protects the Executor, ensuring they have the legal right to distribute bank accounts, sell real estate in areas like Parramatta or North Sydney, and pay outstanding debts.
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Who can apply for Letters of Administration if there is no Will?
Under New South Wales law, the closest living relative or next of kin usually applies for Letters of Administration. This is typically a surviving spouse, de facto partner, or adult children. If you are unsure who is eligible to apply, our estate lawyers in Macquarie Park and Norwest can guide you through the priority rules.
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How long do you have to apply for Probate or Letters of Administration in NSW?
In NSW, you should file your application for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration with the Supreme Court within 6 months of the date of death. Failing to file within this timeframe requires a legal explanation to the Court detailing the reasons for the delay, which our expert lawyers can prepare for you.
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Can I have an estate administration consultation via video call?
Yes. If you are managing an estate from afar or cannot visit one of our offices, Coelho & Coelho provides secure video call consultations. Our lawyers can review the estate documents, explain the Supreme Court process, and fast-track your application remotely.
