How long does probate take in Australia, and what causes delays?
Getting a grant has two stages. Preparing the application can take from a few weeks to a few months, depending on how complex the estate is. Then the court processing period runs from a matter of days to several months, driven mostly by the registry’s current workload. Delays usually come from incomplete or flawed paperwork, contested Wills, or court requisitions asking the executor to answer queries or correct documents. Getting the application right the first time is the best way to avoid delay, which is what Willed’s fixed-fee probate service is built to do.
For related guidance, see what happens when someone dies without a will in Australia — who inherits?.
Read the video transcript
There's really two stages of getting the grant. First is preparing the application, which can take from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of the estate. Second is a court processing period. This can take anywhere from a matter of days to a number of months. It depends on the current caseload of the court in which the application is filed. What can cause delays? Incomplete or flawed paperwork, contested wills, court requisitions requiring the executor to answer queries, or make corrections to the documents that have been filed.
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