03Expert Video Answers

What are the first legal steps to take after a parent dies in Australia?

Kevin Finn's profile pictureAnswered byKevin FinnHead of LegalAuthored & legally reviewed27 July 2026Watch · 0:37

Take a deep breath. Straight after a parent dies, your priority is the funeral, not the law, and Willed can help with arranging a funeral when you are ready. Once you have space, the legal steps follow in order: locate the original Will, identify the estate’s assets and liabilities, and begin the process to apply for a grant of probate. Probate applications do not need to happen overnight, so there is no need to rush the paperwork in the first difficult days.

For related guidance, see how do you prevent family disputes over an estate in Australia?.

Read the video transcript

Take a deep breath. Your immediate priority after a loved one has passed away is the funeral, not worrying about the law. Once you're ready, you can take steps such as locating the original Will, identifying the assets and liabilities of the estate, and commencing the process to make application for a grant of probate. Probate applications don't need to happen overnight.

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