02Expert Video Answers

What does an executor need to do after probate is granted in Australia?

Kevin Finn's profile pictureAnswered byKevin FinnHead of LegalAuthored & legally reviewed27 July 2026Watch · 0:57

Once probate is granted, the real administrative work begins. The executor collects and values all the assets, lodges the deceased’s final tax returns, and considers the tax consequences of selling assets or passing them on in specie. They prepare a statement of accounts recording income and expenditure, lodge any estate tax returns, then distribute the estate. Executors carry personal liability for mistakes they make, so it is worth getting professional help. Willed’s fixed-fee probate service supports executors through the whole administration.

For related guidance, see can you refuse to be an executor of a will in Australia?.

Read the video transcript

Once probate is granted, that's when the real administrative work begins. The executor must collect and value all assets of the estate, complete any final tax returns of the deceased, consider the taxation implications of the sale of any assets or whether they should be distributed in specie to the beneficiaries. Prepare a statement of accounts detailing the income and expenditure, detailing the receipts and outgoings from the estate, completing any estate tax returns, and attending to the distribution of the estate. Remember, executors carry personal liabilities for any mistakes that they make. So, it's important to get professional assistance with the administration of an estate.

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