Probate and Estate Administration

When a person dies and they have a Will the person appointed as Executor needs to obtain a Grant of Probate from the Supreme Court so that they can administer the estate. Administering the estate involves:

• Realising the assets of the estate including selling real estate and other tangible assets or transmitting them to the beneficiaries named in the Will.
• Closing bank accounts.
• Selling or transmitting shares.
• Paying legacies to specified beneficiaries.
• Paying the debts of the deceased from the assets of the estate.
• Distributing the estate among the beneficiaries.

Often the Executor of the estate is the spouse or child of the deceased or someone close to the deceased and this can be a very upsetting time. At Harris & Company we can look after all aspects of the administration of the estate for you.

In cases where the deceased did not leave a Will, we are also experienced in obtaining Letters of Administration and advising on how the estate should be distributed in accordance with the statutory order set out in the Succession Act. In some instances this can be quite complicated.

If one of our solicitors is acting as the Executor of an Estate in of which you are a beneficiary, we send regular progress reports throughout the administration of the estate.

If you’d like to know more, please contact Alexandra Tzavellas either by email atzavellas@harrisco.com.au            or Telephone; (02) 9261 8533