Probate Cost & Timeline Estimator
Two things every executor wants to know: what it costs and how long it takes. Estimate the Supreme Court filing fee from the estate value, and see what happens at each stage.
The Court calculates its fee on Victorian assets only — not the worldwide estate, and before debts are deducted.
Court fees only. Legal fees, valuation costs, and any fees charged by asset holders are separate — ask us for a fixed-fee quote covering the whole application.
How long probate takes, stage by stage
- 1
Gathering documents and valuations
Locating the original will, obtaining the death certificate, writing to every asset holder for date-of-death balances, and getting valuations for real property and any other significant asset.
Weeks to several months — usually the longest stage, and the one most within your control
- 2
Notice of intention to apply
The notice is published on the Supreme Court's RedCrest-Probate system. It must be published before the application is filed, which sets the earliest date you can lodge.
A short fixed waiting period before filing
- 3
Filing and Court review
The application, affidavit and supporting documents are filed and the Probate Office examines them. If anything is unclear the Office issues a requisition, which must be answered before the application proceeds.
Commonly several weeks; longer if a requisition issues
- 4
Grant issued
Probate (or Letters of Administration) is granted. Only at this point can the executor deal with the estate's assets — banks and land titles will not act without it.
Follows Court review
- 5
Administration and distribution
Calling in assets, paying debts and any final tax, then distributing to beneficiaries. Executors commonly wait until the family provision claim period has passed before distributing, to avoid personal exposure.
Weeks to many months depending on the estate's complexity
The Supreme Court does not commit to a processing time, and the ranges above describe typical estates rather than a guarantee. The stage most within your control is the first one.
The following rule sets have not yet been confirmed against their official source by a member of the Ebra Partners team, so the numbers shown here may be out of date or wrong:
- Supreme Court of Victoria — Probate Office fees — read 18 September 2026, not yet signed off
- Supreme Court of Victoria — wills and probate guidance — read 18 September 2026, not yet signed off
This tool provides general information only. It is not legal or migration advice and does not account for your full circumstances — your estimate may change once the details of your situation are taken into account. Speak with our team before relying on this estimate. Nothing you enter here is sent to us or stored — the calculation runs entirely in your browser.
Sources: Supreme Court of Victoria — Probate Office fees; Supreme Court of Victoria — wills and probate guidance.
Get a fixed-fee quote for your estate
Court fees are the predictable part. We quote a fixed fee for the whole application — the affidavits, the notice, the filing and the requisitions if any come — so you know the total before you start, at a point when you have enough to deal with already.
What the Court fee actually covers
The filing fee is what the Supreme Court charges to consider the application. It is banded on the gross value of Victorian assets — before debts, and excluding assets held outside Victoria. That distinction matters: an estate whose main asset is a Queensland property may sit in a much lower Victorian band than its total value suggests, though a reseal in Queensland will then be needed.
The fee is indexed every 1 July under the Monetary Units Act 2004, so an application filed in late June and one filed in early July can attract different fees on an identical estate.
Where executors most often get caught out
Distributing too early is the single biggest personal risk. A family provision claim can be brought after the grant issues, and an executor who has already paid out beneficiaries can be left personally exposed. Waiting until the claim period has passed is the cautious course, and it is the reason a well-run estate often takes longer than families expect.
The other common surprise is a requisition — the Probate Office asking for clarification or further evidence. It is routine rather than a sign anything is wrong, but it does add weeks, and a carefully prepared application is the way to avoid one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does probate cost in Victoria?
The Supreme Court of Victoria charges a filing fee banded on the gross value of the deceased's Victorian assets, plus a fee to publish the notice of intention to apply. Estates under $250,000 in Victorian assets attract no filing fee at all. Court fees are separate from legal fees and valuation costs.
Is the probate fee based on the whole estate?
No. The Victorian filing fee is calculated on the gross value of Victorian assets only, not the worldwide estate, and before debts are deducted. An estate holding property interstate or overseas may fall into a lower Victorian band, though a separate grant or reseal is usually needed in each other jurisdiction.
How long does probate take in Victoria?
There is no committed timeframe. In a straightforward estate the longest stage is usually gathering documents and valuations, which can take weeks to several months. The notice of intention must be published before filing, and the Probate Office then reviews the application, commonly over several weeks — longer if it issues a requisition asking for more information.
What happens if there is no valid will?
You apply for Letters of Administration rather than Probate. The Court appoints an administrator, and the estate is distributed under the statutory intestacy rules rather than according to the deceased's wishes. The Court's filing fees are the same, but who may apply and who inherits both change.
Do I always need probate?
Not always. Some asset holders will release smaller balances to an executor without a grant, and assets held as joint tenants generally pass to the surviving owner outside the estate. Whether you need a grant depends on what the estate holds and each institution's own requirements.