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Wills, probate & estates · Hoppers Crossing, Victoria

Wills, probate and contested estates in Hoppers Crossing

Whether you are the executor of an estate, a family member who has been left out of a will, or someone finally getting their own affairs in order, we act for people in Hoppers Crossing and across Melbourne's west.

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Wills, probate & estates · Melbourne's west

Handling an estate, or contesting one, in Hoppers Crossing?

Three quite different jobs sit under this heading. Making a will and a power of attorney is the straightforward one, and the cheapest thing you will ever do to save your family trouble. Administering an estate — applying for a grant of probate or letters of administration, then calling in assets, paying debts and distributing — is procedural work with real deadlines. Contesting a will, or defending one, is litigation: in Victoria an eligible person can bring a family provision claim, and the time limit runs from the grant, so it is short. We do all three, and we will tell you plainly which one you are actually in.

People in Hoppers Crossing often come to us after a death in the family, or when they're thinking about what should happen to their assets and who should manage things. Sometimes a will exists but no one's sure where it is or whether it's current. Other times there's no will at all, and the family needs to work out who can act. The first step is usually to gather what paperwork you have—the death certificate if someone's passed away, any will or documents the person left behind, details of bank accounts, property, superannuation, and an idea of who the family members are. We can then sit down with you and work through what needs to happen next, whether that's applying to administer an estate, understanding your inheritance, or planning ahead for your own.

Wills, probate & estates in Hoppers Crossing: We act for executors, beneficiaries and claimants throughout Hoppers Crossing and across Melbourne's west. Estate matters are almost entirely handled by correspondence and online, so nothing requires you to travel — but our Reservoir office is there if you would rather sit down with someone.
We also act on wills, probate & estates matters in: Albanvale · Altona · Bonnie Brook · Burnside · Cairnlea.  Appointments online across Victoria, or in person at our Reservoir office.
Applying for probateAdministering an estateContesting a willMaking a willPowers of attorneyWills & estates
Common questions

Wills, probate & estates in Hoppers Crossing — FAQs

How long do I have to contest a will in Victoria?
A family provision claim must generally be started within six months of the grant of probate. It is a short window and it runs from the grant, not from the death — so if you are considering a claim about an estate connected to Hoppers Crossing, get advice early rather than waiting for the estate to be distributed.
Can I make a family provision claim if I was left out of a will?
Possibly. Victorian law allows certain people — including spouses and partners, children, and some others who depended on the deceased — to apply for provision from an estate where the will does not adequately provide for them. Whether you are eligible, and whether a claim is realistic, depends on your relationship to the deceased and your own circumstances. Time runs from the grant of probate, so get advice early.
Do I need probate for a small estate?
Not always. Whether a grant is needed depends on what the assets are and who holds them — some banks and share registries will release smaller holdings without one, and jointly held property may pass automatically. We will tell you at the outset whether you need a grant at all.
I'm the executor and the family is fighting. What do I do?
An executor's duty runs to the estate, not to any one beneficiary, and acting even-handedly is what protects you personally. Get advice before you distribute anything — distributing while a claim is on foot is where executors get into difficulty.
What does it cost?
Making a will or a power of attorney is fixed-fee and quoted upfront. Probate applications are usually fixed-fee too. Contested matters are quoted with an estimate at each stage, so you are never exposed to an open-ended bill.
What do I need to bring if someone's died and left no will?
Gather the death certificate, any paperwork about bank accounts or property, names and contact details of close family members, and details of the deceased's employer if they had one. Write down what assets and debts you know about. We can then review this with you and work out the steps required.

Speak to a wills, probate & estates lawyer about Hoppers Crossing

Tell us where the estate stands. We'll set out what has to happen, in what order, and what it will cost.

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