Probate & Administration

The death of a loved one is a very sad occasion.

Graham Legal handles these files with appropriate respect and reverence and with a minimum of stress to the client.

If a person dies having made a Will that appoints an executor who is willing to accept the appointment, the process for administration of the estate is known as an application for a Grant of Probate. Otherwise, the process is called an application for a Grant of Letters of Administration.

A person who has been appointed as an executor (or who is intending to make application for a Grant of Letters of Administration) should make an early appointment to see Phillip Graham. At a first appointment the following issues are usually discussed:

• authority to make funeral arrangements;
• payment and liability for payment of expenses (including funeral costs);
• the requirement to identify the assets and liabilities of the estate;
• the whereabouts of the original Will;
• the need to locate and provide important documents (including Certificates of Title and papers relating to the deceased's Bank, Insurance, Superannuation and other asset entitlements);
• the need to locate and provide documents relating to all debts owing by the estate;
• a reading of the Will;
• whether there are persons who are likely to dispute the Will.

Graham Legal has established special procedures to ensure that applications for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration are processed efficiently and with as little imposition on the appointed executor or administrator as possible.

Graham Legal is experienced in both kinds of applications and processes these files efficiently and at reasonable cost.