How Much Does Probate Cost? Comparing NSW, Victoria and Queensland Filing Fees

Detailed Explanation

Ask "how much does probate cost" and the honest first answer is: it depends which state's Supreme Court the application goes to, and in two of the three states covered here, how much the estate is worth. There's no national probate fee in Australia, because probate itself is administered state by state. This page sets out what NSW, Victoria and Queensland currently charge, so an executor budgeting for the process can see the shape of it before they file. For what probate actually is and when it's required in the first place, see what is probate and when is it required.

All figures below are court filing fees only: the amount paid to the Supreme Court registry to lodge the application. They're separate from solicitor's fees (if one is engaged) and from the funeral itself. See how much does a funeral cost in Australia if that's what brought you here; the two are commonly confused, but they're paid at different times, to different parties, for different things.

NSW: fee tiers by gross estate value

The Supreme Court of NSW charges a probate filing fee scaled to the estate's sworn gross value, current at 1 July 2025:

These fees are GST-exempt and reviewed annually each 1 July, so a 1 July 2026 update may have already superseded the figures above by the time this is read. Confirm the current schedule on the Supreme Court of NSW website before filing.

On timing: NSW requires a 14-day online notice of intention to apply before the summons for probate can be filed. As of a November 2025 update from the Chief Justice of NSW, the registry has brought new-application processing down to roughly two business days after that notice period expires where no requisitions (the registry's follow-up queries on an application) are raised, meaning an uncontested grant can issue in under three weeks of the notice period closing. Applications that draw requisitions take longer, depending on how quickly the applicant responds. Processing times are an operational matter that can shift again, so treat this as indicative rather than guaranteed, and expect the total time from death to grant to run longer once the death certificate wait and document preparation are added in.

Victoria: fee tiers by gross Victorian assets

The Supreme Court of Victoria's Probate Office fee schedule, effective from 1 July 2025, also scales by value, but specifically the gross value of the estate's Victorian assets:

Victoria's fee regulations adjust these amounts annually on 1 July under the Monetary Units Act, so the same caveat applies: check the current fee before filing rather than relying on a figure that may be a year or more old by the time it's read. Applications are lodged through the RedCrest-Probate online system, and the process from filing to grant typically takes around four weeks for an uncontested estate, though this varies with registry workload and whether requisitions are raised.

Queensland: a flat fee regardless of estate value

Queensland takes a different approach entirely. The Supreme Court of Queensland charges a single flat filing fee for a probate or letters of administration application, whatever the estate is worth:

Queensland's court fees are typically indexed each 1 July; the most recent indexation, effective 1 July 2026, held the increase at 3.4% in line with the government's standard indexation policy. The concession rate applies to applicants who hold a qualifying concession card (such as a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) or can demonstrate financial hardship, via an application to the registry. Confirm current eligibility criteria and the exact concession amount on the Queensland Courts website, since these details can change between reviews.

What counts toward the estate value

Whether the fee is based on estate value at all, and what counts if it is, differs by state:

• NSW: the fee is based on the sworn gross value of the estate stated in the probate application. The court's published fee schedule doesn't limit this to NSW-located assets the way Victoria's does, so it's worth confirming with the registry or a solicitor exactly what's included if the estate holds assets in more than one state.
• Victoria: the fee schedule states explicitly that it's calculated on the gross value of Victorian assets only. Interstate or overseas assets aren't counted toward the Victorian threshold, though they may still need to be dealt with through that other jurisdiction's own process.
• Queensland: none of this matters for the fee itself, because the flat fee applies regardless of value. It can still matter for other purposes (tax, distribution planning), just not for what the court charges to file.

An estate with assets spread across more than one state can, in principle, need probate (or a resealing of interstate probate) in more than one jurisdiction, each attracting its own fee. This is exactly the kind of cross-border complexity where getting advice from a solicitor experienced in succession law earns its cost.

Things to Consider

• These figures decay. Every fee on this page is reviewed annually, most on 1 July. Treat this page as a guide to the shape of the difference between states, not a substitute for checking the live fee on the relevant Supreme Court's own website the week you file.
• The fee is only one line item. Solicitor's costs, if engaged, are typically far larger than the court fee itself for anything beyond a straightforward estate. Get a quote before assuming the filing fee is the whole cost of "doing probate".
• Small estates in NSW and Victoria may pay nothing. If the estate (or, in Victoria, the Victorian portion of it) is genuinely modest, the court fee can be nil. It's still worth checking with each institution holding the deceased's assets, because probate may not be required at all below their own thresholds; see what is probate and when is it required.
• The court fee is reimbursed from the estate. Whoever pays it upfront, typically the executor, is repaid from estate funds once accessible, the same way other legitimate administration expenses are.
• Interstate assets change the picture. An estate with property or accounts in more than one state may need more than one grant (or a resealing), each with its own fee and process.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming one state's fee applies everywhere. Because probate is state-administered, quoting a NSW figure for a Victorian estate (or vice versa) is a genuine and common error, especially for families who've moved between states or are helping from interstate.
• Treating a figure found online as current without checking the date. Fee schedules move every year; a number that was correct in 2024 is very likely wrong by 2026 or 2027. Always check the issuing court's own current schedule.
• Confusing the probate filing fee with funeral costs. The two are entirely separate expenses, paid at different stages to different parties. See how much does a funeral cost in Australia for the funeral side of the ledger; funeral costs don't wait for probate and are typically settled from the deceased's account well before any grant issues.
• Overlooking the concession fee in Queensland. Executors who could qualify for the reduced Queensland fee sometimes pay the standard rate simply because they didn't know to ask; it's worth checking eligibility before filing if cost is a genuine concern for the estate or the applicant.