Probate Fees in Australia FY2026-27: Every State Compared
Probate filing fees in Australia are set separately by each state and territory and typically re-index on 1 July. For FY2026-27 they range from a flat $418.00 in Western Australia to a flat $1,585 in the Northern Territory, with five jurisdictions using tiered scales instead.
How Probate Fees Work in Australia
Every Australian state and territory Supreme Court charges a fee to file a probate application, set under that jurisdiction's own court fees regulation or determination, not by any national schedule. Fees fall into two structures. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory charge a single flat fee no matter how large or small the estate is. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory instead charge a tiered fee, calculated on the estate's gross value (before debts are deducted), with a low or nil entry tier and progressively higher tiers up to a maximum for very large estates. Most jurisdictions review these fees annually, with changes usually taking effect on 1 July, so a fee figure should always be checked against the current financial year rather than assumed to carry over.
Tiered Probate Fees, FY2026-27
Five jurisdictions, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, calculate the FY2026-27 probate filing fee on the gross value of the estate, with a nil or low entry tier for small estates and a top tier that applies once the estate passes a set threshold, generally in the millions of dollars. The exact tier boundaries and step values differ by jurisdiction and by financial year, so the figures below are current for FY2026-27 only and should be confirmed against the relevant Supreme Court's published fee schedule before relying on them for a specific estate.
New South Wales
New South Wales charges Nil under $100,000, then rises through six further tiers to a top fee of $7,399 for estates of $5 million or more: $960, $1,303, $1,999, $2,663, $4,439, and $7,399.
Victoria
Victoria charges Nil under $250,000 for a standard payer (executors are always treated as standard payers), then rises through seven further tiers to a top fee of $17,770.80 for estates of $7 million or more: $544.00, $1,088.00, $2,538.70, $5,077.40, $7,598.80, $12,693.40, and $17,770.80.
South Australia
| Estate value | FY2026-27 fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $200,000 | $1,020 |
| Over $200,000 up to $500,000 | $2,038 |
| Over $500,000 up to $1,000,000 | $2,715 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $4,075 |
Tasmania
Tasmania's fee is calculated using a fee unit set at $1.96 from 1 July 2026, rising through seven tiers from $548.80 for estates under $50,000 to $2,338.28 for estates of $5 million or more: $548.80, $991.76, $1,074.08, $1,352.40, $1,713.04, $1,946.28, and $2,338.28.
Australian Capital Territory
| Estate value | FY2026-27 fee |
|---|---|
| Under $50,000 | Nil |
| $50,000 to under $250,000 | $1,164 |
| $250,000 to under $500,000 | $1,471 |
| $500,000 to under $1,000,000 | $2,224 |
| $1,000,000 and over | $2,961 |
The Australian Capital Territory's tiers are set under the Court Procedures (Fees) Determination 2026 (DI2026-112), item 1203, effective 1 July 2026.
Flat Probate Fees, FY2026-27
Three jurisdictions charge a single flat fee no matter how large or small the estate is, which is simpler to plan for but means a small estate in these jurisdictions pays the same filing fee as a very large one.
Queensland
Queensland's FY2026-27 probate filing fee is a flat $847.60, with a concession fee of $154.70 available in eligible circumstances. The fee increased by 3.4 percent on 1 July 2026, part of Queensland's standard annual court fee indexation.
Western Australia
Western Australia's FY2026-27 probate filing fee is a flat $418.00, the lowest of the eight jurisdictions. This figure should always be checked against the current year, since Western Australia's fee has moved between financial years in the past.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory's FY2026-27 probate filing fee is a flat $1,585 in total, made up of a $1,548 filing fee and a $37 search fee. It is the highest flat fee in the country, more than three and a half times Western Australia's flat fee.
A Nil Fee Tier Waives the Fee, Not the Need for Probate
New South Wales (under $100,000), Victoria (under $250,000) and the Australian Capital Territory (under $50,000) all waive the filing fee entirely for estates below their respective thresholds. This Nil tier is a fee waiver only. It does not mean a small estate can skip the probate process, and a bank, share registry or the land titles office can still require a formal grant before releasing assets, regardless of whether the court charged a fee to issue it. Separately, several jurisdictions offer genuine small-estate shortcuts, simplified applications or Public Trustee processes that bypass some or all of the standard grant process below a set threshold; see How to Apply for Probate in Australia for which jurisdictions have these and how they work.
What the Filing Fee Does and Does Not Cover
The fees above are the Supreme Court's own filing fee for lodging the probate application. They do not include a solicitor's professional fees for preparing and lodging the application on the executor's behalf, a Public Trustee's administration fees where the Public Trustee is appointed, valuation fees for estate assets, or the cost of the death certificate itself. An executor handling a straightforward estate personally, without a solicitor, generally pays only the court filing fee and any search or advertising fees the registry requires. An executor who engages professional help pays the filing fee in addition to whatever that professional charges.
When These Fees Change
Most Australian court fees, including probate filing fees, are reviewed on a financial-year cycle, with new fee schedules typically taking effect on 1 July. Tasmania's fee, for example, is calculated from a fee unit that itself changed on 1 July 2026, and Queensland's flat fee increased by 3.4 percent on the same date. A fee figure quoted for one financial year should not be assumed to carry over into the next; the current schedule should always be confirmed with the relevant Supreme Court registry, which is linked from each jurisdiction's dedicated probate guide on the Australia Wills and Probate hub.
Comparing the Cheapest and Most Expensive Options
For a small estate, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory can be the cheapest jurisdictions to apply in, since each waives the fee entirely below its Nil threshold. For an estate that does not qualify for a Nil tier, Western Australia's flat $418.00 is the lowest fee of any jurisdiction regardless of estate size, while the Northern Territory's flat $1,585 is the highest flat fee, and Victoria's top tier of $17,770.80 for estates of $7 million or more is the highest fee of any kind in the country. These comparisons matter for cost planning, but the applicable jurisdiction is determined by where the deceased lived and where their assets are located, not by choice, so they are useful for context rather than for choosing where to apply.
This article provides general information about FY2026-27 probate filing fees in Australia. It is not legal or financial advice. Court fees are reviewed and commonly re-indexed each 1 July, and the figures here should be confirmed against the relevant Supreme Court’s current published fee schedule before relying on them for a specific estate. This information was last verified on 20 July 2026. For advice about your own situation, consult a legal practitioner admitted in the relevant Australian state or territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the probate fee in each Australian state for FY2026-27?
It ranges from a flat $418.00 in Western Australia to a flat $1,585 in the Northern Territory, with New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory charging tiered fees based on the estate’s value.
Which state has the cheapest probate fee?
Western Australia’s flat $418.00 is the lowest fee that applies regardless of estate size. New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory can be cheaper still for a small estate, since each waives the fee entirely below its Nil threshold.
Which state has the most expensive probate fee?
For a very large estate, Victoria’s top tier of $17,770.80 (estates of $7 million or more) is the highest fee in the country. Among flat fees, the Northern Territory’s $1,585 is the highest.
Does a Nil probate fee mean I do not need a grant of probate?
No. A Nil fee tier waives the filing fee for an estate below the threshold. It does not exempt the estate from needing a grant to deal with banks, share registries or the land titles office.
Do probate fees include a lawyer’s fees?
No. The figures here are the Supreme Court’s own filing fee only. A solicitor’s or Public Trustee’s professional fees for preparing and lodging the application are charged separately.
How is the New South Wales probate fee calculated?
On the gross value of the deceased’s New South Wales estate, using a tiered scale from Nil under $100,000 up to $7,399 for estates of $5 million or more.
Do probate fees change every year?
Most jurisdictions review their fee schedule annually, generally with changes taking effect on 1 July, so a fee figure should always be checked against the current financial year.
Is the Queensland probate fee tiered like New South Wales?
No. Queensland charges a single flat fee, currently $847.60 for FY2026-27, regardless of the estate’s size, with a lower concession fee available in eligible circumstances.
Sources and References
- Supreme Court of New South Wales(supremecourt.nsw.gov.au).gov
- Supreme Court of Victoria: Wills and Probate(supremecourt.vic.gov.au).gov
- Queensland Courts(courts.qld.gov.au).gov
- Supreme Court of Western Australia(supremecourt.wa.gov.au).gov
- Courts of South Australia(courts.sa.gov.au).gov
- Supreme Court of Tasmania(supremecourt.tas.gov.au).gov
- ACT Legislation Register: Court Procedures (Fees) Determination 2026 (DI2026-112)(legislation.act.gov.au).gov
- Supreme Court of the Northern Territory(supremecourt.nt.gov.au).gov