Australia Probate Fee Calculator
Pick your state or territory and enter the estate value to estimate the Supreme Court probate filing fee. Covers all eight jurisdictions, from Victoria and the ACT's tiered scales to Queensland's flat $847.60 and the NT's $1,585. FY2026-27 figures, calculated entirely in your browser; no sign-up.
Estimated probate fee, New South Wales
$1,999
$500,000 to under $1,000,000
New South Wales charges a tiered probate fee set by estate value, not a percentage. An estate in the $500,000 to under $1,000,000 band pays $1,999 (FY2026-27). Budget also for the $59 online notice fee.
See probate in New South Wales for the full fee table and process, and confirm the current figure with the Supreme Court of NSW.
This tool estimates the court probate filing fee from each state and territory's published FY2026-27 schedule. Australian probate fees are court fees on the estate, not an inheritance or death tax; Australia abolished death duties decades ago. The fee is set by a fixed amount per value band (or a flat amount), never a percentage, and these schedules re-index around 1 July each year. Your actual fee depends on which assets form part of the estate and the current schedule. This is general information, not legal or tax advice, and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm or a government body. Confirm the figure with the relevant Supreme Court and consider advice from an estate lawyer.
How Probate Fees Work
A probate fee in Australia is a court filing fee paid to the Supreme Court to have a will proved and an executor authorised. It is not an inheritance tax or a death duty; Australia abolished those decades ago. Crucially, the fee is a fixed dollar amount, either flat or set by a band of estate value, and never a percentage of the estate, which is what makes Australian probate far cheaper than probate in many other countries.
Five jurisdictions charge a tiered fee. New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT start at nil below a threshold ($100,000 in NSW, $250,000 in Victoria, $50,000 in the ACT) and rise in set steps; South Australia and Tasmania charge from the first dollar. A nil band is a fee waiver, not a sign that probate is unnecessary: the estate still needs a grant.
Three jurisdictions charge a single flat fee no matter the estate's size: Queensland ($847.60, with a $154.70 concession), Western Australia ($418), and the Northern Territory ($1,585). See probate fees across Australia for the full comparison, or your state's page for its exact table.
Which State Charges the Most
For a large estate the gap is wide. A $3 million estate pays $4,439 in New South Wales but $7,598.80 in Victoria, while the same estate in Western Australia pays the flat $418 and in Tasmania about $1,946. Victoria has the steepest scale at the top, reaching $17,770.80 for an estate of $7 million or more. The Northern Territory's flat $1,585 is the figure most often reported wrongly: older third-party sources still quote around $383, which understates the current cost by nearly four times. Always work from the court's current schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is probate a tax on the estate?
No. A probate fee in Australia is a court filing fee for proving the will and authorising the executor, not an inheritance tax or death duty. Australia abolished death duties between 1979 and 1982. The fee is a fixed amount set by the estate’s value band, or a flat amount, and is never a percentage of the estate.
What value do I enter?
The gross value of the assets that form part of the estate and pass under the will or intestacy. Assets held as joint tenants (which pass automatically to the surviving owner) and assets with a valid binding nomination, such as some superannuation or life insurance, usually pass outside the estate and are not counted for the fee. Each court has its own rules on exactly what to include, so check before filing.
Does a “nil” fee mean I don’t need probate?
No. In New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT the fee is waived below a threshold, but that is a fee waiver, not an exemption from needing a grant. Whether probate is required depends on the assets and the institutions holding them (a bank or share registry may insist on a grant regardless of value), not on whether a fee is payable.
Why do these fees change?
Australian court fees re-index almost every year, usually on 1 July at the start of the financial year. The figures in this tool are the FY2026-27 amounts taken from each Supreme Court’s published schedule. A figure quoted from before the most recent 1 July may be stale, which is exactly how the widely repeated “$383” Northern Territory figure became wrong.
Are there other costs beyond the filing fee?
Usually yes. Beyond the court filing fee you may pay a newspaper or online advertisement fee for the notice of intended application, a fee to obtain the death certificate, and, if you engage a solicitor, their professional fees, which are separate from and often much larger than the court fee. This tool estimates only the court filing fee.
Does this tool store what I enter?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is saved, transmitted, or used to contact you.
This calculator uses the published FY2026-27 probate filing-fee schedules for the eight Australian states and territories. It estimates the court filing fee only and is general information, not legal or tax advice. RecordingLaw.com is not affiliated with any court or government body. Confirm the current fee with the relevant Supreme Court and consider advice from an estate lawyer.
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