Wills & estates · Melbourne, VIC
Wills & estates lawyers in Melbourne: 46 profiles of our own, researched and register-noted. Every card says which of those it is, and links the source.
Your first call for a wills and estates matter. Runs the matter from the first meeting — advice, negotiation, the paperwork, and court if it comes to that — and briefs a barrister when one is needed.
Contact the firm directlyA solicitor a law institute has accredited in a field after formal assessment. We show it only where the listing says so. Shown on the Victorian register.
Ask the firm, or check the registerAn advocate for hearings, trials and hard points of law. Some accept direct briefs from the public; most work comes through a solicitor.
Usually through your solicitor30 law firms and 16 barristers, with Doyle’s Guide rankings where they exist and a register note on every listing. We group lawyers by what Doyle’s Guide published and what we have checked ourselves. Inside a group the order is alphabetical, and no lawyer here is rated above another by us.
Within this group the order is alphabetical. It is not a ranking.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Commercial Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Wills, Estates & Succession
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Town Planning & Development
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Town Planning & Development
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Health & Aged Care
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide First Tier · Wills, Estates & Succession
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Within this group the order is alphabetical. It is not a ranking.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Second Tier · Health & Aged Care
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Leading · Agribusiness
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Second Tier · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Second Tier · Insolvency & Restructuring
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Second Tier · Wills, Estates & Succession
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Second Tier · Wills, Estates & Succession
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Second Tier · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Within this group the order is alphabetical. It is not a ranking.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Wills, Estates & Succession
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Technology, Media & Telecommunications
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Commercial Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Third Tier · Town Planning & Development
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Law firm
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Estates Litigation
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Within this group the order is alphabetical. It is not a ranking.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Owen Dixon Chambers East
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Leading · Planning & Environment
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Within this group the order is alphabetical. It is not a ranking.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Aickin Chambers
Melbourne, VIC
Doyle’s Guide Recommended · Family Law
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Within this group the order is alphabetical. It is not a ranking.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · xx Chancery Chambers
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Aickin Chambers
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Owen Dixon Chambers West
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Independent barrister practising from the Victorian Bar
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Independent barrister practising from the Victorian Bar
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Aickin Chambers
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Independent barrister practising from the Victorian Bar
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Owen Dixon Chambers West
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Independent barrister practising from the Victorian Bar
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Independent barrister practising from the Victorian Bar
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Independent barrister practising from the Victorian Bar
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Owen Dixon Chambers West
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Barrister at the Victorian Bar · Owen Dixon Chambers West
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
Independent barrister practising from the Victorian Bar
Melbourne, VIC
We have not checked anything on this listing yet. That is about our coverage, not about this lawyer.
No lawyers match those filters.
Doyle’s Guide tiers are Doyle’s, from its peer survey, reproduced with attribution. Google ratings are ratings of the firm, not of an individual lawyer. Sponsored placements are labelled. Nobody pays to be listed.
Wills, estates and succession law is state-administered — each state has its own succession legislation, family provision regime, and probate registry. Estate planning straddles legal and tax advice; contested estate matters are litigation with their own evidence and procedure. Early estate planning typically saves substantial dispute cost later.
Melbourne is the second-largest legal market in Australia with substantial commercial and equity practices. The Supreme Court of Victoria, Federal Court (Melbourne Registry), and Federal Circuit and Family Court (Melbourne Registry) all sit here. The Law Institute of Victoria regulates solicitors; the Victorian Bar regulates barristers.
Regulators: Law Institute of Victoria (liv.asn.au) and the Victorian Bar (vicbar.com.au)
Supreme Court of Victoria Probate Office (210 William Street). Family provision claims under Administration and Probate Act 1958 (VIC) within 6 months of grant.
Indicative fees drawn from published cost data. Confirm in writing with any firm before engaging — written costs disclosure is mandatory under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
| Pathway / matter type | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple will | $440–$1,100 | |
| Mirror wills | $650–$1,750 | |
| Probate (uncontested) | $2,200–$6,000 + fees | |
| Family provision | $22,000–$75,000 mediation |
For the full wills & estates cost breakdown across Australia, see our Wills & estates cost guide.
Matter types we see most often in our intake from Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.
Single wills, mirror wills (couples), wills with testamentary trusts, powers of attorney, enduring guardianship, advance care directives. Tax-effective structures for high-net-worth estates often involve trust planning.
Application to Supreme Court for grant of probate (where there is a will) or letters of administration (where there isn’t). Filing fees scale with estate value. Administration includes notifying creditors, realising assets, paying debts, and distributing to beneficiaries.
Eligible persons may apply for further provision from a deceased estate where inadequately provided for. Time limits are strict and vary by state — 12 months in NSW from death (s58 Succession Act); 6 months from grant in VIC. Most claims settle at mediation.
Claims that a will is invalid — defective execution, lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence. Expert medical evidence usually required. High-cost litigation.
Disputes about asset valuation, distribution, executor conduct. Often resolved by mediation; court intervention available where executors are obstructing.
Family trusts, discretionary trusts, SMSF death benefit nominations. Interaction between estate and trust assets is a common area of dispute — trust assets are usually outside the estate but binding death benefit nominations control superannuation.
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