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Letters of Administration
Helping you administer a loved one’s estate
If your loved one has died without a will, you may need to apply for Letters of Administration, this will then allow you to become the Administrator of the estate. A grant of Letters of Administration allows the Administrator to step into the shoes of the deceased and administer their estate. If your loved one left a Will but no executor is able or willing to act, an eligible person (usually a main beneficiary) can apply for Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed. If the original Will cannot be found, the executor may still be able to apply for Probate of a copy, which needs extra evidence.
Reviewed by Jacinta Watkins, Partner – Estate Planning and Deceased Estates. Last updated November 2026.
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Ground Floor, Suite 4 291/295 High St, Penrith NSW 2750
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Steps in applying to the Supreme Court for Letters of Administration:
In summary, the process of applying for a grant of administration is:
- Ascertaining the value of assets;
- Publishing a notice of intended application on the NSW Online Registry at least 14 days before filing;
- Making enquiries to locate and undertake a search for any possible will made by the deceased;
- Drawing necessary documentation to apply for Letters of Administration;
- Obtaining the grant of Letters of Administration;
- Calling in of assets;
- Negotiating with superannuation funds;
- Negotiating with life insurance agencies;
- Organising publication of intention to distribute;
- Distributing the estate; and
- Establishing a trust if required.
Court Documents to be filed for Letters of Administration
To apply for letters of administration we will file the following documents in the Supreme Court of NSW:
- Summons for Letters of Administration (or Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed)
- Draft Grant for Letters of Administration (or Grant for Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed)
- Affidavit of the Applicant for Administration (or Affidavit of the Applicant for Administration with the Will Annexed)
- Inventory of Property
- A copy of the will, if you are applying for Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed
- Death Certificate.
Who can apply for Letters of Administration NSW?
A grant of administration is usually only made to someone who is entitled to the whole of the estate or to a share of the estate ( with the consent of the other beneficiaries)
The grant is usually made to the deceased’s ‘next of kin’, which is the deceased’s closest relative which includes:
- the spouse of the deceased
- one or more of the next of kin
- the spouse jointly with other relatives.
If there is no next of kin or none that are appropriate or willing to apply for the grant, then the Court may grant administration to the NSW Trustee & Guardian.
No Will? You don’t have to work through this alone.
Speak with our estate team about applying for Letters of Administration.
Not sure who is entitled?
Every family is different. Our estate lawyers can explain the order of entitlement and what it means for you.
Who is entitled to the Estate of the Deceased under Letters of Administration?
The law sets out who is entitled to an estate and in what Order, it is as follows ( this table is taken from Law Access) :
| 1. A spouse and child from the relationship | The spouse is entitled to the whole of the estate. |
| 2. A spouse and child from a previous relationship. | The spouse is entitled to receive: · the personal effects (property) of the deceased· a statutory legacy (gift) of $350,000 adjusted by the Consumer Price Index (over $600,000 for deaths in 2026; the figure changes each quarter). For information about Consumer Price Index, go to the Australian Bureau of Statistics website. If this amount is not paid within 1 year from the date of death, the spouse is also entitled to receive interest on this amount.· half of everything left over (the remainder of the estate).All of the deceased person’s children, whether from a previous relationship or with the surviving spouse, are entitled to equal shares of the other half of the remainder of the estate. Children who are not legally the children of the deceased, for example step children, are not included.The spouse also has a ‘right to elect’ to acquire property from the estate. If you are the spouse and if you want to purchase property from the estate, you should get legal advice |
| 3. More than one spouse | The spouses are entitled to equal shares of the estate. There may be more than one spouse if the deceased was married and had a de facto spouse or more than one de facto spouse. |
| 4. Children only | The children are entitled to equal shares of the whole of the estate. This includes adopted children, but not step children. If a child of the deceased has already died leaving children (grandchildren of the deceased), the grandchildren are entitled to their parent’s share. |
| 5. No spouse or children | The deceased person’s parents are entitled to equal shares of the whole of the estate. |
| 6. No spouse, children or parents | The deceased person’s full and half blood brothers and sisters are entitled to equal shares of the whole of the estate. If the deceased person’s siblings died leaving children, then the deceased person’s nephews or nieces are entitled to the share their parent would have received in the estate. |
| 7. No spouse, children, parents, brothers or sisters | The deceased person’s grandparents are entitled to equal shares of the whole of the estate. |
| 8. No spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters or grandparents | The deceased person’s full and half-blood aunts and uncles are entitled to equal shares of the whole of the estate. |
| 9. No spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts or uncles | The deceased person’s first cousins are entitled to share equally in the share that their parent would have been entitled to. |
| 10.No spouse, children, parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins | The State government is entitled to the whole of the estate |
See the original table here
How much does it cost to obtain a grant of Letters of Administration?
The professional costs of obtaining a grant are fixed by regulation, so every law practice charges the same amount for that work (plus GST and disbursements, including any Court filing fee). This is why when you are picking a lawyer to work with you through this process you choose someone you are comfortable with and feel supported by.
These fixed costs are set by the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Regulation 2025 (NSW).
These costs are as follows:
Part 1 – Obtaining first time grant or the resealing of probate
| Disclosed value of assets | Costs payable |
|---|---|
| Not exceeding $30,000 | $560 Plus $13.33 for each $1,000 up to $30,000 |
| Exceeding $30,000 but not exceeding $150,000 | $960 Plus $5.90 for each $1,000 in excess of $30,000 |
| Exceeding $150,000 but not exceeding $1,000,000 | $1,670 Plus $4.47 for each $1,000 in excess of $150,000 |
| Exceeding $1,000,000 but not exceeding $3,000,000 | $5,470 Plus $1.66 for each $1,000 in excess of $1,000,000 |
| Exceeding $3,000,000 but not exceeding $5,000,000 | $8,800 Plus $1.10 for each $1,000 in excess of $3,000,000 |
| Exceeding $5,000,000 but not exceeding $10,000,000 | $11,000 Plus $0.90 for each $1,000 in excess of $5,000,000 |
| Exceeding $10,000,000 | $15,500 |
So, for example if an Estate has a value of $500,000 the scale costs would be calculated as follows:
$1670 + (500,000 – 150,000 = $350,000 /1,000 =350 x 4.47) = $3,234.50 + GST
This fee is the cost of obtaining the grant of Letters of Administration, the calling in of assets is charged on a pro-rata basis for what action is required for each individual Estate.
Where to from here?
At the initial consultation, we will take instructions from you to commence the process of applying for Letters of Administration.
Prior to attending your conference with us, we will send you an information form for your completion and to assist you to gather the relevant information required.
Give the experienced lawyers at ALA Law a call to discuss we can assist you with applying for a grant of Letters of Administration, or hop over to our “Get Started Now page” to lodge an instant enquiry to start your matter.
Wish to discuss your situation with our Estate Lawyers?
Please contact ALA Law to book an appointment with one of our Letters of Administration Solicitors to discuss your matter on 0247 616 935
