How to Contest a Will in the ACT: Family Provision Claims Explained
Who can contest a will in the ACT, the family provision claim process under the Family Provision Act 1969, and the six-month deadline to act.
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All articles about When Someone Dies in Australian Capital Territory — Estate Settlement Guide.
Final Tax Return and ATO Clearance After Death in Australia
What tax returns an executor must lodge after a death in Australia — the final individual return, trust tax returns for the estate, and how to get ATO clearance.
Estate Inventory Template and Probate Filing Fees in the ACT
How to prepare an estate inventory for ACT probate, why gross vs net value matters for filing fees, and what the Supreme Court requires in the inventory of property.
How Long Does Estate Settlement Take in the ACT?
A realistic ACT estate settlement timeline — from death certificate to final distribution — with key milestones, statutory waiting periods, and what causes delays.
Executor Mistakes to Avoid in the ACT: Common Probate Errors
The most common executor and probate mistakes in the ACT that trigger Supreme Court requisitions, personal liability, or major delays — and how to avoid them.
Paying Funeral Costs from an Estate in the ACT (+ Funeral Assistance Program)
How funeral costs are paid from a deceased estate in the ACT, who qualifies for the ACT Funeral Assistance Program, and what funeral directors in Canberra do.
No Will in the ACT: Intestacy Rules and Letters of Administration
What happens when someone dies without a will in the ACT — who inherits, the intestacy formula, and how to apply for Letters of Administration.
Probate Lawyer Cost in the ACT vs DIY: When Do You Actually Need One?
What probate lawyers charge in Canberra, what DIY probate really involves in the ACT, and how to decide whether you need professional help.
How to Publish a Probate Notice in the ACT Supreme Court
ACT probate notices must be published online — not in newspapers. Here's the exact process, the $61 fee, and the 14-day to 3-month timing window you must follow.
How Much Does the ACT Public Trustee Charge to Administer an Estate?
ACT Public Trustee and Guardian commission rates, estate administration costs, and when paying PTG fees makes no sense compared to other options.
Resealing a Foreign Probate Grant in the ACT
When and how to reseal a foreign probate grant in the ACT Supreme Court — for interstate Australian grants and overseas grants affecting ACT assets.
The Six-Month Rule Before Distributing an Estate in the ACT
Why ACT executors must wait six months after probate before distributing an estate, how the Notice of Intended Distribution protects you, and what happens if you don't.
Alternatives to the ACT Public Trustee for Estate Administration
The ACT Public Trustee charges 4.4% commission ($23,100 on $600K). Here are three alternatives that cost a fraction and keep you in control.
Best Estate Settlement Guide for ACT Families Without a Lawyer
Settling an ACT estate without a solicitor? The best guide covers Supreme Court forms, probate notice timing, and every mistake self-represented executors make.
Best Estate Settlement Resource for First-Time Executors in the ACT
Named executor for the first time in Canberra? The best resource covers ACT Supreme Court forms, probate notice timing, and the mistakes that trigger requisitions.
ACT Estate Settlement Guide vs Free Government Resources: What Actually Gets You Through Probate
Free ACT probate info exists across 12+ government websites. Here's why a paid guide saves weeks of confusion and prevents costly mistakes.
ACT Estate Settlement Guide vs Hiring a Canberra Probate Solicitor: Which Is Right for You?
Structured comparison of the ACT Estate Settlement Guide against hiring a Canberra probate solicitor — costs, complexity, and when each makes sense.
How to Cancel Utilities After a Death in the ACT: ActewAGL, Icon Water, and More
Step-by-step guide to closing or transferring utility accounts after a death in Canberra — ActewAGL, Icon Water, and other ACT utility providers.
Do I Need Probate in the ACT? Thresholds, Exceptions, and Alternatives
Not every ACT estate requires probate. Here's how to work out whether you need a Grant of Probate — and what the alternatives are for small estates or joint assets.
Executor Checklist for the ACT: Duties, Deadlines, and Decisions
A complete ACT executor checklist covering legal duties, Supreme Court deadlines, and the key decisions from day one through final distribution.
Frozen Bank Account After a Death in the ACT: How to Access Funds
When a bank account is frozen after death in the ACT, you have options. Here's how Section 69B works, bank thresholds, and how to close accounts without probate.
How Long Does Probate Take in the ACT?
Realistic ACT probate timelines from notice publication to grant, plus what causes delays — and how long the full estate settlement takes from start to finish.
Letters of Administration in the ACT: When You Need Them and How to Apply
When someone dies without a Will in the ACT, you need Letters of Administration from the ACT Supreme Court. Here's exactly how the process works.
Probate vs Letters of Administration in the ACT: What's the Difference?
When you need probate versus letters of administration in the ACT — which application to file, what forms are required, and how the two processes compare.
How to Renounce or Decline Executorship in the ACT
How to formally renounce your role as executor in the ACT, when a substitute executor steps in, and what happens if you have already started acting on the estate.
Small Estates in the ACT: When You Can Skip Probate
When ACT estates under $150,000 can bypass probate — the Public Trustee election to administer, bank indemnity forms, and what counts as a small estate.
What to Do When Someone Dies in the Australian Capital Territory
A practical, step-by-step guide to estate settlement in Canberra after a death — from the first 24 hours through to final distribution.
Who to Notify After a Death in the Australian Capital Territory
Complete agency notification checklist for ACT estates — Centrelink, DVA, Medicare, banks, Access Canberra, and more, with deadlines and what to say.
The ACT Will Register: How to Search for a Will After Someone Dies
How to search the ACT Will Register for a deceased person's Will — what the register covers, how to request a search, and what to do if no Will is found.
Stamp Duty Exemption for Deceased Estates in the ACT (Section 232D)
When deceased estate property transfers in the ACT are exempt from stamp duty — and when partial conformity triggers a conveyance duty bill.
ACT Public Trustee and Guardian: When to Use Them (and When Not To)
The ACT Public Trustee and Guardian charges up to 4.4% commission on estates. Here's when they're worth it — and when a DIY approach makes more financial sense.
Date of Death Tax Return and Estate Tax Returns: What ACT Executors Need to File
Executors in the ACT must lodge a date of death tax return and estate trust returns with the ATO. Here's what to file, when, and how to get an estate TFN.
ACT Supreme Court Filing Fees and Probate Forms Explained
Exact ACT Supreme Court probate filing fees for 2025/2026, required forms, and how to avoid costly requisitions when applying without a solicitor.
Transferring Property After Death in the ACT: Form 015-ND vs Form 032-TA
How to transfer a house after death in the ACT — when to use Form 015-ND or 032-TA, what the Land Titles Office requires, and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Surviving Spouse Estate Rights in the ACT: Joint Tenancy and Bank Accounts
What happens to jointly-owned property, joint bank accounts, and your estate rights as a surviving spouse in the Australian Capital Territory.
Interstate Probate in the ACT: Resealing a Foreign Grant
How to handle cross-border estates in the ACT — when you need to reseal a NSW or interstate probate grant, what forms are required, and how to do it remotely.
Superannuation Death Benefits in the ACT: What Happens to Super After Death
How superannuation death benefits and pensions are paid after a death in the ACT — binding nominations, tax implications, and what to do if there's no nomination.
Centrelink Bereavement Payment in the ACT: Who Qualifies and How to Claim
How to claim the Centrelink bereavement payment in Canberra. Who qualifies, how much it pays, what to report, and how to avoid overpayment recovery.
Dying Without a Will in the ACT: Letters of Administration Explained
No will in the ACT? You'll need Letters of Administration, not Probate. Here's exactly how the intestacy rules work and which court forms to file.