Northern Territory Probate Fees and Court Costs

Before you decide whether to handle a Northern Territory estate yourself, engage a lawyer, or hand it to the Public Trustee, you need accurate numbers. Many executors encounter their first nasty surprise when they discover the NT Supreme Court charges a flat filing fee — not a percentage-of-estate fee — that applies whether the estate is worth $80,000 or $800,000. A second surprise follows when they realise that lawyers and the Public Trustee charge on a sliding scale that can strip thousands from even modest estates.

Here is a clear picture of what to expect.

Supreme Court Filing Costs

The NT Supreme Court charges two separate fees for a probate application:

• Originating process (filing) fee: approximately $1,506 for the 2025/2026 financial year
• Search fee: approximately $36

These figures produce a combined cost of approximately $1,542 for the current financial year.

A critical caveat: NT court fees are not fixed dollar amounts. They are expressed in "monetary units" under the Monetary Units Act 2018 (NT), and the value of each unit is indexed annually on 1 July against the Darwin Consumer Price Index. The figures above are for 2025/2026; verify the current amount directly on the NT Supreme Court fee schedule before lodging. A monetary unit was worth $1.23 in 2025/2026.

This flat fee applies regardless of the estate's value. For a large estate, it represents a negligible administrative cost. For a modest estate, it can feel disproportionate — which is exactly why some families explore whether the Public Trustee's election process might be cheaper.

Certified Copies of the Grant

Once the grant is issued, you will likely need certified copies for interstate banks, share registries, and financial institutions that refuse to accept ordinary photocopies.

• First page of a certified copy: approximately $7.25
• Each additional page: approximately $1.45

Order several. A probate application that spans multiple pages can still cost less than $30 total in certified copies, which is a minor expense relative to the filing fee.

Death Certificate

The NT Births, Deaths and Marriages office does not automatically issue a death certificate. You must apply and pay. The standard fee is currently approximately $56. Priority processing incurs additional cost — verify at the time of application.

You will need the death certificate before you can do almost anything else. Banks require it to freeze or release accounts. The Supreme Court requires it annexed to the Affidavit of Death. Order at least two certified copies at the outset.

Land Titles Office: Property Transfers

If real estate is involved, the NT Land Titles Office charges a document lodgement fee for processing the transmission:

• Lodgement fee: approximately $176 (verify current amount)

This applies to the Application to register a personal representative (where the deceased was a sole owner or tenant in common) and to the Application to note death by surviving proprietor (for joint tenancy properties). The LTO processes these in-person in Darwin or Alice Springs, or by mail.

What Lawyers Charge

A solicitor handling the full probate application on your behalf — drafting affidavits, filing with the court, managing requisitions — typically charges:

• Simple, uncontested probate: $2,500–$3,500 in legal fees, plus disbursements (court fees, searches, travel if remote)
• Letters of administration (no will): $4,000–$6,000+, reflecting the additional complexity of administration bonds and intestacy hierarchy proof

These are professional service fees on top of the Supreme Court filing fees listed above. The legal fees come from the estate, reducing what beneficiaries ultimately receive. Executors who choose the DIY path avoid these costs entirely — the only fees they pay are the court and registry fees.

What the Public Trustee Charges

The Public Trustee of the Northern Territory administers estates for a tiered commission based on the gross value of estate assets:

On a $300,000 estate, the Public Trustee commission totals approximately $11,800 — before any disbursements.

The Public Trustee also has access to the streamlined "election to administer" pathway for estates under approximately $150,000, which bypasses the full Supreme Court application. However, this pathway is only available to professional personal representatives (the Public Trustee, a licensed trustee company, or a solicitor). A family executor cannot use it.

The DIY Cost Comparison

If you act as your own executor, the total out-of-pocket costs are roughly:

Against a private law firm charging $3,500, the DIY saving is approximately $1,640 in a simple estate. Against the Public Trustee on a $300,000 estate ($11,800 commission), the saving is close to $10,000.

The obstacle to DIY is not cost — it is knowledge. The NT Supreme Court's rigid PDF formatting rules, the mandatory 14-day online notice period, the physical handling requirements for the original Will, and the strict electronic filing protocols under Practice Direction 3 of 2020 all create friction that turns a financially straightforward task into an intimidating one.

When to Hire a Lawyer Regardless of Cost

Even with a complete DIY guide, certain NT estates warrant immediate professional advice:

• The estate is insolvent (debts exceed assets)
• A Will is being contested under the Family Provision Act 1970 (NT)
• The deceased died intestate and the family disagrees on who should administer
• An administration bond is required and surety cannot be arranged
• The estate includes assets in multiple jurisdictions requiring resealing

In these circumstances, professional fees are a genuine insurance cost, not an avoidable luxury.

The Northern Territory Probate Process Guide covers the full application workflow — from interpreting fees to completing every required form — so you can keep the estate's money inside the family rather than paying it out in professional fees for a straightforward, uncontested estate.

See more Northern Territory guides →