Probate Fees QLD: Every Cost in the Queensland Probate Process

Queensland charges a flat filing fee for probate regardless of estate value — unlike some Australian states where costs scale with the size of the estate. That sounds simple, but the total out-of-pocket cost for a Grant of Probate involves at least four separate charges from four different bodies. Here's every fee you'll actually encounter.

Supreme Court Filing Fee

The primary cost is the Supreme Court of Queensland's filing fee for a probate application (Form 101):

• Standard fee: $819.90 (2025/2026 financial year)
• Concession fee: $149.60

This is a flat fee. Whether the estate is worth $50,000 or $5 million, the filing fee is identical. It covers the court's processing of your Form 101, Form 105 (supporting affidavit), Form 104 (affidavit of publication), and all Form 47 exhibit certificates.

One quirk: the Department of Justice does not accept cheques from Macquarie Bank, Suncorp Bank, or RACQ Bank, and they won't take American Express. Check accepted payment methods before attending the registry.

Fees are indexed annually, typically on 1 July. The standard fee is expected to increase to approximately $847 in the 2026/2027 financial year based on CPI indexation.

How to Claim the Concession Fee

The reduced $149.60 fee is available if you hold a valid concession card (Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Health Care Card) or can demonstrate financial hardship. That's a saving of $670.30 — significant for small estates.

You'll need to apply to the court separately for the fee reduction. Bring your concession card to the registry when filing, or include a statutory declaration explaining the hardship circumstances if you don't hold a card but the estate's limited value makes the standard fee disproportionate.

Queensland Law Reporter (QLR) Advertising Fee

Before you can file anything with the Supreme Court, Queensland law requires you to publish a Notice of Intention to Apply (Form 103) in the Queensland Law Reporter. This is mandatory — there's no exemption.

• QLR advertising fee: $161.70

This is paid through the ICLRQ online portal. The strict deadline is Monday at 3:30 PM for publication the following Friday. Miss the Monday cutoff and you wait another week, which delays your entire application by at least 7 days.

If your Form 103 notice contains an error and needs to be republished, you pay the full $161.70 again and the 14-day mandatory waiting period resets from the new publication date.

Death Certificate

You'll need at least one official death certificate (not a limited certificate, which omits the cause of death and is frequently rejected by insurers).

• Official death certificate: $56.20
• Urgent processing surcharge: $33.30

Order through the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Most executors need 2-3 certified copies — banks, the Supreme Court, and Titles Queensland each want their own. The court returns the original after grant, but you'll still need copies for simultaneous processes.

Be aware of third-party websites that charge $150+ for "express" death certificate services. They're simply reselling the same RBDM certificate at a markup.

Titles Queensland Fees (If the Estate Includes Property)

If the deceased owned real property, you'll face additional fees from Titles Queensland:

• Title search: $24.06 per lot (essential to confirm whether property is held as joint tenants or tenants in common)
• Form 4 (Record of Death — joint tenancy): approximately $226 per lot
• Form 5 (Transmission Application — sole/tenants in common): approximately $226 per lot
• Verification of Identity (VOI): $29.90

If the property was held as joint tenants, you bypass probate for that asset entirely — just lodge Form 4. But if it's held as tenants in common or solely owned, you need the Grant of Probate first, then lodge Form 5.

Most property transactions in Queensland now require electronic lodgement through PEXA, which practically means engaging a conveyancer ($500-$1,200) unless you can navigate the platform yourself.

Total Cost Summary

For a straightforward estate with one property:

With the concession rate, that drops to approximately $704. Without property, you're looking at around $1,094 (standard) or $424 (concession).

Compare that to engaging a solicitor: $3,000 to $5,000 for a straightforward application, plus these same disbursements on top.

Fees You Can Avoid Entirely

If the estate falls below individual bank thresholds, you may not need probate at all. Queensland has no statutory small-estate threshold — each institution sets its own. Commonwealth Bank and NAB generally release funds up to $50,000-$100,000 with just a death certificate and indemnity form. Westpac's threshold can stretch to $114,674. The Public Trustee of Queensland can also file an Election to Administer for estates under $150,000, bypassing the Supreme Court entirely.

The Queensland Probate Process Guide includes a complete bank threshold matrix and a fee calculator worksheet to help you determine the exact costs for your specific estate.

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