Probate Fees in Victoria: What You Will Actually Pay

Victoria's probate fees changed significantly in recent years. The Supreme Court scrapped its historical flat-fee model in favour of a tiered structure that scales with estate size. The result: a $700,000 estate costs nearly $1,100 to file, and a $3 million estate costs over $7,500 — before adding legal fees, certificates, or property transfer costs.

Here is every cost an executor in Victoria should budget for, based on the 2026-2027 fee schedule.

How Victoria's Probate Fees Are Calculated

Government fees in Victoria are set by legislation as "fee units," which the Treasurer indexes annually on 1 July. For the 2026-2027 financial year, one fee unit equals $17.27. The Supreme Court (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2024 and the Administration and Probate Act 1958 together govern how these units are applied to probate applications.

The Supreme Court calculates filing fees based on the gross value of Victorian assets — before deducting any mortgages, debts, or liabilities. A property worth $900,000 with a $500,000 mortgage counts as a $900,000 asset for fee purposes. This is the single most common shock for executors who expected a smaller fee.

2026-2027 Supreme Court Filing Fee Schedule

Verify the current fee schedule at the Supreme Court of Victoria website before filing — fee units are adjusted each 1 July.

Advertisement Fee (Mandatory)

Before filing the substantive application, every executor must publish a Notice of Intention to apply through the RedCrest-Probate portal. This advertisement is mandatory regardless of estate size.

If you spot an error in the advertisement before filing, re-advertise immediately — the fee is $49.00 and you restart the 15-day waiting period. If the Court spots the error after you file, you must pay for an Amended Originating Motion as well, and potentially swear a new Affidavit.

Death Certificate Costs

The Supreme Court requires a certified copy of the death certificate showing the cause of death. A standard certificate alone is not sufficient.

Order the Death Certificate Package, not the standard certificate only. The additional cause-of-death certificate is a mandatory exhibit in the probate affidavit. Express postage is strongly recommended given that the certificate is required before any other step can proceed.

Small Estates Optional Service

If the gross value of the estate is under $137,210 (the 2026-2027 threshold under Section 71(1E) of the Administration and Probate Act 1958), the Probate Office offers an optional preparation service where court staff assist you in preparing the paperwork.

This service has significant limitations. The Probate Office will not assist if:

• The original will is missing
• The will was not witnessed by at least two people
• The applicant is acting under a power of attorney
• The estate involves complex assets or conflicting claimants

Many executors attempt to access this service only to be rejected, losing weeks in the process. Check your eligibility carefully before relying on it.

Land Services Victoria: Property Transfer Fees

If the deceased owned real estate, the title transfer is handled separately through Land Services Victoria (LSV), not through the Supreme Court. The process and fees depend on how the property was held.

Joint Tenancy: Survivorship Application (Section 50)

If the property was held as joint tenants, the surviving owner does not need probate to update the title. They lodge a Survivorship Application (Section 50 of the Transfer of Land Act 1958) through the PEXA electronic conveyancing network.

The PEXA transaction fee and conveyancer fee vary by provider and property complexity.

Sole Ownership or Tenants in Common: Transmission Application (Section 49)

If the property was held solely by the deceased, or as tenants in common, probate is mandatory. After the grant is issued, the executor lodges a Transmission Application (Section 49) through PEXA.

Because self-represented individuals generally cannot access PEXA directly to register title changes, engaging a licensed conveyancer or property solicitor is a practical necessity for this step — even if the executor handled the entire Supreme Court process themselves.

Total Cost Estimate: Three Example Estates

Example 1: Small estate, bank account only, $80,000 sole ownership

• Filing fee: $0 (under $250,000)
• Advertisement: $49
• Death certificate: $93.30
• Estimated total: ~$142

Note: If the account exceeds $34,310 (informal release threshold) but remains under $137,210 (small estate threshold), the Small Estates Optional Service may apply.

Example 2: House and savings, gross estate $750,000

• Filing fee: $1,088
• Advertisement: $49
• Death certificate: $93.30
• Transmission Application (conveyancer + LSV): ~$1,500
• Estimated total: ~$2,730 (plus conveyancer fees)

Example 3: Investment property portfolio, gross estate $3,000,000

• Filing fee: $7,599
• Advertisement: $49
• Death certificate: $93.30
• Multiple property transfers: $3,000–$6,000+
• Estimated total: $10,741+

What Is Not Included in the Above

These estimates cover government and statutory fees only. Depending on the estate's complexity, you may also incur:

• Legal fees for a solicitor to draft the affidavit or respond to court requisitions
• Accounting fees for the trust tax return and final personal tax return
• Professional valuation fees for real estate or share portfolios
• State Trustees fees if State Trustees are appointed to administer the estate (their capital commission is 5.5% of the first $500,000 of gross estate value — considerably more than the court filing fee)

The filing fees are paid through the RedCrest-Probate portal before the grant is issued. The executor typically pays these out of pocket and is reimbursed as a first-priority creditor once the estate accounts are unfrozen.

For a full breakdown of every cost — including a reimbursement tracker worksheet — the Victoria Probate Process Guide walks through all fees stage by stage so nothing catches you by surprise.

See more Victoria guides →