Public Trustee Queensland Fees: What Estate Administration Costs

The Public Trustee of Queensland is often the first option families consider when someone dies — especially when there's no will or nobody wants the burden of acting as executor. But the costs add up fast, and the Public Trustee has faced sustained criticism over fee extraction from vulnerable estates.

Here's what you'll actually pay, what the alternatives cost, and when the Public Trustee is genuinely the right choice.

Current Fee Structure

The Public Trustee of Queensland charges fees based on the services provided and the estate's total value. Their full probate and estate administration service currently costs approximately $3,239.60. On top of that, additional fees may apply for:

• Realty fees — charged when selling or transferring real estate within the estate
• Incidental outlays — charges for specific administrative tasks like obtaining valuations, tax clearances, or legal searches
• Commission — calculated as a percentage of the estate's capital and income

These fees are deducted from the estate before anything reaches the beneficiaries. For a simple estate worth $200,000, the total Public Trustee fees can easily reach $5,000–$8,000 when commissions and realty fees are included.

The Small Estate Election

The Public Trustee's most useful service is the "Election to Administer" under Section 30 of the Public Trustee Act 1978. For estates valued under $150,000 with no complex real estate, this bypasses the Supreme Court probate process entirely. The Public Trustee handles everything — no court application, no QLR advertising, no affidavits.

This makes genuine financial sense when:

• The estate is small and the assets are straightforward (bank accounts, a vehicle, personal effects)
• Nobody in the family is willing or able to act as executor
• The deceased died intestate and the family wants to avoid the Letters of Administration process

How It Compares to DIY Probate

For a straightforward estate where you're comfortable handling the paperwork, DIY probate saves thousands. The Supreme Court filing and QLR notice are the same forms regardless of who files them — you're paying the Public Trustee or a solicitor to fill them in correctly.

Why Some Families Avoid the Public Trustee

The Public Trustee of Queensland has been the subject of critical government reviews and investigative media reports regarding fee practices, particularly around:

• Realty fees that can consume a significant percentage of a property sale
• Lack of transparency around incidental charges until after they've been deducted
• Speed of administration — the Public Trustee handles a high volume of estates, and complex matters can take significantly longer than a private solicitor or DIY approach

These criticisms don't mean the Public Trustee provides a bad service — for many families, especially those dealing with intestacy or small estates, it's the most practical option. But for straightforward estates where a capable family member is willing to act as executor, the cost differential is substantial.

When the Public Trustee Is the Right Call

The Public Trustee genuinely makes sense when:

• The estate is under $150,000 and the Election to Administer bypasses court entirely
• Nobody is willing to be executor — if the named executor renounces their role, the Public Trustee can step in
• The family dynamics are contentious — having a neutral third party administer the estate can prevent disputes from escalating
• The estate is insolvent — when debts exceed assets, professional administration protects the family from personal liability

The Middle Ground

Between the Public Trustee and full DIY, fixed-fee legal providers like Bare Law ($1,999 plus court outlays) and Resolve Estate Law ($2,750) offer a middle path. They handle the paperwork without the commission-based fee structure of the Public Trustee.

For families who want to handle the estate themselves and save thousands in professional fees, the Queensland Estate Settlement Guide provides the complete roadmap — from determining whether probate is needed through to safe distribution — with annotated form instructions and deadline trackers.

See more Queensland guides →