Public Trustee Tasmania Fees: What Estate Administration Actually Costs

The Public Trustee of Tasmania markets itself as a convenient solution for families who feel overwhelmed by estate administration. And it is convenient — they handle everything from obtaining the death certificate to filing with the Supreme Court, selling property, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. What they do not emphasise is how much that convenience costs.

The Public Trustee's fees are percentage-based, meaning they scale with the estate's value. On a modest $500,000 estate — typical for a Tasmanian homeowner — the fees can exceed $15,000. That is money coming directly out of the inheritance, paid before a single dollar reaches the beneficiaries.

The Fee Structure

The Public Trustee charges a tiered commission on the gross value of the estate:

Plus: 6.6% income commission on all income earned by the estate during administration (interest, dividends, rent).

Minimum fee: $1,500–$4,500 depending on complexity, even for small estates.

Real Cost Examples

Estate worth $100,000 (cash only, no property):

• Commission: $4,500 (4.5% of $100,000)
• Income commission: negligible
• Total: approximately $4,500
• Beneficiary receives: $95,500

Estate worth $500,000 (house + bank accounts):

• Commission: $9,000 (4.5% × $200K) + $7,000 (3.5% × $200K) + $2,500 (2.5% × $100K) = $18,500
• Income commission: if the estate earns $5,000 in interest during 6 months of administration, add $330
• Total: approximately $18,830
• Beneficiary receives: $481,170

Estate worth $250,000:

• Commission: $9,000 (4.5% × $200K) + $1,750 (3.5% × $50K) = $10,750
• Total: approximately $10,750

Compare these costs to self-representation (court filing fees of $966–$1,317 for these estate sizes) or a fixed-fee solicitor ($1,999–$3,000 for securing the grant). The Public Trustee's percentage-based model costs multiples more as estate value increases.

The Election to Administer

For very small estates — generally under $30,000 — the Public Trustee has a unique tool: the "election to administer" under Section 20A of the Public Trustee Act 1930. This bypasses the formal Supreme Court probate process entirely, saving the $534.80+ court filing fee. The election costs $147.07 in court fees.

This mechanism is genuinely useful when:

• The estate is very small (under $30,000)
• There is no real property
• No family member is willing or able to act as executor
• The family wants zero involvement in the administration

Even here, the 4.5% commission applies. On a $25,000 estate, that is $1,125 — plus any minimum fee charged.

When the Public Trustee Makes Sense

Despite the cost, there are legitimate scenarios where the Public Trustee is the right choice:

No one is willing to act as executor. If all named executors have renounced (via Form 11) and no family member is willing to step up, the Public Trustee provides a guaranteed administrator.

Active family conflict. When siblings or blended families are in dispute, a neutral third party can prevent the estate from becoming a battleground. The Public Trustee's independence can be worth the premium.

Complex commercial estates. If the deceased owned a business, had trust structures, or held assets across multiple jurisdictions, the Public Trustee's institutional resources may handle the complexity more effectively than a self-represented executor.

Incapacity of the natural executor. If the named executor is elderly, unwell, or lives overseas with no ability to attend to Tasmanian court filings.

When to Avoid the Public Trustee

For straightforward estates — one property (or none), a few bank accounts, clear beneficiaries, no disputes — the Public Trustee's percentage fees are disproportionate to the work involved. A self-represented executor or a fixed-fee solicitor delivers the same outcome at a fraction of the cost.

The critical question is always: is the convenience worth the percentage? On a $500,000 estate, the $18,000+ in fees buys convenience. A self-represented executor using the court's forms and a step-by-step guide can achieve the same result for under $2,000 in court fees.

How to Remove the Public Trustee as Executor

If the Public Trustee is named as executor in the will but the family wants to administer privately, the Public Trustee can renounce the executorship. The family then applies for Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed. This is a standard process but requires the Public Trustee's cooperation — they cannot be forced to renounce.

The Tasmania Probate Process Guide walks through the complete self-administration process that makes the Public Trustee unnecessary for straightforward estates, including the requisition-avoidance checklist, asset tracker, and beneficiary communication templates.

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