Public Trustee WA Fees: What They Charge and How to Avoid Them

What the Public Trustee Charges

The Public Trustee of Western Australia operates on an effort-based fee model, regulated under the Public Trustee Scale of Fees gazetted annually. As of 1 July 2026, these are the key charges:

Establishment fee: $469 to commence personal financial administration. This one-off fee covers onboarding and initial asset assessment when the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) appoints the Public Trustee to manage someone's finances.

Ongoing management: The Public Trustee uses an effort-based fee model, with ongoing charges for managing income and capital. For estates and administered persons, fees can run into thousands of dollars per year depending on the complexity and value of assets involved.

Deceased estate administration: If the Public Trustee administers a deceased estate (either because the Will names them or because no suitable private representative exists), charges apply under the Public Trustee's applicable scale of fees.

These costs are drawn directly from the administered person's own assets — not from government funding.

When the Public Trustee Gets Involved

The Public Trustee doesn't step in by default. They become involved in two situations:

By appointment. Some people name the Public Trustee as executor in their Will or as attorney in their EPA. This is common when there's no trusted family member available, or when the person wants a neutral professional manager.

By SAT order. If someone loses capacity without an EPA or EPG, and family members are in dispute, unavailable, or considered unsuitable, the SAT appoints the Public Trustee as administrator of last resort. This is the scenario most people want to avoid.

Why Families Want to Avoid It

Consumer complaints about the Public Trustee WA tend to cluster around three issues:

Slow, bureaucratic decision-making. Routine requests — releasing funds for care expenses, approving a property sale — can take weeks to process through the Public Trustee's internal approval chain. Families report being unable to get timely responses to urgent financial needs.

Effort-based fees that add up. Because the fee model is tied to the complexity of work performed, even straightforward administration can generate substantial annual charges.

Difficult to remove. Once the SAT appoints the Public Trustee, reversing the appointment requires a formal review hearing. You need medical evidence that the person has regained capacity, or documented proof of administrative misconduct. The process can stretch over months and typically requires legal representation.

The Simplest Way to Stay in Control

Setting up an Enduring Power of Attorney while you still have capacity is the single most effective way to keep the Public Trustee out of your financial affairs. An EPA lets you choose who manages your money — a spouse, an adult child, a trusted friend — rather than having the SAT decide.

Similarly, an Enduring Power of Guardianship lets you choose who makes lifestyle and medical decisions if you can't. Without one, the Public Advocate may become involved in personal care decisions alongside the Public Trustee handling finances.

Both documents are free to create using the official forms from the Office of the Public Advocate. The real cost is Landgate registration ($225.10) if you own property.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of setting up both documents — including what to do if you're worried a parent might already be losing capacity — the Western Australia Power of Attorney Kit covers the full process from form completion to bank acceptance.

If the Public Trustee Is Already Involved

If the SAT has already appointed the Public Trustee and you believe a private administrator would serve better, you can apply to the SAT for a review of the order. You'll need:

• A formal application through the eCourts Portal
• A medical report from a GP confirming current capacity (if seeking to revoke the order entirely)
• Evidence that a suitable private administrator is available and willing
• Documentation of any concerns about the current administration

The SAT doesn't charge application or hearing fees for guardianship matters. The process may involve a formal review hearing, and legal advice before filing is strongly recommended.

See more Western Australia guides →