The 12 Best Wills and Estate Lawyers in Sydney

PB Ritz Lawyers works well for families who want a small CBD practice that covers both sides of an estate, from drafting the will to arguing over it. Founder Phillip Briffa set up the boutique firm in 2013 after years in wills and estates work. It prepares wills, testamentary trust wills, enduring powers of attorney and guardianship appointments, and runs letters of administration as a fixed-fee service. Selected will dispute clients can be taken on a no win, no fee basis.

Empower Wills and Estate Lawyers is a good fit for anyone thinking of contesting a will or defending one. Its lawyers concentrate on family provision claims and challenges to a will's validity, while also preparing estate planning documents and helping executors with probate. Founder Oliver Morrisey holds two Master of Laws degrees. A free first consultation is followed by a fee estimate, and some claims run on a no win, no fee basis under a conditional costs agreement.

The Estate Planning Centre makes sense for people who want a full set of planning documents prepared together rather than a will on its own. Principal lawyer Simone Hargreaves founded the practice, which prepares wills, enduring powers of attorney, enduring guardian appointments, advance care directives and letters of wishes. It also guides executors through probate and estate administration and works on estate disputes. Each matter starts with a free 15-minute call to work out what is needed.

Champion Contested Wills helps people who need to see a lawyer but cannot easily travel to an office. Principal Marie Walter has more than 30 years in legal practice and a Master of Laws majoring in wills and estate law. The firm handles will disputes, family provision claims, probate and estate administration, and prepares wills on fixed fees. Home, hospital and aged care visits are offered where appropriate, alongside offices on Market Street in the CBD and at Parramatta Square.

NSW Probate suits executors who want to know the cost before they start. The firm concentrates on grants of probate and letters of administration and sells probate as two fixed-fee packages, assisted and managed, with court filing fees charged separately. It also administers deceased estates, prepares estate plans and acts in family provision claims and will disputes. A free 15-minute consultation helps executors decide which package fits their estate.

National Probate and Estates Group suits executors who want one office to handle both the court paperwork and the property side of an estate. Its work centres on grants of probate, letters of administration, reseals of interstate grants and claims for executor's commission. The same team drafts wills and testamentary trusts, defends wills against family provision claims and handles conveyancing and property transmissions. Staff speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Ukrainian, French and Mauritian Creole, which helps families with relatives or assets overseas.

MJM Lawyers is well placed for complicated estates, where incapacity, trusts or a dispute are already in the picture. Director Michaela Money has been an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates in NSW since 2009 and leads a team of solicitors and paralegals. The firm handles wills, probate, family provision claims, powers of attorney and guardianship, and court-made wills for people who can no longer make one themselves. Executors of simpler estates can use its online probate application service.

Mistry Fallahi is a strong match for business owners and families with trusts, where the will has to work alongside company and asset protection structures. Its wills team prepares testamentary trusts, including protective, legacy and special disability trusts, and enduring powers of attorney for individuals and companies. Partners Bhavesh Mistry and Alison Brown also handle probate, rectification of wills and family provision claims. Fees are fixed in advance, and the firm also has an office in Melbourne.

Jameson Law suits Western Sydney families who want an estate lawyer close to Parramatta. The general practice handles estate planning, testamentary trusts, advance care directives, probate, letters of administration and will disputes. Clients who do not want to burden a relative can appoint the firm itself as independent executor of their will. Meetings take place in Parramatta or the CBD, or by phone or video conference.

E&A Lawyers saves Northern Beaches residents a trip into the city for a will or a probate application. The Mona Vale firm traded as Edgington & Alfonso until 2006 and has served the area for more than 50 years. Estate work leads its practice, covering wills, testamentary trusts, enduring powers of attorney, advance care directives, probate, estates without a will and contested wills. It also handles conveyancing and business law, and estate matters can be started through an online intake form.

JS Law Group is convenient for North Shore residents who want wills, property and family business matters handled by one local firm. Its estate work covers wills, codicils, enduring powers of attorney and guardianship on fixed fees, along with probate, letters of administration, will disputes and aged care law. Probate applications can also be done for a fixed rate. Lawyers can come to clients who cannot travel and are available after hours or at weekends.

Ivy Law Group fits clients whose estate planning overlaps with a separation, a new relationship or a property purchase. The CBD firm works across family, commercial, property and wills and estates law. Its estates team prepares wills, powers of attorney and enduring guardianship, administers deceased estates and trusts, applies for probate and letters of administration and acts in family provision claims. Simple wills can be started through its online wills service, and a first chat is free.