The DIY Probate Kit (for Victoria)

A Thumbnail Sketch of Probate procedure

When you apply for Probate yourself (instead of paying a lot of money to a lawyer), here are the steps you go through:

• Get your Probate Kit
• Register your kit and get access to our online probate content
  (In doing this you select a sample application that gives you a detailed explanation of you how to fill out your application)
• Advertise your intention to apply for Probate
• Prepare your application
• Lodge the application at the Probate Office
• After about a week the Probate certificate turns up in your letterbox. If it the Probate Office wants further details before "granting" Probate they mail their questions to you and you prepare documents to answer them
• Having received your Probate certificate you use it to authorise asset-holders (like banks, superannuation companies etc) to release assets to you
• Having gained control of the assets you distribute them to beneficiaries as the Will says.

NEXT >> What if there is no Will?