This is an outline on where to seek assistance if you are looking for executor services. For example you are making your will and looking to appoint an executor.
Or you may have been named as an executor and do not wish to take it on. If you do not wish to act you can renounce (or relinquish) being an executor and find someone else. Below is general information on where to start if you don’t know of anyone.
Executor services – who does this work?
- Legal practitioners, law firms providing services in wills and estates.
- State and territory government public trustees.
- Some non-government organisations provide executor services.
The level of service can vary depending on the situation, from taking over the role completely from someone who does not wish to,is unable to, or not longer can continue to act, to providing assistance and advice to executors as they complete administration of the estate. Similarly the costs involved and how they are charged will also vary.
Solicitors
For lawyers, solicitors providing legal advice and executor services contact the law society in your state or territory for names of practitioners who provide these services. Most law societies provide an online search facility, see links below. The New South Wales Law Society offer a personalised service by telephone or email to assist the public find a lawyer with expertise in the required area.
NSW – Find a lawyer, solicitor – New South Wales Law Society
Victoria – Find a lawyer legal referral service – Law Institute Victoria
Queensland – Find a solicitor – Queensland Law Society
South Australia – Legal Referral Service – The Law Society of South Australia
Tasmania – Find a lawyer – The Law Society of Tasmania
Western Australia – Find a Lawyer – The Law Society of Western Australia
Northern Territory – Legal Referral Service – Northern Territory Law Society
ACT – Find a lawyer – The ACT Law Society
Public Trustees – executor services
Each state and territory has a government body, known as the public trustee or similar name, which provides executor services to the public, find the list of public trustees here.
Non-government organisations providing executor services
Some of these are:
Australian Executor Trustees
Equity Trustees
National Australia Trustees, National Australia Bank offer estate administration services.
Perpetual Limited, Trustee Services.
Tasmanian Perpetual Trustees – Estate Management and Trust Administration.
B Stead
BHS Legal
24 May 2016, updated 8 August 2019.
© BHS Legal