How Much Does Probate Cost in NZ?

The $200 High Court filing fee, lawyer fee ranges for simple to complex estates, and what drives the price up or down.

Reviewed by EstatePlanning.co.nz Editorial Team · Last updated 27 May 2026

Cost at a glance

High Court filing fee: $200 (fixed)
Simple uncontested estate: $2,000 to $4,000 plus GST in lawyer fees
Medium estate (property + multiple accounts): $4,000 to $7,000 plus GST
Complex or contested estate: $7,000 to $10,000+ plus GST
Death certificate (certified copy): $33 from Births, Deaths and Marriages

All probate costs are paid from the estate before distribution to beneficiaries — not from the executor's personal funds.

High Court filing fee

The standard filing fee for an application for probate, Letters of Administration, or a similar grant is $200. It is set in Schedule 2 of the High Court Fees Regulations 2013 and is paid to the High Court when the application is filed.

The fee is the same whether the executor files themselves or instructs a lawyer to file on their behalf. There is no separate sealing fee for issuing the grant.

Lawyer fees by estate complexity

Most estates in New Zealand use a lawyer to prepare and file the application because the High Court Rules 2016 set technical requirements for the application form, executor's affidavit and supporting evidence. The ranges below are typical market rates for the application and grant stage only.

Simple estate

Typical fee: $2,000 to $4,000 plus GST
Profile: original will located, one executor, a few bank accounts, KiwiSaver, no contested issues, may include the family home held jointly with a surviving partner
Fee model: often charged as a fixed fee or capped fee

Medium estate

Typical fee: $4,000 to $7,000 plus GST
Profile: sole-name real estate, multiple investment accounts, shares to transfer, KiwiSaver above $15,000 without a nomination, beneficiaries in different locations
Fee model: mix of fixed and hourly; expect a written quote covering application, sale or transfer of property, and final distribution

Complex or contested estate

Typical fee: $7,000 to $10,000+ plus GST
Profile: contested will validity, Family Protection Act 1955 claim, Testamentary Promises Act 1949 claim, missing original will, business interests, foreign assets requiring resealing, multiple trusts in the structure
Fee model: hourly rate (typically $300 to $550+ per hour for senior estate lawyers) with periodic written invoices

Hourly versus fixed fees

For straightforward applications most NZ law firms quote a fixed fee, which gives executors certainty about cost. Once an estate involves disputed claims, contested validity or complex assets, the workload becomes unpredictable and firms typically move to hourly billing. Always request a written fee estimate up front and ask for written updates if costs are likely to exceed the estimate.

What makes probate cheaper

Original will located: avoids the additional affidavit evidence required when only a copy exists
Single executor: no coordination overhead between co-executors
Joint property: the family home held as joint tenants passes by survivorship and does not need probate
KiwiSaver beneficiary nomination in place: KiwiSaver pays direct to the nominee and does not enter the estate
Tidy financial records: a clear list of accounts, share holdings and debts speeds up the executor's affidavit
No Family Protection Act risk: spouse, partner and children adequately provided for in the will

What makes probate more expensive

Lost or photocopy-only will: requires additional affidavit evidence and may need a court hearing
Multiple co-executors who disagree: adds correspondence and may require court directions
Real estate in sole name: the LINZ transmission and either transfer or sale adds work
Business interests: shareholder agreements, buy-sell terms and valuations all add legal and accounting time
Foreign assets: may require a separate grant or resealing in another jurisdiction
Family Protection Act 1955 claim: can add tens of thousands in defence costs and many months of delay

Estate administration costs after the grant

The fees above cover preparing the application and obtaining the grant of probate. They do not include the work after the grant — calling in assets, paying debts and tax, transferring or selling real estate, preparing final estate accounts, and distributing to beneficiaries. Typical post-grant administration adds:

Simple estate: $1,500 to $4,000 plus GST
Estate with real estate sale: $4,000 to $8,000 plus GST plus property sale conveyancing
Complex estate: $8,000+ plus GST, often billed hourly

Public Trust and trustee-company alternatives

Public Trust, Perpetual Guardian and a small number of other trustee companies offer estate administration services. Their fees usually take the form of a percentage of estate value plus disbursements, sometimes with a minimum charge. Percentages vary by provider and estate complexity. Always request a written fee schedule before instructing a trustee company so you can compare against fixed-fee lawyer quotes for the same estate.

A direct cost comparison between Public Trust, trustee companies and law firms for representative NZ estates is being added in a future update — see the probate guide for the latest at /probate/.

Recovering probate costs from the estate

Executors are entitled under the Administration Act 1969 to be reimbursed from estate assets for proper expenses of administration. This includes the $200 court fee, reasonable legal fees, accounting fees, valuation fees and disbursements such as certified death certificates and LINZ search fees.

Executors should keep clean receipts and a separate estate bank account for all transactions. Final estate accounts are usually circulated to residuary beneficiaries before final distribution.

For an end-to-end view of how probate fits together, return to the probate guide.

Probate cost FAQ

How much does probate cost in NZ?

The High Court filing fee for an application for probate is $200, set in Schedule 2 of the High Court Fees Regulations 2013. Lawyer fees for preparing and filing the application typically range from $2,000 to $4,000 plus GST for a simple uncontested estate, $4,000 to $7,000 for a medium estate, and $7,000 to $10,000 or more for complex or contested estates. Fees are paid out of the estate, not from the executor's personal funds.

Is the $200 court fee the only government cost?

Yes, the standard High Court filing fee for an application for probate is $200. Additional government costs only arise if the application becomes contested (defended hearings carry additional fees), if a separate grant is needed in another country (resealing), or if a search of probate records is required (small per-search fee paid to the Ministry of Justice).

Can I do probate without a lawyer to save money?

You are not legally required to use a lawyer to apply for probate. For very small estates with a clean original will, a clear executor and no real estate, self-filing is feasible — your only cost is the $200 court fee. For most estates, lawyer fees are paid out of the estate and the time saved on registrar requisitions usually outweighs the cost. The High Court Rules 2016 set strict formats for the application and executor's affidavit.

Are probate fees tax deductible?

Probate fees and reasonable lawyer fees for administering an estate are paid from the estate before distribution to beneficiaries. They reduce the value that flows to beneficiaries. Whether specific costs are deductible for the estate's income tax return depends on the nature of the expense — speak to an accountant or the estate's lawyer about IRD treatment.

Do probate costs include estate administration after the grant?

No. The figures on this page cover preparing and filing the application and getting the grant. After the grant, the executor still needs to call in assets, pay debts and tax, transfer or sell property, and distribute to beneficiaries. Administration fees for a simple estate typically add another $1,500 to $4,000. Real estate transfers, business sales and trust transfers add further legal and accounting cost.