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Probate Office

The Supreme Court of Victoria has exclusive jurisdiction in Victoria to make Orders in relation to the validity of a will of a deceased person, the appointment of an Executor or an Administrator, and the administration of deceased estates.

The Probate Office is part of the Supreme Court Registry and is the Office that deals with all applications for grants of Probate and Administration of deceased estates in Victoria. Grants of Probate and Administration are collectively referred to as Grants of Representation. The Office maintains a register of all Grants of Representation issued by the Court and of all wills deposited with the Registrar for safekeeping. In addition Registry staff provide advice and assistance to persons seeking to obtain representation in small estate matters.

Grants of Representation issued by the Court on or after 1 January 2002 may be searched and inspected at the Registry between the hours of 9:30am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday. Search fees apply to inspect records. As all grants cannot be kept in the Registry in some instances the records may not be available for 24 hours. The Registry is located at Level 2, 436 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. For more information about Probate records telephone (03) 9603 9296.

The Probate Office does not hold Probate records where representation was granted prior to 1 January 2002. Those records are held by the Public Record Office Victoria. Persons wishing to search those records may do so by attending the Melbourne Archives Centre, 99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne. Telephone (03) 9348 5600.