How Much Does Probate Cost in NZ?

Probate costs are made up of two parts: a fixed court fee, and the legal fees for preparing the application. The court fee is the same for everyone; the legal fees vary widely.

The court fee

Legal fees

You are not legally required to use a lawyer — executors can apply themselves — but most do, because applications with errors get sent back (called a requisition) and each round trip adds weeks. Typical ranges:

• Fixed-fee online probate services: roughly $500–$900 including the court fee, for straightforward applications.
• Traditional law firms: commonly $1,500–$3,000+ for a straightforward probate, more if the will has problems, the original is missing, or the estate is complex.
• Letters of administration (no will) usually costs slightly more than probate because the application has more moving parts.

Always ask for a written fee estimate before engaging anyone. Reasonable probate costs are paid from the estate — not from the executor's own pocket.

Costs beyond the application

The grant itself is only the start of administration. Depending on the estate, you may also encounter:

• Estate administration legal fees — if a lawyer handles the full administration (collecting assets, paying debts, distributing), fees are often charged hourly and can run to several thousand dollars on larger estates.
• Valuation costs — for most estates a free real estate agent appraisal (CMA) is enough; a registered valuation ($800–$2,000) is only needed for disputes or tax reasons. See the property sale step of the guide.
• Accounting fees — for the final tax return and estate accounts.

Who pays, and when

Probate costs, funeral costs, and administration expenses are paid by the estate before anything is distributed to beneficiaries. If an executor pays costs personally to keep things moving, they are entitled to reimbursement from estate funds. Funeral invoices can usually be paid directly from the deceased's frozen bank account — see who pays for the funeral before probate.

Do you even need probate?

Before spending anything, check whether the estate needs a grant at all. Estates under $40,000 per institution with no solely owned property can usually be administered without one — see do you need probate in NZ?

What to do next

Get two or three fee quotes — prices for the same straightforward application genuinely vary by thousands of dollars. A specialist who does probate regularly will usually be faster and cheaper than a generalist.