Probate Lawyer NZ — Fixed-Fee Probate Services Nationwide

Expert probate lawyer services across New Zealand. $699 + GST fixed fee for standard probate applications. No hourly rates, no surprises, 100% remote.

Why Choose Simply Probate:

✓ 100% Remote No office visit required
✓ Fixed Fees $699 + GST probate
✓ 5.0 Stars Rated 5.0 on Google

Do You Need a Probate Lawyer?

If someone close to you has died and you've been named as executor — or if there's no will and you need to manage the estate — you may need a probate lawyer to prepare the application for the High Court.

You are not legally required to use a lawyer for probate in New Zealand. But the application involves court documents that must comply with the High Court Rules, and errors can cause delays or rejection. Most executors use a lawyer or specialist probate service.

Read our complete guide to probate in NZ for a full overview of the process.

What Does a Probate Lawyer Do?

A probate lawyer prepares the documents needed to obtain a grant of probate or letters of administration from the High Court. This includes:

  • Reviewing the will and advising on what type of application is needed
  • Preparing the application and supporting affidavit
  • Compiling the schedule of assets and liabilities
  • Providing the completed documents ready for you to file at the High Court
  • Guiding you through the administration of the estate after the grant is issued

How Much Does a Probate Lawyer Cost in NZ?

Legal fees for probate vary widely in New Zealand

Traditional Law Firms

$2,000-$6,000+

  • Hourly rates — final cost unknown until done
  • Office appointments required
  • Often slow turnaround

Simply Probate

$699 + GST

  • Fixed fee — you know exactly what you'll pay
  • 100% remote — no office visit needed
  • Fast turnaround — documents in days

The High Court filing fee ($269) is additional and payable directly to the court regardless of which lawyer you use. See full cost breakdown →

Our Probate Services

Probate — $699 + GST

$699 + GST fixed fee

For estates where the deceased left a valid will naming an executor

  • Full application prepared by a qualified NZ lawyer
  • Wellington High Court filing (court fees additional)
  • Executor guidance and support
  • All required documentation prepared
  • Fixed fee — no hidden costs
Start Application

Letters of Administration

Price On Application fixed fee

For estates where there is no will, or where the named executor cannot act

  • Full application prepared by a qualified NZ lawyer
  • Wellington High Court filing (court fees additional)
  • Administrator guidance and support
  • All required documentation prepared
  • Fixed fees available — contact us for a quote
Start Application

How It Works

1

Book a Free Consultation

15 minutes to discuss your situation and confirm what's needed

2

We Prepare the Documents

All court forms and supporting documents prepared by a qualified lawyer

3

You File at the High Court

We provide the completed application ready for you to file

4

Grant Issued

Typically within about 2 weeks of the court receiving the compliant application

Why Choose Simply Probate?

Fixed Fee

You know exactly what you'll pay before you start. No hourly rates, no surprises.

Specialist Service

Probate and estate administration is all we do. Focused expertise, not a sideline.

100% Remote

No need to visit an office. Everything is handled online and by phone, from anywhere in NZ.

Qualified NZ Lawyer

Every application is prepared and reviewed by a New Zealand lawyer.

Nationwide

We serve clients across all of New Zealand, from Auckland to Invercargill.

5.0 Stars

Rated 5.0 from verified Google reviews. Our clients consistently rate our service excellent.

Common Questions About Probate Lawyers in NZ

Do you need a probate lawyer in New Zealand?

You are not legally required to use a lawyer for probate in New Zealand. But the application involves court documents that must comply with the High Court Rules, and errors can cause delays or rejection. Most executors use a lawyer or specialist probate service. Read our complete guide to probate in NZ.

How much does a probate lawyer cost in NZ?

Traditional law firms charge $2,000-$6,000+ on hourly rates. Simply Probate charges a fixed fee of $699 + GST for standard probate applications. The High Court filing fee ($269) is additional. See our full cost breakdown.

What does a probate lawyer do?

A probate lawyer prepares all the court documents needed to obtain a grant of probate or letters of administration from the High Court, and guides you through the estate administration process. See the full list of what's included above.

How long does probate take in New Zealand?

The High Court typically grants probate within about 2 weeks of receiving a compliant application. The real variable is preparation time. Read our full timeline guide.

Probate Lawyer Services by Location

We provide probate lawyer services across New Zealand. Select your location for more information:

What Our Clients Say

Reviews
5.0

Based on Google Reviews

R

Rose Trethowen

This sounded too good to be true after quotes starting at $2500 plus GST for this service, but I checked the Law Society website and Rion is registered there. His own website has clearly worded and very reasonable terms of service, so I made contact. I was impressed with the speed at which he got back to me, and how professionally everything was handled. He prepared the paperwork to reflect my mum's change of name in her last year of life — something her own lawyer had neglected to follow through on. Rion and Abby followed up with a video and very straightforward instructions on how to prepare everything for submission to the High Court. We couriered the documents on 13th March and received the Probate grant today (25th March). We are extremely happy with the service provided and can confidently recommend Rion and his team for this service. Rion and Abby have made a stressful time far easier to manage — thank you both.

H

Helen Joe

Probate Service Provider – Highly Recommended. I am so grateful I found Simply Probate. I wasn't even aware that such a service existed. The team (Rion and Abby) was outstanding. After an initial free 15 minute conversation they provided clear instructions and ensured the entire process was transparent, efficient, and seamless to follow. Communication was fantastic, with quick, professional responses that kept me informed every step of the way. Their fees were also a major highlight—incredibly reasonable and transparent. They offer a far more competitive alternative compared to traditional lawyer billing, which gave me complete confidence in the final cost and no unwelcome surprises. If you are navigating the complexities of probate in New Zealand, I wholeheartedly recommend their service. I received the Grant of Probate in less than two weeks - amazing and thank you Simply Probate!

J

Jane Shearer

Simply Probate is a breath of fresh air in the world of legal companies. I am so glad such a firm exists. Their service is great. They respond promptly and do an outstanding job. Their price is also very good. More importantly I like the business model that they use. Their process is very transparent. While they generate the application for probate document based on data I entered in an online form, they allow me to submit the application to probate and therefore I am in charge. This is such a contrast to other legal firms where you have no control over what happens and pay a very high fee.

S

Simon Marks

Rion Norris provided an excellent service, exceeding our expectations. We were dealing with a small estate where the deceased and his surviving spouse lived in Europe, but where we had to obtain Probate in NZ in order to deal with a single asset. Rion has a very efficient process which made everything happen without hiccup. His charge was well below the competitive quotes of other law firms and represented excellent value. I have no hesitation in recommending his services.

Ready to Get Started?

Book a free 15-minute consultation or start your application online today.

Photo of Rion Norris, Probate Lawyer

Rion Norris

Verified by the New Zealand Law Society

Probate Lawyer, Christchurch, NZ

Rion is the lawyer behind Simply Probate. Based in Christchurch, he helps families through the legal complexities of probate and intestacy, with clear, compassionate guidance and a commitment to making legal processes understandable. Rion pioneered Simply Probate as a technology-driven platform to provide probate and intestacy applications for an affordable fixed fee.