PORTLAND BASED PROBATE LAWYERS
Probate Help For Regional Victoria — Get Clear Direction In 15 Minutes
If you’ve been named executor, you don’t have to figure probate out on your own. In a free 15-minute appointment, we’ll explain what applies to your situation and what to do next. If you want help, we can prepare and lodge the court forms and notices — and support you through as much of the estate process as you need, even when things are messy or complicated.
(4.8/5.0) 60+ Reviews
(4.8 / 5.0) 60+ Reviews
- No More Guesswork
- Paperwork Done Right
- Only The Help You Need
- Clear Fees Upfront
- Regional Estate Experience
- No More Guesswork
- Paperwork Done Right
- Only The Help You Need
- Clear Fees Upfront
- Regional Estate Experience
- No More Guesswork
- Paperwork Done Right
- Only The Help You Need
- Clear Fees Upfront
- Regional Estate Experience
Memberships & Professional Recognition
If You’re Not Sure What To Do Next, You’re Not Alone
Life doesn’t pause when you’re named executor. Work, family, and everything else keep moving, but you’re suddenly responsible for a legal process you’ve probably never handled before.
Most people reach out to Stratus Legal because:
- They don’t know where to start or what comes first
- They’ve spent hours on Google trying to learn everything themselves
- They think being executor means doing everything themselves
- Family is asking, “How long will this take?” or “When will it be finalised?”
- The estate isn’t straightforward — missing records, rural assets, or more than one death to deal with
If any of this sounds familiar, your free 15-minute appointment will bring clarity to the process and point you towards the right next step – fast!
Portland Probate & Deceased Estates Support
Stratus Legal Group helps executors across regional Victoria with probate, letters of administration, and deceased estate administration. We’ll make it clear what needs to happen in your situation and help move the estate forward with a simple, practical process.
If you choose to engage us, we can:
- File the forms, notices and applications for you
- Take the court paperwork off your hands
- Keep things moving (and in the right order) to avoid delays
- Help just for the application, or stay on for the full estate
- Take the heat from beneficiaries, instead of you
- Sort out messy estates or complicated estates
Ready to take the next step? Book your free 15-minute appointment by clicking the button below or calling our team on 1300 185 734
HOW WE CAN HELP
Pick Your Situation
Choose the option that’s closest to your situation, then watch the short video for an overview of what’s involved and how we can help.
There's A Will
If there’s a valid will and you’ve been named executor, probate is usually the first step. We can explain what’s required and, if you want help, prepare and lodge the court forms and notices so it’s done properly.
No Will / Can't Find It
If there’s no will, or you can’t find it, if there’s a will, you may need letters of administration. We’ll explain who can apply, what the court requires, and what needs to happen next to move things forward.
Help After Probate
Getting the grant is only part of the job. If you want support with the full deceased estate administration, we can help with calling in assets, handling debts and taxes, and guiding the distribution of assets to beneficiaries.
OUR PROCESS
What Happens Next
STEP 1
Book Your Free Appointment
We’ll ask a few quick questions, then tell you which path fits and what to do next. You’ll leave with clear direction and a simple plan.
STEP 2
Choose The Help You Want
Some people engage us just for the initial probate or letters of administration application. Others want support beyond that. We’ll explain what’s included and what it costs before we begin.
STEP 3
Move The Estate Forward
We help keep things organised, handled properly, and moving in the right order. That means less second-guessing, fewer avoidable delays, and a clearer path to finalising the estate.
Get Clear Direction In 15-Minutes
Book your free 15-minute appointment for clear direction, fast. We’ll explain what applies to your situation, what needs to happen first, and what can wait – in plain English. If you want help, we can handle the paperwork and keep everything moving in the right order, so you avoid delays with the court or banks. We’ll also bring structure to the process and take pressure off, including dealing with the “when will this be done?” questions from family. You can use us only for what you need – just the application, or as much of the process as you’d like.
No Obligation • No Pressure • Just Clear Next Steps
What You'll Get In 15-Minutes
This is a short, practical call to help you get unstuck and get the estate moving forward. We’ll work out what path fits, what the best next step is and explain everything in plain English.
What To Bring (if you have it):
- The will (or tell us you can’t find it)
- A rough list of assets (property, bank accounts, super, shares) - even if it’s incomplete
- Any questions you’ve been Googling or getting stuck on
What We'll Cover:
- We'll ask questions to understand your situation
- Where stage in the process you’re up to and where to go from here
- What we can take over & what you'll still need to do
- The likely path from here, including fees, costs and payment options
What You’ll Walk Away With:
- You'll know what applies to you
- Clarity on what the process looks like
- What to do next, and what can wait
- What your options are with getting our help
- Understanding of costs, fees and payment options
No paperwork needed to book, just bring what you have.
Built For Regional Estates
Regional estates often aren’t neat and tidy — and that’s normal. Life is different outside of the city. Status Legal is based in Portland, and we regularly handle estates across regional Victoria, often with additional layers that many city-based law firms don’t always see.
With regional estates, it’s common to run into things like:
- Farms and rural property that have been in the family for years
- Long-held assets with outdated or messy paperwork
- Missing or incomplete documents (papers kept “somewhere safe”… but no one can find them)
- More than one death to deal with (one estate wasn’t handled before the next death, creating layered estates)
- Paperwork put off for years because paperwork wasn't the priority. Work, farming, family commitments came first.
We’re used to these situations. We’ll help you work out what to do first, what we can take over, and how to keep things moving — with advice that fits regional estates, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Clear Fees, Without Locking You Into More Than You Need
Executors often worry about costs, and they’re going to pay the Supreme Court filing fees or for getting help, before estate funds are accessible. We understand this, so we explain the expected costs and our fees upfront, including fixed fees where possible, hourly work where needed, and payment options (including JustFund) if early costs are a concern.
Fixed fees (when predictable)
For many estates, the key parts of the work are predictable enough that we can offer a fixed fee — so you know the cost upfront.
Fixed-fee work commonly includes:
- Probate/letters applications (prepare, file, and handle required notices)
- Calling in assets + debts/tax (collect what’s needed, pay what’s required, keep steps in order)
- Distribution guidance (help ensure the estate is finalised correctly)
What this means for you: clearer costs, fewer surprises, and a simpler path forward.
Hourly work (when unpredictable)
Some situations can’t be priced upfront because the workload depends on what happens next. If hourly work applies, we’ll explain why and what this may look like before we start.
Hourly work can apply when:
- A will is challenged
- Assets need ongoing management before they can be sold/transferred
- A claim is made against the estate
We can help with all of these situations, and we’ll explain everything to you so you understand what’s involved before we take any action.
Paying early costs (before probate)
Early costs can arise before probate is granted—especially court filing fees—and estate funds usually can’t be accessed yet.
Most costs are ultimately paid from the estate, but the issue is timing.
Options to cover these are:
- Paying upfront, then reimbursing later (where appropriate)
- Using an estate funding option (where suitable)
Estate funding option (JustFund)
If early costs are a worry, estate funding may help you move forward before probate is finalised. We can explain whether JustFund is suitable.
Funding may be used for:
- court filing fees and legal fees
- valuations and other required expenses
- urgent estate costs (insurance, essential repairs)
How it works: you apply → if approved, invoices are approved to you → paid by JustFund → repaid later, once the estate is finalised.
Trusted By Executors Across Regional Victoria
These are verified Google reviews from people we’ve helped with probate, letters of administration, and deceased estates. They reflect what you can expect from us: clear advice, calm support, and steady progress.
OUR TEAM
Meet Your Estate Team
When you contact Stratus Legal, you’ll speak with real people who understand the responsibility that comes with being an executor. We’ll communicate clearly, keep you updated, and guide you through the process in plain English.
Alex O’Donohue
PRINCIPAL LAWYER
Heading the Estates Department is the ever-passionate Alex O’Donohue. Alex’s experience extends to all aspects of Estate matters including estate planning from the usual couple wills through to complex testamentary trust requirements, Grant of Probate and Letter of Administration matters, contested Estates, Will Disputes and Estate Disputes.
Angel Assafiri
LAWYER
Angel is a lawyer practising in Estates Law, known for her warm, steady presence and her ability to make clients feel genuinely supported. With experience across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, she brings practical insight to matters where different state requirements may apply. Clients value her approachable nature, clear communication style, and genuine commitment to helping people feel informed, supported and confident during important life moment
Amy Brown
PRACTICE MANAGER
Amy Brown plays a pivotal role at Stratus Legal Group as the Practice Manager, where her focus is on streamlining operations and enhancing client satisfaction across the firm. As the only non-lawyer on the executive team, Amy brings a unique perspective and unwavering dedication to the business side of legal practice. With a strong background in administration and leadership, Amy oversees the firm’s internal processes, ensuring that systems run efficiently and that clients receive a seamless experience from start to finish.
Common Questions
Every situation is different. These answers are general. If you want clarity on your specific question or on the next step you should take, click here to book your free 15-minute appointment.
I’ve been named executor, but don’t know where to start — is that normal?
Yes. Most people are first-timers. We’ll help you work out what needs to happen first, what you’re responsible for, and the safest next step.
Do I have to do everything myself?
No. While you remain responsible as executor, you don’t have to handle the paperwork and process alone. We can take care of the court side and guide you through the parts you’d like support with.
Do I need probate or letters of administration?
It depends on whether there’s a valid will and who is able to act. We’ll tell you which path applies and what that means for what happens next.
What does it cost, and how do I pay?
Costs depend on the stage and complexity. Fixed fees are often available where work is predictable, and hourly rates apply where things can’t be priced upfront. In many cases costs are paid from the estate — the tricky part is timing, because estate funds usually can’t be accessed until probate is granted. We’ll explain the options in your appointment (including payment and funding options where appropriate).
Do I need probate for every estate?
No. It depends on the assets involved and how they’re held. We’ll help you work this out early so you don’t do unnecessary steps.
What if there’s no will, or I can’t find it?
That’s common. There’s a legal process that applies, and we can guide the searches and the application so you’re not left trying to interpret strict rules on your own.
How long does probate / administration usually take?
Timeframes vary depending on the estate and whether anything is missing or disputed. Our focus is preparing things properly and keeping the steps in the right order to minimise avoidable delays.
Am I locked into ongoing legal fees if I start?
No. Our services are staged, so you can engage us for the initial application and decide later if you want help beyond that.
I feel pressured by family — can you help?
Yes. This is very common. We bring structure and clear next steps so you’re not managing expectations without a clear timeline or process.
Do you handle regional estates, including farms and rural assets?
Yes. We regularly assist with regional estates and understand the practical issues that can come with rural property, long-held assets, and missing records.
Do you only assist clients in regional Victoria?
We’re based in Portland and regularly assist executors across regional Victoria. Depending on the matter, we can often help remotely — we’ll confirm what’s appropriate in your appointment.
Is the 15-minute appointment really obligation-free?
Yes. It’s designed to give you clarity and next steps — not pressure you into a decision.
Book Your Free Appointment
Get clear, practical guidance on probate and deceased estates. You’ll leave with a simple plan: what applies to your situation, what happens first, what can wait, what you can handball to us, and how costs and payment usually work. No obligation. No Pressure.
No Obligation • No Pressure • Just Clear Next Steps
Get In Touch
To contact us, simply fill out the form, and we will reply within 24 business hours. If you need a faster response, call us at 1300 185 734 to speak with our team. We look forward to assisting you.
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