Probate Lawyer Wellington - Fixed-Fee Service

Wellington executors have a natural question: if the High Court Probate Registry is right here in Wellington, why use a remote service? Because the registry is a filing counter, not a help desk — they accept compliant applications but don't prepare them or advise you on what's needed. Simply Probate prepares your entire application, ready for filing, for a fixed $699 + GST. The fact that the court is in your city just means the grant arrives faster.

Wellington Probate Services & Pricing

Transparent, fixed-fee probate services designed specifically for Wellington residents

Probate Application

$699 + GST fixed fee

Probate application when there's a valid will

  • Prepared for Wellington High Court filing (court fees additional)
  • Expert legal review and preparation
  • Executor guidance and support
  • All required documentation prepared
  • Fixed fee - no hidden costs
Start Application

Letters of Administration

Price On Application fixed fee

Letters of administration when there's no valid will

  • Prepared for Wellington High Court filing (court fees additional)
  • Expert legal review and preparation
  • Administrator guidance and support
  • All required documentation prepared
  • Fixed fees available
Start Application

Our Wellington Probate Process

1

Free Consultation

We review your case and provide a fixed quote for Wellington High Court filing

2

Document Preparation

We prepare all required court forms and supporting documentation

3

Ready to File

We provide your completed application ready for you to file at the Wellington High Court

4

Court Liaison

We are available to assist you with any inquiries from the court

5

Grant of Probate

The Probate Registry sends you the Grant of Probate in the post

6

Estate Administration

The executors then handle all aspects of estate administration

Why Choose Our Wellington Probate Services?

Save Time & Money

Wellington law firms typically charge $2,000-$5,000+ for probate on hourly rates. Simply Probate's fixed fee of $699 + GST saves Wellington executors thousands — even though the Probate Registry is in your city. We prepare everything; you simply file the completed documents.

Local Wellington Knowledge

Wellington estates often involve government superannuation schemes (GSF, NPF), earthquake-affected properties with ongoing insurance or EQC entitlements, and cross-Harbour property spanning Wellington City and the Hutt Valley. Many Wellington estates also include public service death benefits or ACC entitlements that need to be claimed alongside the probate process. We regularly prepare applications involving these Wellington-specific assets.

Fast Processing

Most applications filed within 1-2 business days of receiving documents

Local Affidavit Services in Wellington

While all probate applications in New Zealand are filed with the Wellington High Court Probate Registry, executors need to have their affidavits sworn or affirmed by an authorised person. Court Registrars at District Courts can provide this service.

Wellington residents can have their affidavits sworn at the local District Court:

Wellington District Court

Te Reo Māori: Te Whanganui-a-Tara

49 Ballance Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011

Wellington District Court Location

49 Ballance Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011

Other options for swearing affidavits:

  • - Solicitors and barristers (lawyers)
  • - Justices of the Peace (JPs)
  • - Notaries Public
  • - Registrars or Deputy Registrars of any court

Simply Probate prepares all your affidavit documents - you just need to have them witnessed by one of these authorised persons.

Common Wellington Probate Questions

What is probate and when is it required?

Probate is the legal process that validates a will and authorizes the executor to administer the estate. Learn everything about probate in our comprehensive guide. If there's no valid will, you'll need Letters of Administration instead.

How long does probate take in Wellington?

Most applications are processed in about 2 weeks after filing at Wellington High Court, depending on the complexity of the estate. Learn more about probate timelines.

What are the Wellington High Court filing fees?

Court filing fees are $269 additional and paid directly to Wellington High Court. Our fixed-fee pricing covers all legal services only. See our complete guide to probate costs.

Do I need to appear in court?

No, these applications are dealt with on the papers by the probate registry. Most probate applications are processed without requiring any personal appearances.

Can I file the application myself at the Wellington Probate Registry?

Yes — and this is exactly how it works with Simply Probate. We prepare the complete application (court forms and affidavit). You then file the documents at the High Court Probate Registry at 43 Balance Street, Wellington. Wellington executors have the advantage of being able to file in person rather than by post. The court filing fee is $269 payable directly to the court.

Does the estate include a Government Superannuation Fund (GSF) entitlement?

GSF and other government superannuation schemes are common in Wellington estates given the city's public service workforce. These entitlements usually sit outside the estate and are paid directly to nominated beneficiaries, but they may still be relevant to the estate depending on how they're structured. We can advise on whether your situation is affected.

Understanding Probate in New Zealand

Watch this short video where Rion explains the probate process and how Simply Probate helps New Zealand families navigate estate administration affordably.

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 Start Your Wellington Probate Application?

Contact our Wellington team for a free consultation and fixed-fee quote.

Phone

027 603 6144

Email

rion@rionnorris.com

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.