What Happens After: Estate Administration in Australia | Complete Guide

1. When Someone Passes

Losing someone is overwhelming. The last thing a grieving family needs is confusion about what to do next. ezyWill is designed to take the guesswork out of estate administration — automatically guiding the right people through the right steps at the right time.

How It Starts

When a death is reported to ezyWill — by an executor, lawyer, or family member — the system activates the estate administration workflow. Notifications go out, the Estate Portal opens, and structured guidance begins.

Everything that follows is designed to be respectful, clear, and supportive. No one is left wondering what they should do or where to find information.

What ezyWill Does Automatically

Sends personalised notifications to executors, beneficiaries, guardians, and the appointed lawyer
Opens the Estate Portal with role-appropriate access for each person
Activates the probate checklist so executors know exactly what to do first
Prepares estate documents including the Will, asset schedules, and beneficiary details

2. Automatic Notifications

Everyone named in the estate plan receives a personalised notification tailored to their role. No one gets information they don't need, and everyone gets exactly what they do.

Executors

Receive comprehensive instructions on their responsibilities, a link to the Estate Portal, and guidance on immediate next steps including obtaining death certificates and securing assets.

Beneficiaries

Receive a sensitive, respectful notification with information about their entitlements, a timeline of what to expect, and a link to view their specific details in the Estate Portal.

Guardians

Receive confirmation of their guardian appointment, details of their responsibilities, and information about what the role involves going forward.

Lawyers

The appointed lawyer is notified with full estate details and gains access to the Lawyer Portal's probate management tools, enabling them to coordinate the administration professionally.

3. The Estate Portal

The Estate Portal is a secure, online workspace where everyone involved in the estate can access the information they need — and nothing more.

How Access Works

Secure Link

Each person receives a unique, time-limited access link in their notification email.

Account Creation

They create an ezyWill account (or log in if they already have one) to establish their identity.

Identity Verification

KYC (Know Your Customer) verification confirms their identity before granting access to sensitive estate information.

Role-Based Access

Once verified, they see only the information relevant to their role — executors see the full picture, beneficiaries see their entitlements.

Why Identity Verification?

Estate information is sensitive. Identity verification ensures that only the people named in the Will can access their respective information, protecting against fraud and unauthorised access.

4. For Executors

As an executor, you carry the greatest responsibility — and the Estate Portal is built to support you every step of the way.

The Probate Command Centre

Your dashboard includes a structured, 5-phase checklist covering the entire administration process. Each phase builds on the last, so you always know what to do next.

1 Phase 1: Immediate Actions (Weeks 1-2)

Obtain death certificates (multiple copies)
Secure the deceased's property and valuables
Locate the original signed Will
Notify banks, insurers, and government agencies
Arrange funeral if not pre-arranged

2 Phase 2: Probate Application (Months 1-3)

Determine if probate is required
Prepare the probate application
Publish notice to creditors
Lodge application with the Supreme Court
Obtain the Grant of Probate

3 Phase 3: Asset Collection (Months 3-6)

Collect and value all estate assets
Transfer assets into the estate account
Manage ongoing property and investments
Identify and secure digital assets

4 Phase 4: Debt Settlement (Months 6-9)

Pay funeral expenses and outstanding debts
Lodge final tax returns
Settle legitimate creditor claims
Pay any Capital Gains Tax on asset disposals

5 Phase 5: Distribution (Months 9-12)

Distribute specific gifts as directed
Transfer property titles to beneficiaries
Distribute the residuary estate
Prepare final accounts for beneficiaries
Close the estate

What Executors Can Access

Will Document

Full Will PDF download

Asset Schedule

Complete inventory of all assets

Beneficiary Details

All beneficiaries and their entitlements

Vault Documents

Important documents stored in the Digital Vault

Funeral Wishes

Recorded preferences for arrangements

Document Tracker

Track collection of required documents

5. For Beneficiaries

If you've been named as a beneficiary, the Estate Portal provides you with clear, respectful information about your entitlements and what to expect.

What Beneficiaries Can See

Your inheritance details — What you've been left and in what form (percentage, specific gift, or property)
Timeline expectations — When you can expect distribution and what needs to happen first
What happens next — Clear guidance on the probate process and your role in it
Estate progress — High-level updates on where the administration is up to

Privacy by Design

Beneficiaries cannot see other beneficiaries' details, the full Will, or information beyond their own entitlements. This protects everyone's privacy and reduces the potential for disputes.

What Beneficiaries Cannot See

The full Will document
Other beneficiaries' entitlements or details
Complete asset schedules
Vault documents (unless specifically shared)
Executor-only administration details

6. For Guardians

If you've been nominated as a guardian for minor children, the Estate Portal provides confirmation and guidance.

What Guardians Receive

Appointment confirmation — Formal notification of your nomination as guardian
Responsibility guidance — Information about what the guardian role involves
Care instructions — Any specific instructions left by the Will-maker about the children's care

Guardians have the most limited access in the Estate Portal — by design. Their role is about care, not estate administration, and the portal reflects that distinction.

7. Working with a Lawyer

If the Will-maker appointed a lawyer through ezyWill, the lawyer gains access to a dedicated Lawyer Portal with additional tools for managing the estate professionally.

What the Lawyer Portal Provides

Probate Management

Tools for managing the probate application process and tracking court timelines.

Client Overview

Dashboard showing all managed estates with status indicators and priority flags.

Document Access

Secure access to the Will, asset schedules, and all estate documents.

Stakeholder Communication

Tools for keeping executors and beneficiaries informed of progress.

Lawyer-Managed Estates

When a lawyer is managing the estate, they can coordinate directly with executors through the platform. The executor still has full access to the Estate Portal, while the lawyer provides professional guidance and handles the legal complexities.

8. Typical Administration Timeline

While every estate is different, here's a typical timeline for a straightforward estate administration in Australia:

Week 1-2: Immediate Actions

Death certificates obtained, Will located, notifications sent, assets secured, funeral arranged.

Month 1-3: Probate

Probate application prepared and lodged. Notice to creditors published. Grant of Probate received (typically 4-8 weeks after lodging).

Month 3-6: Asset Collection

Assets collected and valued. Property sold if required. Investments transferred. Digital assets secured.

Month 6-9: Settling Debts

Outstanding debts paid. Final tax returns lodged. Creditor claims settled. CGT obligations addressed.

Month 9-12: Distribution

Specific gifts distributed. Property titles transferred. Residuary estate divided. Final accounts prepared. Estate closed.

Timelines Vary

Simple estates may be completed in 6 months. Complex estates with property sales, business interests, tax complications, or disputes can take 2-3 years. The ezyWill Estate Portal tracks progress regardless of timeline.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my ezyWill account when I pass away?

Your executor or lawyer notifies ezyWill, triggering automatic personalised notifications to everyone named in your estate plan. Each person receives role-specific information and secure access to the Estate Portal.

How does my executor access the Estate Administration Portal?

Your executor receives a secure email with a unique access link. After creating an account and completing identity verification (KYC), they gain full access to the probate command centre with phased checklists, document trackers, and estate details.

Can beneficiaries see the full Will?

No. Access is role-based. Executors see everything needed to administer the estate. Beneficiaries see only their inheritance details and guidance on what happens next. Guardians see their appointment confirmation and responsibilities.

How long does estate administration typically take?

Most straightforward estates are administered within 6-12 months. The portal breaks this into five phases: immediate actions, probate application, asset collection, debt settlement, and final distribution. Complex estates may take longer.

Does my executor need a lawyer to use the Estate Portal?

No. The portal is designed to guide executors through the process step by step. However, if a lawyer has been appointed, they can manage the estate through their own integrated Lawyer Portal with additional tools for probate management.

What Happens After: Estate Administration