What we do
Queensland Public Trustee provides personal, professional and impartial services for around 2,000 deceased estates across Queensland at any given time. Our team of staff are experienced in the administration of deceased estates, with access to specialised support from our legal, taxation and property units.
As estate administrator, our role is to guide beneficiaries through the process and ensure assets are distributed according to the wishes expressed in the Will or the laws of intestacy.
We administer an estate when someone appoints us as Executor in their Will. We may also accept administration of an estate if the:
- executor chooses not to do it or does not act within 3 months
- executor is not a resident in Queensland
- executor has died since the Will was made
- person who died did not have a Will and Queensland Public Trustee is requested to do so by the next of kin.
Timeframes
The time it takes for us to administer an estate depends on the complexity. Most estates take an average of 12 months to finalise. However, some estates can take less or more time due to several factors including:
- how long it takes to sell assets such as real estate
- if anyone contests the Will
- locating beneficiaries.
Our deceased estates team will provide you with initial advice around anticipated timeframes. We'll then keep you informed along the way if there are any unexpected delays.
How we administer a deceased estate
Our role starts when we learn of a person’s passing and ends when everything has been distributed to all beneficiaries.
When we become aware of a new estate, we talk to the key beneficiary to find out about the assets and liabilities of the estate. From this talk we can determine if a formal administration is required.
Where the assets are minimal or the majority are jointly held, a formal administration may not be required. If this is the case, we can explain what to do next.
If administration is required, we'll contact all beneficiaries to provide information about the next steps.
To gather as much information as possible about the estate before starting, we provide a key beneficiary with our:
Once we have established important information about the estate, we contact all beneficiaries to:
- advise of their entitlements (if there is a valid Will)
- explain what’s involved in the estate administration process
- discuss any issues that may affect the estate
- confirm how best to communicate throughout the administration process.
To learn more about how we administer an estate view our Deceased estate services guide for beneficiaries and our communication guide for deceased estates.
Talk to our decease estates team
IIf you are beneficiary of a estate we are managing, you can:
- call us on 1300 360 044
- email us at [email protected]
Additional professional services
We offer a range of professional services to support the full administration of a deceased estate including legal and taxation services, property sales and genealogy to search for missing beneficiaries.
Tax services
We are a registered tax agent. Our team can ensure all tax obligations are complete before the final distribution of the estate.
Genealogy services
We have an intestacy entitlement unit. They research family trees to trace beneficiaries in Australia and overseas.
Legal services
We have an in-house team of legal professionals. They assist with succession law matters impacting on the deceased estates we administer. This includes beneficiary entitlements, contested probate proceedings and any issues arising on intestacy.
Property sales
At times, a property in a deceased estate must be sold. We have our own real estate team in Brisbane, and partner with local real estate agents in regional and rural Queensland.
Customer quote
They were timely. They were understanding. They contacted us all the time. They would explain things so that the layperson would understand. We all had different opinions of things as a family, and they explained it, so we all understood.
Our fees
The cost to administer an estate varies depending on the complexity of the estate. Our services are charged on a fee for service model. This means the estate is only charged for the services required.
Following our initial contact with beneficiaries, we provide a confirmation letter outlining the initial fee estimate. This will be based on our early understanding of the estate.
Once we have confirmed all assets and liabilities, we will provide an updated fee estimate. This is usually provided in the first 3 months of commencing the administration process. We keep you informed if there are any changes in circumstances that impact the fee quote.
As well as our service fees, there may be other expenses incurred by the estate from other providers. These include:
- professional fees of tax agents, valuers and stockbrokers
- transfer fees for property title or motor vehicle registration
- filing fees by the Supreme Court
- transport costs for moving a motor vehicle
- property expenses including rates, utilities, maintenance and clear out costs.
Real-world example: Simon's story
Finding a beneficiary when you die without a Will can involve some detective work.
Simon emigrated from England to Australia in the 1940s. He never married or had children and died without a Will. Simon led a reclusive life, and his one friend knew little about him, except that he had a sister in England.
When QPT was securing his belongings, we found his birth certificate and two photographs. One photo was of workmen and a truck with a company name on it, and the other was of his father in a police uniform.
We contacted the local police, parish priest and the trucking company. We received three letters back and the priest gave the married name and address of Simon’s sister Jane who lived in the next village. Jane had lost touch with her brother many years ago and didn’t know he’d died until she heard from the police and the priest.
It was extremely fortunate that Simon was from a small village where everyone knew everyone else. Would your family be easy to locate if you died without a Will?