Estates · Adelaide & South Australia
Wills, Estates & Probate in Adelaide
Yes — Zed Legal Australia prepares wills, enduring powers of attorney, advance care directives and testamentary trusts, and provides probate, estate administration and executor support throughout South Australia under the Succession Act 2023 (SA).
Estate planning is an act of care. We help individuals and families create the legal framework that protects what they have built — and we guide executors through probate and estate administration when the time comes.
A well-drafted will does more than name who gets what. It appoints and empowers the right executor, deals with superannuation and blended-family complexity, protects vulnerable beneficiaries, and anticipates family provision claims. A template often does none of these things, and the cost of getting it wrong falls on the people you leave behind.
South Australia’s succession laws were overhauled by the Succession Act 2023 (SA), which commenced on 1 January 2025 and replaced the former Wills Act 1936, Administration and Probate Act 1919 and Inheritance (Family Provision) Act 1972. We prepare estate planning documents that reflect the current law, and we administer estates and obtain grants of probate for executors.
- Anyone without a current will, or with a will that predates a major life change
- Parents, blended families and people with vulnerable beneficiaries to protect
- People who want enduring powers of attorney and advance care directives in place
- Executors who need to obtain probate or administer an estate
- Will drafting and review, including testamentary trusts
- Enduring powers of attorney and advance care directives
- Grants of probate and letters of administration
- Estate administration and executor support
- 01
Listen
We understand your assets, your family and what you want to happen — including the situations people usually overlook.
- 02
Advise
Clear advice on the documents and structures that achieve your wishes and reduce the risk of a dispute.
- 03
Prepare
We draft your will, powers of attorney and directives, and explain each document before you sign.
- 04
Administer
When the time comes, we guide executors through probate and the administration of the estate.
What is probate and when is it required in South Australia?
Probate is the Supreme Court’s formal recognition that a will is valid and that the executor has authority to administer the estate. It is not required for every estate — for example, where assets are jointly held or modest — but most estates that include real property in the deceased’s sole name, significant bank accounts or shares will need a grant of probate before those assets can be dealt with. We prepare and lodge probate applications and guide executors through the process.
Why use a lawyer instead of a will kit?
Wills, powers of attorney and advance care directives are technical legal documents. Small errors — in execution, wording or witnessing — can make them invalid or easy to challenge, and the problems only surface when it is too late to fix them. A lawyer-prepared will also addresses superannuation, blended families, testamentary trusts and family provision risk, which a template cannot.
Does my will cover my superannuation?
Not automatically. Superannuation is generally held in trust by your fund and does not form part of your estate unless it is directed there. To control where your super goes you usually need a valid binding death benefit nomination, which typically lapses after three years. We advise on aligning your super with your overall estate plan.
What happens if I die without a will in South Australia?
If you die without a valid will (intestate), your estate is distributed according to the formula in the Succession Act 2023 (SA), which may not reflect your wishes — and the court appoints an administrator. Having a will lets you choose your executor, your beneficiaries and a guardian for minor children.
Speak with Zed Legal
Tell us what you need help with and we will point you in the right direction. No obligation, no jargon.
The information on this page is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific circumstances, please contact Zed Legal Australia.