Are you trying to search for a probate-related notice in Queensland? Or maybe you're trying to find a copy of a will? You've come to the right place.
On this page you'll find how to get a copy of probate or a will from the Supreme Court of Queensland, plus how to search recent and older notices from the Queensland Law Reporter.
Bookmark this page so you can access every QLD probate search resource in one click.
Quick Navigation
I'm Looking for a Copy of a Grant of Probate
Queensland's Supreme Court can issue a certified copy of a Grant of Probate upon application. You will need specific information about the file in order to apply online for a copy of documents held by the Supreme Court.
Required Information
The information required on the Search and Copy form includes:
- The Court: Supreme, District or Magistrates (Tip: QLD Probate grants are all made by the Supreme Court)
- Location: Where the proceeding was heard - Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Longreach, Mackay, Maryborough, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Roma, Toowoomba or Townsville
- Matter type: Civil or criminal? (Probate applications are civil matters)
- File number: e.g. S1034/2020
- File name: e.g. "In the Will of Michael Smith (deceased)" - use the name of the deceased person
How to Find This Information
You can find this information by searching eCourts. If you are searching for a grant of probate, use these presets:
- Supreme Court
- Civil Matter
- Party details = first and last name of the deceased
📋 Official Forms
Once you have the file information, you can apply for a copy through the Supreme Court's Search and Copy Counter online portal and pay the prescribed fee.
I'm Looking for a Copy of a Will
The Queensland Supreme Court (QSC) does not hold original wills except for those filed with a probate application. If you have not filed a probate application, the QSC won't have your will.
When the Court Has the Will
The original will is filed with the probate application and is retained by the Supreme Court of Queensland. You may apply for a copy of a will (attached to the Grant of Probate) by applying to the Search and Copy Counter online and paying the prescribed fee.
On the application form you will need to provide the same information as for applying for a copy of probate.
⚠️ Important Note
If probate has not been applied for, the Supreme Court will not have a copy of the will. The will should be with the executor, solicitor, or trustee company that prepared it.
I'm Searching for an Old Probate Notice
If you are looking for a Notice of Intended Probate Application which is more than a few weeks old, the easiest way is to perform a search.
Queensland Law Reporter Database
The QLR website shows recent editions published weekly back to 2012. It's much easier to search the surname/family name in the Probate Notice Database rather than scrolling through individual weekly publications.
💡 Search Tip
Probate notices are published weekly in the Queensland Law Reporter. You can search by surname to quickly find the notice you're looking for, even if it's several years old.
I've Filed a Notice: Is It Published Yet?
In Queensland, before you may apply for a grant of probate you must advertise your intention to apply for a grant in the Queensland Law Reporter.
Publication Schedule
The Queensland Law Reporter only publishes advertisements once per week on a Friday.
⏰ Key Deadline
Your advertisement must be lodged by 4pm Monday to be eligible for publication the same week (Friday).
What Happens After Publication
After your notice is published, you must wait the statutory notice period (typically 14 days) before submitting your probate application to the Supreme Court. This waiting period allows any interested parties to come forward if they wish to contest the will or application.
For expert legal help with deceased estates in Queensland, our Brisbane wills and estates lawyers are here to assist. We handle probate applications across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and all of Queensland.
