Son Hit with $56k Fees on Mom's $2.2M Estate

0:00It's March 15th, here's your Sydney news in two minutes. Twelve years ago, Margaret Greaves used New South Wales government's free will service to leave all her assets to her son, Tony. She passed away in December 2025, and now Tony faces nearly $60,000 in executor fees from the New South Wales trustee and Guardian. Tony had care for his mother and maintained her Slovenia home for years, even traveling from Bathurst to get it ready for sale. The red brick property, valued at $318,000 back in 1999, now sits at $2.2 million due to soaring Sydney real estate prices. Tony was stunned by the letter, demanding $56,100, AT $2,800 for the property plus fees on savings. He says his mother had no clue about such a huge cut from a simple two-page will, especially since he handled most of the work. The trustee and Guardian charges 2.75% on a state's over $1.5 million, regulated by

1:02state parliament and last, reviewed by the independent pricing and regulatory tribunal in 2014, the same year Margaret made her will. In contrast, Supreme Court guidelines suggest executors get just 0.25% to 1.25%. Spokespeople defend the fees as fully disclosed, competitive, and providing legal certainty amid rising estate disputes. They note waivers exist for hardship cases and stress professional handling ensures fair distribution even as property values have more than doubled. Since the last review, this episode is supported by our sponsor, see details in the description. When you need a moment alone, just lay back and listen, S-O-L-I-SOLYPILO.COM.