How to search probate records in New Zealand
Probate records in New Zealand are court files, and once an application for probate or letters of administration is filed the file becomes a public record: anyone can ask the High Court for copies of its documents, including the will. The $41 search fee includes the search, a copy of the will if there is one and a copy of the grant, and the court usually replies within 2 weeks after payment (Ministry of Justice: How to find and get a copy of a will, as at 20 October 2026).
This page is about searching court and archive records. If you do not yet know whether a will was ever filed, start with how to find a will, which covers lawyers, trust companies and the papers at home.
Can anyone search probate records?
Yes. The Ministry of Justice says that once an application is filed the file is publicly accessible and anyone can request copies. That is true whether the application was for probate (a will exists), letters of administration (no will) or letters of administration with will annexed (a will exists but no executor can act). What is not public is a will that has never been filed with the court: it is held by the lawyer or trust company, who may be unable to give you a copy because of client confidentiality.
Which office do you contact?
| What you know | Where to send the request |
|---|---|
| The application was filed on or after 4 June 2013 | The Wellington High Court Probate Unit; all probate applications are filed there |
| The application was filed before 4 June 2013 | Usually the High Court closest to where the person lived; use the Ministry's court locations tool |
| The record is more than about 25 years old | Often Archives New Zealand, which has an online search catalogue |
| You are not sure whether anything was filed | Ask the Wellington Probate Unit, and consider legal advice, as the Ministry suggests |
The High Court generally keeps probate records for up to 25 years, and some may have moved to Archives earlier because of storage arrangements. The Ministry also says probate records from May 2004 onwards can be searched online; the guide does not name the tool, so ask the Probate Unit if you cannot find it. If the High Court no longer holds the record, it will tell you where the record is and how to get it.
The Probate Unit's details, from the Ministry's probate page: Wellington High Court, 2 Molesworth Street, Wellington 6011; postal address Probate Unit, High Court, PO Box 1091, Wellington 6140; phone 04 914 3600; email [email protected]. The Ministry warns that it does not send payment links by text or email.
How do you make a request?
The Ministry says you can write or email the Registrar at the appropriate High Court and include:
- the person's full name, and any other names they used;
- the date of death and/or the date probate or administration was granted;
- their last place of residence.
If information is missing or unclear, the search may take longer. Payment of the $41 fee goes through the Ministry's File and Pay system. If you want documents beyond the will and grant, such as affidavits on the court file, say so clearly in the request. We did not find a separate published price for certified copies, so ask the Probate Unit what it will charge.
What will you get back?
The fee covers the search, a copy of the will and a copy of the grant. The court file can hold more. For a straightforward probate application, the executor files an application without notice, an affidavit for obtaining a grant of probate, the original will, any original codicils and the probate document with a copy (Ministry of Justice: Applying for probate, a practical guide). A codicil is a formal change to a will, and the same signing rules apply to it; see what a codicil is. That list does not include accounts of how the estate was later distributed, so do not expect a search to tell you who received what.
What if the application is still open?
An application that has been filed but not yet decided has a court file, but no grant has been issued. The Registrar considers whether the will is valid, whether the executors are correctly appointed and whether the documents are complete; if something is missing the court issues a minute explaining what to fix, and when everything is in order probate is granted and the sealed probate is returned to the applicant. A typical timeframe is 15 working days unless more information is required, according to the Ministry, while govt.nz says probate usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks. So when you search, put the date of death in the request and ask whether a grant has been issued, not only whether a file exists. See probate in New Zealand for the process.
Searching for older or historic records
For a record more than 25 years old, use Archives New Zealand's online search catalogue and request access. Some files are stored offsite and must be ordered in advance, which may take extra time, and the Ministry says an Archives request may take longer than a court one if the file is stored offsite. We could not load Archives New Zealand's site on 20 October 2026, so check its current request steps and any charges before you travel or pay.
What else turns up while searching?
If the person died years ago, money may have been left behind. Money that organisations cannot return goes to Inland Revenue under the Unclaimed Money Act 1971, generally after about 5 years, and IR holds it for 20 years. To claim for someone who has died you need evidence of your authority, such as the will, the death certificate or a letter of administration, and claims take at least 12 weeks (Inland Revenue: Claiming unclaimed money). Our guide to unclaimed money after a death covers it, and who is entitled to a copy of a will covers requests that are not through the court.
Separate from the search, the buttons on this page lead to Momentum Life's online quotes, for readers who later want cover of their own. Momentum's Quick Life (ages 18 to 65) excludes pre-existing conditions and suicide in the first 2 years, and its Funeral Insurance (ages 40 to 75) pays only for accidental death in the first 24 months. Total premiums can end up larger than the benefit. Momentum Life Limited is rated B (Fair) by A.M. Best (Momentum Life: Financial strength). Plan details are on the Momentum Life page.
Adviser's view
Probate searches are simple once you know which door to knock on. Applications since 4 June 2013 go through the Wellington High Court Probate Unit, earlier ones through a local High Court, and files older than about 25 years are usually at Archives New Zealand. The $41 fee covers the search, a copy of the will and a copy of the grant.
Compare your cover with a licensed NZ adviser · free, no obligation.
Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). NZ Probate Records Search: How to Find Them. www.quotehub.co.nz/guides/estate/probate-records-search-nz. Updated 2026-10-20.
References
- Ministry of Justice: How to find and get a copy of a will (PDF)
- Ministry of Justice: Probate information and guidance
- Ministry of Justice: Applying for probate, a practical guide (PDF)
- govt.nz: Wills, probate and estates
- Inland Revenue: Claiming unclaimed money
- Momentum Life: Financial strength
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