When Hollywood gets Wills wrong: What ‘The Sheep Detectives’, ‘Knives Out’ and Taylor Swift can teach us about Estate Administration in Victoria

If you’ve watched the new movie ‘The Sheep Detectives’ (featuring Australia’s own Hugh Jackman), you’ll remember the dramatic “reading of the Will” scene — the family and friends gathered in a room, tensions high, secrets revealed, and a lawyer theatrically announcing who gets what. If you haven’t seen it yet, you really should!

It’s great cinema. It’s also not how things work here in Australia.

Hollywood loves this trope. Think of ‘Knives Out’, where the entire family is summoned to hear the Will, only to discover that everything has been left to the unsuspecting outsider. Or Taylor Swift’s song ‘Anti‑Hero’, where she imagines her future daughter‑in‑law killing her for her money and the family fighting over her estate. These moments make for brilliant storytelling because they tap into drama, conflict and surprise.

In Victoria, none of this happens, as we don’t have a formal “reading of the Will” tradition. Instead, the process is quieter, more structured, and far more practical.

As Wills and Estates lawyers, our role isn’t to perform a dramatic reading — it’s to guide executors through a legally precise, step‑by‑step process that ensures the estate is administered properly, efficiently and in accordance with the deceased’s wishes.

Here’s how it really works.

The Reality: What happens after someone passes away?

The first meeting is with the executors — not the whole family.

Unlike the movies, we don’t assemble every beneficiary for a big reveal. Instead, we meet privately with the executors, as they are the people responsible for administering the estate.

In that meeting, we:

• confirm the assets and liabilities of the estate
• identify the executors and beneficiaries
• review the Will and clarify any instructions
• map out the estate administration timeline and anticipated costs

This meeting is practical, calm and focused on responsibilities — not theatrics.

Step‑by‑step: The estate administration process in Victoria

The estate administration process in Victoria follows four key phases, which are summarised below.

Step 1: Gather estate information (approx. 6–8 weeks)

Before anything meaningful can happen, the death certificate must be issued. Once available, the executors meet with their lawyer to begin the process.

Key tasks include:

• notifying banks, insurers, super funds and other organisations of the death
• confirming all assets and liabilities
• publishing the required online advertisement with the Supreme Court of Victoria (at least 14 days before applying for Probate)

This step forms the foundation of the entire administration.

Step 2: Apply for Probate or Letters of Administration (approx. 4–6 weeks)

Once information is gathered, the lawyer prepares the formal application to the Supreme Court of Victoria.

This includes:

• preparing the application
• signing the application with the executors (or administrators, if there is no will)
• lodging the application online (and posting the original Will to the Court)
• waiting for the Court to issue the Grant

The Court may take longer if it requires additional information or if there are issues with the Will, but usually we receive Grants back within 2-3 weeks from the time of lodgement.

Step 3: Administer the estate (time varies)

After the Grant is issued, the executors can begin calling in assets:

• redeeming bank accounts, shares, superannuation
• selling or transferring real estate
• managing any ongoing liabilities

This stage varies widely depending on the complexity of the estate.

Step 4: Finalise and distribute the estate (approx. 6–8 weeks, usually after the 6‑month claim period has expired)

Before distributing assets, executors must:

• finalise tax obligations
• pay outstanding debts
• obtain beneficiary releases
• prepare distribution statements

Importantly, estates are not usually distributed until six (6) months after the Grant is issued, as this is the window in which someone could bring a Part IV claim for provision from the estate.

The movies love drama – Real life does not

The “reading of the Will” trope persists because it’s a perfect storytelling device: conflict, suspense and emotional payoff. It gives writers an easy way to bring all the characters together and let chaos unfold.

‘Knives Out’ uses it to expose family greed. Taylor Swift uses it to joke about inheritance‑related drama in ‘Anti‑Hero’, and ‘The Sheep Detectives’ uses it to drive the plot forward.

In reality, estate administration is a legal process — one that prioritises transparency, compliance and fairness.

Executors don’t need a dramatic reveal. They need guidance, structure, and a lawyer who can help them navigate each step of the estate administration process confidently and with clarity.

Back to the sheep…

If ‘The Sheep Detectives’ film was set in Victoria, the plot would look very different:

• the executors would meet privately with their lawyer
• the Will would be reviewed calmly, not theatrically
• the estate’s assets would be identified and verified
• Probate would be applied for through the Supreme Court’s online system
• beneficiaries would be informed progressively — not all at once in a crowded room

Less drama, more diligence. It might make for a less explosive movie, but it makes for a far smoother and legally sound administration process.

At Coulter Legal, we can provide you with personalised, expert advice to ensure that any estate matter is dealt with as efficiently and stress-free as possible.

Should you wish to discuss any of the matters raised in this article, or to make an initial Probate or Letters of Administration appointment with one of our lawyers, please contact our Wills, Estates & Succession Planning team on (03) 5273 5273.

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