Abstract
The modern law governing administration of deceased estates in Australia and New Zealand originated from English law, and the needs and customs of the indigenous people were almost completely ignored. Estate administration relies on the idea of the separate estate which is administered by an executor or administrator. The modern law is strongly focused on efficiency and dispute resolution. In recent years, the values and customs of First Nations people in Australia and the Māori people in New Zealand have become better recognized, as has the acknowledgement that they had sophisticated legal systems that continue to operate. Succession law in Australia is a matter for states, and thus multiple systems varying from the English pattern arise. This chapter outlines the processes to be carried out by legal personal representatives in administering the separate estate of the deceased, going through the process of paying debts and distributing assets to the beneficiaries.