What is an inheritance advance? A plain-English guide for Australian beneficiaries

An inheritance advance is a way to access a portion of your inheritance before an estate has been fully settled. Instead of waiting months or even years for probate to complete and assets to be distributed, you receive a lump sum now. The advance is repaid directly from the estate when it finalises. You make no monthly repayments in the meantime.

If you are a beneficiary of a deceased estate in Australia, this guide explains how it works, what you will need to qualify, and what the process looks like from application to funds in your account.

Why do people need an inheritance advance?

In Australia, the average estate takes 9 to 12 months to settle. For estates that include property, which is the majority of Australian estates, the timeline is often longer. During that period, beneficiaries may be managing mortgage payments, covering living expenses, or dealing with the practical costs of estate administration (repairs to the property, ongoing rates and insurance, legal fees) with no access to the funds they are entitled to.

An inheritance advance bridges that gap. It gives you access to funds you are already owed, earlier than you'd otherwise receive them.

How does an inheritance advance work?

At Inherita, the process works in four steps:

• Tell us about the estate. Complete a 5-10 minute online application. We ask about the estate, not your income or employment.
• Share your documents. Send us the key estate documents: the will, death certificate, and probate paperwork. We will tell you exactly what we need.
• Receive a decision. Our team reviews every application personally. You will have an initial answer within 48 hours.
• Access your funds. Once approved and contracts are signed, funds are transferred directly to your account the next business day.

What can you use the funds for?

There are no restrictions on how you use an inheritance advance. Common uses include:

• Covering mortgage or rent payments while waiting for the estate
• Paying for essential repairs to an estate property before sale
• Meeting everyday living expenses during the administration period
• Covering the costs of the estate itself such as legal fees, funeral expenses, insurance
• Consolidating personal debts

How is an inheritance advance different from a personal loan?

The key difference is how repayment works and what you are assessed against.

A personal loan is assessed on your income, your credit history, and your ability to make monthly repayments. If you are retired, part-time, or not currently working, many lenders will decline you.

An inheritance advance is assessed on the estate, specifically, on the value of the estate assets and your confirmed entitlement as a named beneficiary. Your income and employment status are not considered. And because repayment comes directly from the estate at settlement, you make no monthly repayments at all.

How much can you access?

Inherita advances up to 50% of your confirmed inheritance entitlement. The exact amount depends on the value of the estate assets, any outstanding debts or liabilities within the estate, and the number of beneficiaries. Our estimate tool lets you enter your expected inheritance amount and see an indicative cost before you apply.

Who qualifies?

To be eligible for an Inherita advance, you generally need to be:

• A named beneficiary of a confirmed will
• Waiting on an estate that is being professionally administered (by a solicitor or trustee company)
• Able to provide the key estate documents (will, death certificate, probate paperwork)

Your income, employment status, and personal assets are not part of the assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to see how much you could access? Use our estimate tool to get an instant breakdown — advance amount, fees, and your remaining inheritance — before you apply. No commitment required.