Categories > Legal

top-estate-lawyers-hong-kong-banner

5 Best Estate Lawyers in Hong Kong for Worry-Free Planning 

Cross-border know-how: Overseas assets can turn estate planning into a legal maze. We favoured firms with solid international networks and multi-jurisdiction experience.

Estate structuring expertise: A basic template won’t cut it for every family. We prioritised lawyers experienced in tailored trusts and long-term wealth planning.

Dispute resolution skills: Inheritance disputes are stressful enough without an endless court battle. We gave extra credit to lawyers who can resolve matters through mediation where possible.

Clear billing: Surprise legal fees are nobody’s idea of a good inheritance. We looked for firms with transparent pricing and straightforward billing.

My sister’s recent trip to a divorce lawyer made one thing very clear: protecting the kids financially isn’t something to leave to chance. Suddenly, estate planning feels less like paperwork and more like proper family armour.

In Hong Kong, things can get complicated fast when property, trusts, overseas assets and future generations are involved. That’s where the best estate lawyer in Hong Kong can help untangle the legal spaghetti.

We looked for experienced firms that can handle more than a basic will and call it a day. These are the practices worth considering when you want your family supported long after you’re gone.

How much does it cost to hire an estate lawyer in Hong Kong?

Estate planning fees in Hong Kong can vary quite a bit. A basic will may cost around HK1,000 to HK3,000.

A more tailored or complex will usually costs about HK3,000 to HK10,000+. An Enduring Power of Attorney may cost roughly HK6,800 to HK8,000+.

Straightforward probate administration can range from HK10,000 to HK50,000. More complicated or contested probate cases may reach HK50,000 to HK120,000+.

Overall, you could be looking at anywhere from about HK1,000 to HK120,000+, depending on the estate and how much legal work is involved.

1. Chaudhry Solicitors

chaudhry-solicitors-logo

Website

Address: 212, 2/f, Hankow Centre, 5-15 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Contact: +852 2555 7676 | +852 2555 7638 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM – 6 PM

Chaudhry Solicitors stands out if you’d rather discuss sensitive family matters without wrestling with a language barrier. 

Its team works across English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and French, which can make estate conversations feel far less daunting.

The firm handles wills, trusts, estate administration and probate disputes, while bringing plenty of litigation experience to the table. 

I particularly like that its service is framed around different cultural needs rather than treating every family estate like the same old template.

There’s a practical side too, with the firm emphasising efficient service and transparent billing. For straightforward estate matters, that combination of accessibility and broad legal experience could be reassuring.

The catch is that wills and probate aren’t the firm’s main calling card, with criminal, civil and commercial litigation featuring more prominently. 

It’s only been around since 2017 too, so it doesn’t have the decades-long track record of some established private-client firms.

Pros

  • Multilingual team covering several major Hong Kong languages
  • Handles wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration
  • Strong civil litigation background for disputed estates
  • Emphasises culturally sensitive legal service
  • Promotes transparent billing and efficient service

Cons

  • Wills and probate aren’t its most prominent specialism
  • Shorter track record than some long-established Hong Kong firms

2. Oldham, Li & Nie

oldham-li-nie-logo

Website

Address: Suite 503, 5/F, St. George’s Building, 2 Ice House Street, Central

Contact: +852 2868 0696 | 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM – 6 PM

Oldham, Li & Nie is a strong pick when your estate plan stretches beyond Hong Kong’s borders. 

Its private-client and tax teams can work together on trusts, overseas assets and succession planning without making the whole thing feel like legal algebra.

I like that the firm brings tax advisers, accountants and lawyers into the same conversation. That’s especially useful when an inheritance involves several jurisdictions, and one wrong assumption could become an expensive headache later.

Its FreeWill programme is another nice touch, offering qualifying simple wills in return for a charitable donation. The firm handles contentious probate too, so it isn’t limited to the easy cases.

The main drawback is that OLN isn’t a huge global firm with its own offices everywhere. Some overseas work may involve affiliated or network firms, which could mean extra coordination.

Pros

  • Strong private-client and tax expertise
  • Handles trusts, probate, and cross-border estates
  • Multidisciplinary team of lawyers and accountants
  • Experienced with contentious probate matters
  • FreeWill programme supports charitable giving

Cons

  • Not a large global firm with offices everywhere/some overseas matters may require coordination with network firms
jc-legal-logo

Website

Address: Units 1-3, 20/F, Strand 50, 50 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan

Contact: (852) 2608 0988 | Fax: (852) 2608 0200 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM – 6 PM

JC Legal is a handy pick for families whose assets, relatives and paperwork refuse to stay in one country. Its team handles cross-border estate matters involving Hong Kong, Mainland China, Malaysia and the UK.

I like its Virtual Legal Clinic, which makes getting initial advice far less of a production. The firm can even waive the consultation fee if you engage them within one week.

Its broader family approach is another plus, especially when money and relationships are equally complicated. 

The team can work alongside financial advisers, life coaches and other professionals when a case needs more than purely legal input.

The catch is that virtual consultations are limited to 20 or 60 minutes, which may feel brief for a tangled estate. You’ll also need to decide fairly quickly if you want that consultation fee waived.

Pros

  • Strong cross-border estate planning experience
  • Covers Hong Kong, Mainland China, Malaysia, and the UK
  • Convenient award-winning Virtual Legal Clinic
  • Consultation fee may be waived after engagement
  • Can collaborate with financial advisers and other professionals

Cons

  • Virtual consultations are limited to 20 or 60 minutes
  • Fee waiver requires engagement within one week

4. Hugill & Ip Solicitors

hugill-ip-solicitors-logo

Website

Address: Level 25, Six Pacific Place, 50 Queen’s Road East

Contact: +852 2861 1511 | +852 2861 1518 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:30 AM – 6 PM | Friday, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Hugill & Ip Solicitors is a strong fit when your estate plan involves more than simply signing a will and filing it away. 

Its private-client team handles trusts, guardianship planning, probate and cross-border assets with a properly tailored approach.

I especially like that parents can document guardianship wishes alongside their wider estate plans. The firm handles contentious and non-contentious probate too, which helps when family arrangements get messy rather than straightforward.

Its cross-border experience is another plus for families with property or beneficiaries outside Hong Kong. That makes it useful when an executor is overseas, or several jurisdictions are involved.

The downside is that its broader private-client expertise may be more than you need for a very simple will. 

It doesn’t publish straightforward pricing either, so you’ll need to ask for a quote before knowing what the legal bill looks like.

Pros

  • Strong private-client and estate planning expertise
  • Handles trusts, guardianship planning, and probate
  • Experienced with cross-border estates and foreign assets
  • Covers both contentious and non-contentious probate
  • Tailored approach for more complex family arrangements

Cons

  • Broader expertise may be unnecessary for a very simple will
  • No straightforward public pricing for estate services

5. Tanner De Witt

tanner-de-witt-logo

Website

Address: 17th Floor, Tower One, Lippo Centre, 89 Queensway, Admiralty

Contact: +852 2573 5000 | +852 2802 3553 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM

Tanner De Witt is worth a look when an estate has gone beyond paperwork and into proper family drama. 

Its private-client team handles wills, trusts, probate and arrangements for mentally incapacitated relatives under Hong Kong law. Where it really earns its keep is contentious probate. 

The firm has experience with disputes involving capacity, fraud, forgery and contested estate administration, which is reassuring when everyone suddenly has a different version of the family history.

Its cross-border reach is another plus, with access to international legal, tax and accounting professionals. The team includes lawyers with specialist trust training too, which helps when wealth spans several jurisdictions.

The downside is that this isn’t a small estate-planning boutique. If your affairs are very straightforward, you may not need the full breadth of its private-client and disputes expertise.

Pros

  • Strong contentious probate experience
  • Handles wills, trusts, and estate administration
  • Experienced with capacity, fraud, and forgery disputes
  • Advises on mentally incapacitated persons’ affairs
  • Strong cross-border private-client capabilities

Cons

  • Not a dedicated estate-planning boutique
  • Broad expertise may be more than simple estates require
Related topics