NSW Trustee and Guardian Regulation 2017 (NSW)
This Regulation is the NSW Trustee and Guardian Regulation 2017.
This Regulation commences on 1 September 2017 and is required to be published on the NSW legislation website.
This Regulation replaces the NSW Trustee and Guardian Regulation 2008, which is repealed on 1 September 2017 by section 10 (2) of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989.
In this Regulation—
The Act and the Interpretation Act 1987 contain definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Regulation.
Notes included in this Regulation do not form part of this Regulation.
In this Part—
(a) in relation to a managed person’s estate (other than a managed missing person), the gross amount of the value of the assets (whether real or personal) of the estate without deduction of debts or liabilities secured or unsecured, but does not include the value of the person’s principal place of residence, or
(b) in relation to a managed missing person’s estate, the gross amount of the value of the assets (whether real or personal) of the estate without deduction of debts or liabilities secured or unsecured, but does not include the value of the person’s last known principal place of residence.
This Division applies when NSW Trustee has been appointed to and acts in any capacity referred to in section 11 (1) or (2) of the Act.
Section 11 (1) of the Act refers to NSW Trustee acting as trustee, executor or administrator, collector of estates, agent or attorney, guardian or receiver of the estate of a minor or receiver of any other property. Section 11 (2) of the Act refers to NSW Trustee acting in the capacity of a financial manager of the estate of a managed person.
NSW Trustee may, on a monthly basis, charge to an estate an administration account and audit fee (not exceeding 0.1 fee units) on each account kept by NSW Trustee in respect of the estate.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate or a person a reasonable fee for preparing or providing advice about financial matters.
The fee must not be more than 2.75 fee units per hour.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate the following fees (being fees that NSW Trustee determines to be appropriate) if returns are required in respect of the estate by any authority of the Commonwealth or of this or any other State or Territory for the purpose of assessment of any tax or duty—
(a) an investigation fee,
(b) an additional fee for each return lodged.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate the following fees in respect of an asset of the estate that is real estate—
(a) a reasonable fee (not exceeding 1.5 fee units per hour) for any inspection, valuation or report,
(b) a reasonable fee (not exceeding 1.5 fee units per hour) for preparation of specifications for repairs or renovations to any building or work,
(c) a reasonable fee (not exceeding 1.16 fee units per hour) for a second or subsequent inspection (including a report arising from the inspection) on the progress of any such repairs or renovations.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate a fee (or any other cost) for legal advice provided, or legal proceedings conducted, by NSW Trustee in connection with that estate.
The costs may be charged on a for profit basis.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate a fee—
(a) for managing an investment for a managed person in a common fund, or
(b) in any other case—for the work done and services rendered in establishing, keeping (including the keeping of books of account) and conduct of a common fund in respect of matters to which this Part applies.
The fee is to be calculated at a rate not exceeding—
(a) in respect of the management of estates of managed persons—0.35% per annum of the value of the investment, or
(b) in any other case—0.35% per annum on the capital sums invested in the common fund in respect of matters to which this Part applies during the period in which the work is done or the services rendered.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate a fee (or any other cost) for any service or matter not otherwise mentioned in this Regulation, being such amount as is agreed on or (in the absence of an agreement) as NSW Trustee determines to be just and reasonable.
This Division applies when NSW Trustee has been appointed to and acts in any capacity referred to in section 11 (1) of the Act.
Section 11 (1) of the Act refers to NSW Trustee acting as trustee, executor or administrator, collector of estates, agent or attorney, guardian or receiver of the estate of a minor or receiver of any other property.
NSW Trustee may charge a fee (not exceeding 0.68 fee units) for the notation and recording of the assignment or mortgage of, or of any dealing affecting, a beneficiary’s share in an estate.
Any such fee is payable from the share of the beneficiary concerned.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate a fee (not exceeding 4.5 fee units) for the work involved in taking steps incidental to NSW Trustee’s duties for the purpose of obtaining representation in the estate if NSW Trustee does not subsequently obtain representation.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate a fee (not exceeding 3 fee units) for the work involved in attempting to realise an asset in the estate if—
(a) NSW Trustee made the attempt at the request of a beneficiary, and
(b) the asset is subsequently transferred or delivered unconverted into money to the beneficiary.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate a fee if NSW Trustee is authorised by an order of a court to sell land forming part of the estate (unless the court directs otherwise).
If the land is sold, the fee is not to exceed—
(a) 4% on the first $100,000, and
(b) 3% on the next $100,000, and
(c) 2% on the next $100,000, and
(d) 1% on any amount exceeding $300,000.
If the land is not sold, the fee is not to exceed 4.5 fee units.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate, for carrying on a business, a fee that NSW Trustee considers just and reasonable having regard to the work involved if NSW Trustee finds it necessary to carry on the business in connection with NSW Trustee’s administration of the estate.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate a fee that NSW Trustee considers just and reasonable to cover the remuneration payable to a Local Court registrar who has been appointed by NSW Trustee to act as agent of NSW Trustee in respect of the administration of the estate.
This clause applies to a trust for which NSW Trustee acts as trustee, either solely or jointly with another person.
NSW Trustee may charge to the trust a fee for the administration of the trust that is—
(a) payable once only in relation to the assets of the trust, and
(b) calculated as follows, based on the value of the assets—
(i) 3.5% on the first $100,000,
(ii) 2.5% on the next $100,000,
(iii) 1.5% on the next $100,000,
(iv) 0.5% on an amount over $300,000.
NSW Trustee may also charge to the trust an annual fee for the administration of the trust that is—
(a) calculated as 0.7% of the value, at the time the fee is calculated, of the assets of the trust, and
(b) payable from—
(i) the corpus or capital of the trust property, or
(ii) the income of the trust property, or
(iii) both the corpus or capital and the income of the trust property.
NSW Trustee may also charge to the trust a reasonable fee for administration of the trust that NSW Trustee considers not part of the ordinary administration of the trust.
arranging or managing non-routine maintenance, repair, construction or development of trust property
For subclause (4), the fee must not be more than 2.75 fee units per hour.
This clause applies to an estate for which NSW Trustee acts as executor or administrator, either solely or jointly with another person.
NSW Trustee may charge to the estate a fee for the administration of the estate that is—
(a) payable once only in relation to the assets of the estate, and
(b) calculated as follows, based on the value of the assets—
(i) 4% on the first $300,000,
(ii) 3.5% on the next $300,000,
(iii) 2.5% on the next $150,000,
(iv) 1.5% on an amount over $750,000.
For subclause (2), if the fee calculated is less than 5 fee units, NSW Trustee may instead charge a minimum fee of 5 fee units.
NSW Trustee may also charge to an estate a fee that is—
(a) payable from the gross income to which the fee applies, and
(b) calculated as—
(i) 2.5% of rental income collected by a real estate agent for the estate, if the real estate agent has charged a fee for the collection, and
(ii) 5.25% of other income.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate, or to the share of an estate in respect of which it is necessary to make inquiries or advertise, a fee that NSW Trustee considers just and reasonable if—
(a) the existence or identity of any or all of the persons beneficially entitled to share in an estate or of the next of kin is unknown or is not definitely established, and
(b) it is necessary for NSW Trustee to make inquiries or to advertise for the purpose of locating any persons or next of kin.
The amount of the fee is not to exceed 5% of the net value of the estate after payment of original claims.
NSW Trustee may (except in respect of an estate administered by NSW Trustee) charge the following fees in respect of the execution of documents—
(a) a fee (not exceeding 0.68 fee units) for executing any assurance of property by direction,
(b) a fee (not exceeding 0.68 fee units) for executing any assurance by way of confirmation,
(c) a fee (not exceeding 0.68 fee units) for executing any necessary consent for a mortgagee to exercise powers in respect of a mortgage.
NSW Trustee may charge a fee (not exceeding 0.4 fee units) for producing any deeds or documents of title.
NSW Trustee may charge a fee for making a search of records held by NSW Trustee in any case in which, in the opinion of NSW Trustee, a fee should be charged because of the time involved or of the nature or volume of the information sought.
The fee is not to exceed 1.5 fee units per hour.
This clause applies to the estates of managed persons where NSW Trustee is the manager of the estate or part of the estate.
The fees payable to NSW Trustee in respect of the management of estates of managed persons are as follows—
(a) for the establishment of the account of the managed person, payable once only—1% of the value of the estate, subject to a minimum fee of 5 fee units being payable, up to a maximum of 30 fee units,
(b) for the management of an estate—1.4% of the value of the estate, up to a maximum of 200 fee units, per annum.
This clause applies to the estates of managed persons where a person other than NSW Trustee has been appointed as the manager of the estate.
The fees payable to NSW Trustee in respect of the management of estates of managed persons are as follows—
(a) for the establishment of the account of the managed person, payable once only—6.5 fee units,
(b) for filing, examination and passing of accounts—such fee (not exceeding 3.75 fee units) as NSW Trustee may fix.
NSW Trustee must certify to the manager of an estate of a managed person—
(a) the amount of the fee payable under subclause (2) (b), and
(b) the name of the person who is required to pay the fees payable under subclause (2), and
(c) the time within which the fee is to be paid.
This clause applies to the exercise of a function specified in the Act, section 11(3)–(3B).
NSW Trustee may charge a person a fee, for an amount agreed between the NSW Trustee and the person, for the carrying out of a function to which this clause applies.
NSW Trustee may charge the following fees for carrying out professional services in connection with—
(a) preparing, revising or revoking a will—a maximum of 60 fee units,
(b) preparing, revising or revoking an enduring guardianship appointment—3 fee units,
(c) preparing, revising or revoking a power of attorney—5 fee units.
The Act, section 111(3) provides the NSW Trustee with a discretion to waive, remit or reduce fees.
NSW Trustee may recover from a person to whom a service under subclause (1) is provided an amount equal to the disbursements made in providing the service.
NSW Trustee may charge to an estate or person requiring any of the following a fee not exceeding—
(a) for searching, stamping, lodging, uplifting, ordering or registering a document, whether outside the offices used by members of staff or by electronic means—0.4 fee units,
(b) for obtaining an exemplification of grant of probate or administration and preparation of a power of attorney for the purpose of collecting assets situated outside New South Wales—0.75 fee units,
(c) for an attendance outside the offices used by members of staff—1.5 fee units.
The fees that are payable to NSW Trustee in any matter in which NSW Trustee is acting as attorney or agent are, in respect of both capital and income, to be as arranged between the principals and NSW Trustee.
Any cost payable from an estate under a provision of this Part is additional to any other cost under a provision of this Part, and to any other cost, that is payable from the estate.
The amount of any cost payable in any particular case is, subject to this Part, to be determined by NSW Trustee.
NSW Trustee may deduct any cost that is payable under this Part in connection with an estate from any money that belongs to the estate and that is held by NSW Trustee or is under NSW Trustee’s control.
NSW Trustee may, in addition to any costs payable under this Part, charge the amount of any GST payable in respect of the service for which the cost is payable.
Subclause (1) does not permit NSW Trustee to charge an amount that is greater than 10% of the maximum amount payable to NSW Trustee apart from that subclause.
This clause has effect despite any other provision of this Part limiting an amount that may be charged by NSW Trustee.
NSW Trustee is to maintain an index of all wills lodged with NSW Trustee for safe custody.
For the following provisions of the Act, the following amounts are prescribed—
(a) sections 18(1)(a) and 31(1)(a)—$50,000,
(b) sections 26(1)(a) and 27(1)(c)—$150,000,
(c) section 28(1)—$170,000.
A notice of an election under Division 1 of Part 3.2 of the Act must state that the election has been made and may contain any other particulars of the election that NSW Trustee thinks fit.
The notice must be published in the same way as notices are published under rule 93 in Part 78 of the Supreme Court Rules 1970.
NSW Trustee is to give such notice, by advertisement or otherwise as it thinks fit, of its intention to act under section 31 of the Act.
New Zealand is prescribed as a reciprocating State for the purposes of section 35 of the Act.
Words and expressions used in this Part have the same meaning as they have in the Mental Health Act 2007.
For the purposes of section 43 (a) of the Act, the prescribed information to be given is that specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1.
For the purposes of section 43 (b) of the Act, the prescribed information to be given is that specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1.
The MHRT is to complete a notice of an order or interim order made by the MHRT that the estate of a person be subject to management under the Act.
The notice is to be in the form specified in Schedule 2.
The medical superintendent of a mental health facility must give written notice to NSW Trustee of the making of an order or interim order by the MHRT to the effect that the estate of a patient be subject to management under the Act.
The medical superintendent must give the written notice within 7 days of the making of any such order and must attach a copy of the order to the notice.
The medical superintendent of a mental health facility must, as soon as practicable, give written notice to NSW Trustee of the occurrence of any of the following events in respect of a patient who is or was a managed person—
(a) the patient’s discharge from the mental health facility,
(b) the patient’s transfer from the mental health facility,
(c) the patient’s absence with or without leave from the mental health facility,
(d) the patient’s return to the mental health facility from leave,
(e) the patient’s death at the mental health facility.
All decisions made by NSW Trustee in connection with the exercise of NSW Trustee’s functions under Division 1 of Part 4.5 of the Act are prescribed for the purposes of section 62 (1) (b) of the Act.
For the purposes of section 80 (1) of the Act, a copy of a will may be certified as a true copy of the will by any person of or over the age of 18 years.
For the purposes of section 91 (3) of the Act, NSW Trustee may take into account any relevant information provided by the Commissioner of Police for the purposes of being satisfied that a managed missing person is alive.
For the purposes of section 95 (1) (a) of the Act, the prescribed amount is $50,000.
New Zealand is prescribed as a reciprocating State for the purposes of section 81 of the Act.
Any act, matter or thing that, immediately before the repeal of the NSW Trustee and Guardian Regulation 2008, had effect under that Regulation continues to have effect under this Regulation.
(Clause 41)
If the Mental Health Review Tribunal (the
You have the right to have a barrister or solicitor represent you before the Tribunal. If you do not want a barrister or solicitor, you can have another person of your choice represent you, but you can only do this if the Tribunal agrees.
If the Tribunal thinks that you are able to manage your property and affairs, you can continue to do so. However, if you wish, you can have NSW Trustee and Guardian manage your property and affairs. You can ask the medical superintendent to arrange for NSW Trustee and Guardian to do this.
If the Tribunal decides that you are not able to manage your property and affairs, the Tribunal will order that your property and affairs be managed by NSW Trustee and Guardian.
If you do not agree with the Tribunal’s decision that your property and affairs should be managed by NSW Trustee and Guardian, you have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.
If the Mental Health Review Tribunal (the
If the Tribunal considers that the patient is able to manage his or her property and affairs, then the patient can continue to do so. The patient can ask that his or her property and affairs be managed by NSW Trustee and Guardian.
If the Tribunal is not satisfied that the patient can manage his or her property and affairs, then the Tribunal will make an order that NSW Trustee and Guardian manage the patient’s property and affairs.
If the patient does not agree with the Tribunal’s decision that his or her property and affairs should be managed by NSW Trustee and Guardian, the patient has a right to appeal to the Supreme Court.
(Clause 42 (2))
An order*/interim order* has been made today that the estate of [
Date
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clause 3(1), definition of “fee unit”
In this schedule—
For this regulation, a
(a) in the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26—$100, and
(b) in each subsequent financial year—the amount calculated as follows—
where—
A is the CPI number for the March quarter in the financial year immediately preceding the financial year for which the amount is calculated.B is the CPI number for the March quarter of 2025.
The amount of a fee unit must be rounded to the nearest cent and an amount of 0.5 cents must be rounded up.
If the amount of a fee unit calculated for a financial year is less than the amount that applied for the previous financial year, the amount for that previous financial year applies instead.
This clause does not apply to a fee specified in a dollar amount.
The amount of a fee calculated by reference to a fee unit must be rounded to the nearest dollar, and an amount of 50 cents must be rounded up.
As soon as practicable after the CPI number for the March quarter is first published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Chief Executive Officer must—
(a) notify the Parliamentary Counsel of the amount of the fee unit for the next financial year so notice of the amount may be published on the NSW legislation website, and
(b) give notice on a publicly available website administered by NSW Trustee of the actual amounts of the fees applying in each financial year resulting from the application of the amount of a fee unit calculated under clause 2.
This schedule operates to change an amount of a fee unit and the change is not dependent on the notification or other notice required by this clause.
NSW Trustee and Guardian Regulation 2017 (446). LW 25.8.2017. Date of commencement, 1.9.2017, cl 2.This Regulation has been amended as follows—
(767) | NSW Trustee and Guardian Amendment (Fees) Regulation 2021. LW 17.12.2021. Date of commencement, 1.1.2022, sec 2. | |
(124) | NSW Trustee and Guardian Amendment (Fees) Regulation 2025. LW 28.3.2025. Date of commencement, 1.4.2025, sec 2. |
Cl 3 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[1] [2]. |
Cl 6 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[3]. |
Cl 7 | Subst 2025 (124), Sch 1[4]. |
Cl 9 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[5] [6]. |
Cl 11 | Am 2021 (767), Sch 1[1]. |
Cl 14 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[7]. |
Cl 15 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[8]. |
Cl 16 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[9]. |
Cl 17 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[10]. |
Cl 20 | Subst 2025 (124), Sch 1[11]. |
Cl 21 | Subst 2025 (124), Sch 1[11]. |
Cl 23 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[12]. |
Cl 24 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[13]. |
Cl 25 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[14]. |
Cl 26 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[15]–[17]. |
Cl 27 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[18] [19]. |
Cl 28A | Ins 2025 (124), Sch 1[20]. |
Cl 28 | Subst 2021 (767), Sch 1[2]; 2025 (124), Sch 1[21]–[23]. |
Cl 29 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[24]–[27]. |
Cl 36 | Subst 2025 (124), Sch 1[28]. |
Cl 48 | Am 2025 (124), Sch 1[29]. |
Sch 3 | Ins 2025 (124), Sch 1[30]. |
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