作者：Chunqiu Hu | 维多利亚州执业律师 | HWC Legal Melbourne 最后更新：2026年10月
遗嘱有效，不等于分配就板上钉钉——在维州，法院在特定情形下可以调整遗嘱的分配，而且申请只有六个月的时间窗口 Subtitle: A valid will isn’t necessarily the final word — in Victoria, the Court can adjust the distribution in certain circumstances, and the window to apply is only six months
📌核心提醒：家庭供养申请不是推翻遗嘱，而是在承认遗嘱有效的前提下，请求法院调整分配；法院看的是”适当的维持和扶助”，而不是”公不公平”。 Core point: a family provision claim doesn’t overturn the will — it accepts the will is valid and asks the Court to adjust the distribution. The Court looks at “adequate maintenance and support”, not “fairness”.
目录
先分清：挑战遗嘱有两种
谁可以申请
法院怎么判断
六个月时限
费用与风险
写遗嘱的人可以做什么
FAQ
一、先分清：挑战遗嘱有两种First, two different kinds of challenge
📜 挑战遗嘱本身是否有效 📜 Challenging whether the will itself is valid
这类挑战针对的是遗嘱本身，比如立遗嘱时的行为能力、是否存在不当影响等，不是本文的重点。 This kind of challenge targets the will itself — for example, capacity when it was made, or undue influence — and isn’t the focus of this article.
⚖️ 家庭供养申请（Family Provision） ⚖️ Family provision claim
这是维州最常见的一类遗嘱纠纷，依据《1958年遗产管理法》第四部分提出。 This is the most common type of will dispute in Victoria, brought under Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic).
它承认遗嘱有效，但主张遗嘱没有为申请人提供适当的维持和扶助，请求法院调整分配。 It accepts that the will is valid, but argues it fails to make adequate provision for the applicant’s proper maintenance and support, and asks the Court to adjust the distribution.
二、谁可以申请 2. Who can apply
📋 只有”合格申请人”才有资格 📋 Only an “eligible person” can apply
法律规定了一份封闭的名单（第90条），包括配偶或伴侣、子女（包括成年子女、养子女和继子女），以及特定情形下的孙辈、受死者抚养的人等。 The law sets a closed list (section 90), including a spouse or partner, children (including adult children, adopted children and stepchildren), and in certain circumstances grandchildren and people who were dependent on the deceased.
不在名单内的人，通常不能提出这类申请。 A person who isn’t on the list generally can’t bring this type of claim.
👨👩👧 成年子女也可以申请 👨👩👧 Adult children can apply too
成年子女属于合格申请人，但具备资格不等于一定成功。 An adult child is an eligible person, but eligibility doesn’t mean the claim will succeed.
三、法院怎么判断 3. How the Court decides
🔍 三个门槛 🔍 Three thresholds
法院需要确认：申请人是合格申请人；死者对其负有”道德责任”提供维持和扶助；遗嘱的分配没有为其提供适当的维持和扶助。 The Court must be satisfied that the applicant is an eligible person, that the deceased owed them a “moral duty” to provide for their proper maintenance and support, and that the distribution of the estate fails to make adequate provision for it.
📊 法院会综合考虑的因素 📊 Factors the Court weighs
包括关系的性质和长度、死者的责任、遗产的大小和构成、申请人和受益人的经济状况与需要、年龄、是否有残疾、申请人对死者财产或福祉的贡献、死者生前是否已给予过利益，以及申请人的品行等。 These include the nature and length of the relationship, the deceased’s obligations, the size and nature of the estate, the financial resources and needs of the applicant and beneficiaries, age, disability, the applicant’s contributions to the deceased’s property or welfare, benefits previously given by the deceased, and the applicant’s character and conduct.
⚠️ 重点是”需要”，不是”公平” ⚠️ The focus is “need”, not “fairness”
法院看的是维持和扶助的需要，而不是追求平均分配。 The Court looks at the need for maintenance and support, not at equalising what each person receives.
有判决指出，即使申请人有很强的道德理由，如果证明不了经济需要，申请仍可能被驳回，法院不会仅仅因为结果看起来不公平就改写遗嘱。 Judgments have held that even a strong moral claim can fail if financial need isn’t shown — the Court won’t rewrite a will simply because the outcome looks unfair.
疏远关系也不是”一票否决”，只是法院考虑的因素之一。 Estrangement isn’t an automatic bar either — it is one of the factors the Court may consider.
📝 死者留下的理由 📝 Reasons left by the deceased
死者留下的书面理由等证据，法院可以考虑，但不会自动约束法院的判断。 Written reasons left by the deceased can be considered by the Court, but they don’t automatically bind it.
四、六个月时限 4. The six-month deadline
⏰ 从认证之日起算，不是从去世之日 ⏰ It runs from the grant, not from the date of death
申请必须在遗产认证（Probate）或遗产管理令（Letters of Administration）获批后六个月内提出。 An application must be made within six months of the grant of probate or letters of administration.
法院在有限情形下可能延长期限，但不保证获批，也可能增加费用。 The Court may extend the time in limited circumstances, but this isn’t guaranteed and can add cost.
对执行人而言，这也意味着在时限届满前分配遗产，需要格外谨慎。 For executors, this also means distributing the estate before the deadline passes calls for particular caution.
五、费用与风险 5. Costs and risk
💰 费用由法院酌情决定 💰 Costs are in the Court’s discretion
败诉的申请人，可能需要承担部分执行人或受益人的费用；执行人或其他当事人的不当行为，也可能带来费用后果。 An unsuccessful applicant may be ordered to pay some of the executor’s or beneficiaries’ costs, and unnecessary conduct by an executor or another party can also have costs consequences.
大多数案件会在开庭前通过调解解决。 Most claims are resolved before trial through mediation.
六、写遗嘱的人可以做什么 6. What a will-maker can do
🧭 不是”不给就没事”，也不是”给了就够” 🧭 It’s neither “leave them out and you’re safe” nor “leave something and it’s enough”
每个家庭的情况不同，没有统一的答案。 Every family is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
我们通常会和客户一起梳理几个方向：自己的真实考虑是什么；是否需要为可能的申请人作适当安排；理由以什么方式记录最稳妥；以及资产结构，因为并非所有资产都在遗嘱管辖范围内，比如联名房产和养老金。 We typically work through several directions with clients: what your genuine considerations are; whether appropriate provision should be made for potential applicants; how best to record your reasons; and asset structure, since not all assets fall within a will’s reach — for example jointly-owned property and superannuation.
具体怎么设计，需要结合家庭成员、资产构成和跨境资产情况来评估。 How to design this depends on your family members, the make-up of your assets, and any overseas assets.
七、如果你是被”漏掉”的家人，或者你是执行人 7. If you’ve been left out, or you’re the executor
被漏掉的家人，六个月的时间窗口很短，建议尽早找律师评估自己是否具备申请资格、胜算如何。 If you’ve been left out, the six-month window is short — get advice early on whether you’re eligible and what your prospects look like.
执行人收到申请通知后，也建议先咨询律师再处理遗产分配，避免程序上的失误。 If you’re an executor and receive notice of a claim, seek advice before dealing with distribution, to avoid procedural missteps.
❓常见问题 FAQ
Q1：遗嘱明确写了不给某个孩子，这个孩子还能申请吗？ If a will expressly leaves a child out, can that child still apply? A：可以申请，成年子女属于合格申请人，但能否成功取决于前述门槛和法院的综合判断。 Yes — an adult child is an eligible person — but success depends on the thresholds above and the Court’s overall assessment.
Q2：申请的时限是多久？ What’s the time limit? A：遗产认证或遗产管理令获批后六个月，不是从去世之日起算，法院在有限情形下可能延期，但不保证。 Six months from the grant of probate or letters of administration, not from the date of death. The Court may extend in limited circumstances, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Q3：家庭供养申请会让遗嘱作废吗？ Does a family provision claim invalidate the will? A：不会，遗嘱仍然有效，法院只是在特定情形下调整分配。 No. The will remains valid; the Court only adjusts the distribution in certain circumstances.
Q4：成年子女经济条件很好，也能申请吗？ Can an adult child who is financially comfortable still apply? A：具备资格可以申请，但申请人的经济状况和需要是法院重点考虑的因素，会直接影响结果。 They can apply if eligible, but the applicant’s financial position and needs are central considerations and directly affect the outcome.
Q5：在遗嘱里写明理由，能防止被挑战吗？ Can stating my reasons in the will prevent a challenge? A：不能保证。书面理由会被法院作为证据考虑，但不会约束法院，不能替代对整体安排的评估。 There’s no guarantee. Written reasons are considered as evidence but don’t bind the Court, and they’re no substitute for assessing the overall arrangement.
如果你正在规划遗嘱、担心安排可能引发纠纷，或者你是被遗嘱漏掉的家人、正在处理遗产的执行人，欢迎联系HWC Legal做详细评估。 If you’re planning a will and worried your arrangements might cause a dispute, or you’ve been left out of a will or are an executor dealing with an estate, contact HWC Legal for a detailed assessment.
参考资料：Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic) 第四部分；维多利亚州最高法院及郡法院公开资料 Reference: Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic), Part IV; published materials of the Supreme Court and County Court of Victoria
