Deborah Kliger

Expertise

Since commencing her legal career in 2015, Deborah has focused her practice on advising private clients in wills and estates matters, with a particular emphasis on estate litigation and complex estate administration. As an experienced wills and estates lawyer and Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates, she combines technical expertise with patience, clear communication and a focus on practical, commercial outcomes.

Deborah regularly acts in estate litigation in Victoria, including:​

• Part IV family provision claims (issuing and defending claims)

• Applications for approval of compromise

• Contested probate and caveat proceedings

• Informal will and limited grant applications

• Applications to pass over, remove or replace executors or trustees

• Proceedings involving self‑managed superannuation death benefit disputes

She also assists clients with all aspects of probate and estate administration, including:

• Applications for Probate and Letters of Administration, including unusual or complex grants and revocation of grants

• Estate administration, with a particular focus on contested estates and independent administrations

Deborah’s practice also covers comprehensive estate and succession planning, including:

• Wills ranging from simple wills to complex testamentary trust wills

• Enduring powers of attorney and appointments of medical treatment decision makers

• Superannuation death benefit nominations and broader succession planning for personal and family wealth

About Deborah

Deborah joined the firm in April 2019 as an Associate. Prior to joining, she worked at several long-established suburban firms, practising principally in wills and estates. She also gained valuable experience in family law and property law, giving her a well-rounded understanding of, and holistic approach to, wills and estates matters.

Deborah Kliger has been recognised for the second consecutive year in Doyle’s Guide 2025 as a Recommended Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyer (Vic), a reflection of her expertise and strong reputation in the field. She has also been named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards in both 2021 and 2022, in the categories of Senior Associate of the Year (SME Law) and Mentor of the Year.

In addition to her practice, Deborah has held a range of volunteer legal and governance roles in the not-for-profit sector. In 2021, she served as the Immediate Past President of Victorian Women Lawyers, the peak representative body of women lawyers in Victoria, and as the Victorian Director of the national body Australian Women Lawyers.

Outside of work, Deborah enjoys pilates, meditation, learning languages and wine tasting.

Qualifications

• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – The College of Law

• Bachelor of Laws – Monash University

• Bachelor of Arts (Japanese major) – Monash University

• Accredited Specialist – Wills & Estates – Law Institute of Victoria

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Victoria

Memberships and Committees

• Law Institute of Victoria (including the Succession Law Section)

• Victorian Women Lawyers

• Australian Women Lawyers

• The College of Law Victoria Academic Review Committee and Mentor (for the College's in Practice Component Program)