Q: What should avg fee for unsupervised probate estate value 1.1million. Will straight forward split even percents
Only need to sell stock and apartment reps will doing everything lawyer will only call to say what’s needed to be done to follow law, file paper work with court and write up a letter to beneficiary’s. Well I knew this lawyer was a trying to get ever penny he can, I have not contacted courts Because it would look like was starting trouble. Lawyer was named co rep, my great uncle passes Jan 2017. They lawyer was coworkers with my great uncles original lawyer who I believed passed so he takes the case. My dad and aunt are niece and nephew I’m great I have 4 siblings and I have 5 cousins. 5 percent to each kid and 50/50 between aunt and my father. At start my dad was back up rep but when lawyer tried to act as lawyer and rep brought up conflicts of interest he immediately resigned and said he would just act as lawyer. He charged $40000.he also writes out of pocket cost I as one number not itemized. I called him out and he refunded 5 taxi rides to court house in one day amd no recipits!
A: Lawyers in DC are not permitted to charge a percentage— any percentage— in private unless it is a commission on sale of property. If all that is required is a petition for probate, unsupervised, with proper releases all around, it shouldn’t be more than a few thousand, and you get to review the bill before its paid so you can ask for court review. The lawyer will be happier if you let him list and sell the apartment so he can make some money on the file, but usually he just gets paid for his time. It’s slightly more expensive if it’s not abbreviated or anyone asks for supervision; it’s much more expensive if the death was 1995 or before; and much, much more expensive if the death was before 1989. Running the liquidation of the estate through the attorney’s trust account saves a few thousand in fees because it avoids the time-consuming Patriot Act.
A: Lawyers charge for their time. Hourly rates vary, and you pay more for more experienced lawyers, but then, with more experience they are likely to know everything better and spend less time than a more inexperienced lawyer. Call around.
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