Probate & Trust settlement pricing
As with all of our work, our goal when assisting with probate and trust settlement matters is to provide a comprehensive solution that makes the work as straightforward as possible for our clients.
Pricing Factors
Our settlement pricing is based on the following factors:
The number of beneficiaries involved.
In probates, the number of heirs at law the decedent had. (Heirs are law are the decedent’s closest living family members by blood.)
Whether the decedent left an estate plan, and if so, how complex the decedent’s will or trust is.
How simple the decedent’s assets are. Complex assets include multiple real estate holdings, real estate in multiple states, businesses, and individually held stock.
Whether the settlement work calls for probate or a trust settlement (or both).
Whether the settlement presents unusual or difficult issues.
How long the administrator takes to settle the estate.
·Which attorney the client chooses to work with.
Fee Structure
Our fees in probate and trust settlement work can be flat fee, hourly, or a mix. The key factor in determining which option(s) are offered is how much is known about the work at the initial meeting.
If the personal representative or trustee is very familiar with the decedent’s affairs and the settlement plan is straightforward, we will provide a flat fee quote. If there are large gaps in our knowledge and in the plan, typically an hourly option will be presented. If the work is generally known but there is a known gap, we typically quote the known work and charge hourly for
All flat fee quotes are based on the plan created during the initial meeting. If unanticipated issues arise, those are billed separately.
Fee Ranges
The cost of our settlement work varies much more widely than the cost of our estate planning work. We have settled simple estates for less than $5,000, and have settled extremely complicated estates for over ten times that amount.
However, in our experience, our fees for most estates and trust settlements fall in a range between $5,000 and $15,000, with a few outliers on either side.
Getting Started
Publishing fees is part of our commitment to transparency and clarity in all of our work. To get started, call our office to schedule your consultation. We look forward to working with you.