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linda2407

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? ny
The lawyer who is handling an estate matter charged 1200.00 for letters Testamentary. I thought that this was outrageous. Does this charge depend on the size of the estate or is it normally a standard fee? Thanks for any answers!
 


You Are Guilty

Senior Member
What is the name of your state? ny
The lawyer who is handling an estate matter charged 1200.00 for letters Testamentary. I thought that this was outrageous. Does this charge depend on the size of the estate or is it normally a standard fee? Thanks for any answers!
What does the retainer agreement say?

(I'm going out on a very short limb and guessing you've never hired a lawyer before?)
 

linda2407

Junior Member
thanks

Thank you for the oh so useful answers. I thought that there were actual adults on this site. Apparently I was mistaken. Thank you all again.
 

Dandy Don

Senior Member
Please answer the question--did you or anyone else sign a fee agreement with him or not, and was this fee specifically mentioned in it?

Is this attorney the official executor or did someone else serve as executor? What is the total value of the estate? Is probate over or is it being handled presently?

Is this matter an itemized statement charging only for the letters testamentary or is this his executor fee for handling the entire estate?

You are right to be outraged--this is outright greed, charging for a document that the courts give virtually free of charge. Do not pay the bill and you need to asking him to make an adjustment on this amount or else he will be fired. You can find out what the legally allowable rate for an executor is by consulting another attorney.

Consider filing a complaint about this with the New York Bar Association but I'm not sure if they handle fee disputes or not (try to find a website for them)--if they won't handle it, go to arbitration/mediation about it.

DANDY DON IN OKLAHOMA (tiekh@yahoo.com)
 

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