[WSBAPT] query re reasonable estate fees

Thu Jul 15 11:35:19 PDT 2021

Agree with Marsha and Bryce.  42 hours is not an unreasonable amount of time.  Clearing out and selling house takes time depending on condition of house.  Selling car can be a challenge.  Attorney fees do seem high.  If attorney doing PR stuff at attorney fee rate, then that is an area to look at.  A $75 per hour PR should be able to handle much of the work themselves, without the attorney – so there appears to be a bit of a disconnect.  If not, then it sounds more like a $35 per hour PR.

Regards,

Mark

Ohana Fiduciary Corp.
A Washington Trust Company
Mark C. Vohr, J.D., CPG, Principal
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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Marsha Hudson
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 11:17 AM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] query re reasonable estate fees

I agree with Bryce.  The hourly rate may be reasonable, depends on the PR’s expertise, if any particular expertise is needed.  That’s a little higher than I would typically see in King County for an estate that does not require any particular knowledge or experience.  But both the PR and the attorney should provide a detailed, contemporaneous fee statement.  Those attorney’s fees seem high to me, without more information.

Marsha

Marsha C. Hudson
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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> [mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>] On Behalf Of Bryce Dille
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 11:06 AM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] query re reasonable estate fees

I don’t think the hourly rate is out of line but the amount of time spent needs to be justified also the attys fees requested need to be justified as well.

Bryce H. Dille
Dille Law, PLLC
2010 Caton Way SW Ste. 101
Olympia, WA 98502
Office: 360-350-0270
Cell: 253-579-5561

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Business Entity Creation and Management, Business, Government and Tax Law, Real Estate and Land Use, Residential, Commercial and Condominium Development Real Estate and Commercial Transactions & Closings, Including Performing Services as IRS Section 1031 Exchange Facilitator Estate Planning, including Wills and Trusts, and Probate Administration Representation Homeowners/Condominium Association Real Estate Developments Real Property Foreclosures and Forfeitures.

From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> <wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>> On Behalf Of Shannon Jones
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 10:51 AM
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbapt at lists.wsbarppt.com>>
Subject: [WSBAPT] query re reasonable estate fees

Pierce County testate estate with no creditor claims includes a house (no mortgage), a car (fully paid for), a checking and a savings account. There is one heir, who is not the PR. Estate attorney fees are over $13k (costs NOT included) and PR wants $75 an hour for 42.5 hours work. This seems unreasonable to me but I’ve not challenged estate attorney fee or PR fee for a while. Any thoughts appreciated.

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Shannon R. Jones | Attorney
Campbell Barnett PLLC
P: 253.848.3513| F: 253.845.4941
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Puyallup, WA 98371
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