[WSBAPT] query re reasonable estate fees

[Eric Nelsen]

My touchstone on the reasonable rate is to estimate how much it would have cost to hire out the work, within a fairly broad range. I think $75/hr for time spent cleaning and hauling stuff to Goodwill or the dump is probably too high, though it might be justifiable if there was a lot of careful sorting to be done to extract and retain items of value from a larger mass of possessions. For administrative work I might be persuaded that $75 is realistic compared to cost to hire somebody to do the bookkeeping; but I tend to guesstimate at around $50/hr myself. (Of course, I've been estimating at $50/hr for probably 10 years; maybe it's too low now?)

I am a little puzzled at $13,000 in attorney fees for that size estate. I'd want to see the itemized billing. It seems a bit high but it's the detail that would matter; I have had "simple" probates take inordinate amounts of time because, for example, the PR couldn't make decisions without exhaustively discussing all possible risks, pros, cons, longshot issues, alternatives, etc.; or the personal property distribution process needed a lot of guidance; or there were background issues about possible pre-death claims that ultimately came to nothing but took time to sort out, and similar things.

Sincerely,

Eric

Eric C. Nelsen
Sayre Law Offices, PLLC
1417 31st Ave South
Seattle WA 98144-3909
206-625-0092
eric at sayrelawoffices.com<mailto:eric at sayrelawoffices.com>

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From: wsbapt-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <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>
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
317 South Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98371
shannonj at campbellbarnettlaw.com<mailto:shannonj at campbellbarnettlaw.com>
campbellbarnettlaw.com<https://campbellbarnettlaw.com/>


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