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<DIV><FONT size=4>Attorney Fee seems too high. you don’t report the
rate/hr. so that may be the problem?? That simple an estate would probably
result in a reduction in attorney fee requested.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: #004080">Joshua F.
Grant</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #004080"><BR></SPAN><SPAN
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width=207 height=43><BR></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #004080">P.
O. Box 619<BR>Wilbur, WA 99185<BR>509 647 5578</SPAN><SPAN
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<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=eric@sayrelawoffices.com>Eric Nelsen</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, July 15, 2021 11:46 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com>WSBA Probate & Trust
Listserv</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [WSBAPT] query re reasonable estate
fees</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal>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?)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Eric<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A><SPAN
style="COLOR: #0563c1">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua">Covid-19 Update - </SPAN></B>All
attorneys are working remotely during regular business hours and are available
via email and by phone. Videoconferencing also is available. Signing of estate
planning documents can be completed and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Please direct mail and deliveries to the Seattle office.<o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B>From:</B> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com
<wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> <B>On Behalf Of </B>Shannon
Jones<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, July 15, 2021 10:51 AM<BR><B>To:</B> WSBA
Probate & Trust Listserv
<wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><BR><B>Subject:</B> [WSBAPT] query re
reasonable estate fees<o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
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