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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>
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<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 href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><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>
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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>
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<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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#323E4F">Shannon R. Jones | Attorney
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#323E4F"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#323E4F">Campbell Barnett PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">P: 253.848.3513| F: 253.845.4941</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">317 South Meridian</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Puyallup, WA 98371</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:shannonj@campbellbarnettlaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">shannonj@campbellbarnettlaw.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#2F5496">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#2F5496"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#4472C4"><a href="https://campbellbarnettlaw.com/"><span style="color:#4472C4">campbellbarnettlaw.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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