PROBATE & TRUST ADMINISTRATION
While I have acquired a great deal of expertise and experience in probate and estate administration matters over the past 25 years, my law practice is now focused primarily on estate planning (during lifetime). I no longer have the workload capacity to formally represent personal representatives and successor trustees during the administration of an estate or trust, except for a limited engagement to provide initial guidance when the deceased person was a past client of mine (see below for more information).
Therefore, we are currently NOT scheduling meetings for estate administration (after a death) unless the deceased person was a past client. Even then, my philosophy for estate and trust administration is to counsel the named individual fiduciary (a personal representative or trustee, as the case may be) to do as much as possible on his or her own without formally retaining an estate lawyer. I have observed that lawyer involvement during the estate administration process, no matter the reason, often adds undue tension to the process and brings out the worst in family relationships.
For complex matters or when the relationship among surviving beneficiaries is adversarial, I believe the situation always calls for the use of a professional fiduciary (not a lawyer). The named individual fiduciary and the beneficiaries might still choose to obtain separate representation by retaining an estate lawyer with litigation experience to protect their own interests, but the actual administration of the estate or trust is best handled by a professional fiduciary.
In some cases, the deceased person's bank or investment company may be able to serve in the fiduciary role. However, I usually suggest an independent professional fiduciary such as:
Yes, we still offer scheduled meetings for estate administration if the deceased person was a past client of mine. During the initial consultation I can provide the following:
The initial consultation fee is $450 regardless of the duration of the meeting.
My usual and customary fee for any additional meetings or legal document drafting after the initial meeting is $450/hour.
Please note that I do not specialize in estate litigation, nor would I represent you in a personal sense. If you are concerned about protecting your own personal interests during a probate or trust administration, you should reach out to a law firm with lawyers who focus on estate litigation. I can give you a referral upon request.
Read articles about estate administration:
Articles Library
Download my books about estate administration:
Free PDF Books
Sample engagement letter:
Estate Administration Engagement Letter
Therefore, we are currently NOT scheduling meetings for estate administration (after a death) unless the deceased person was a past client. Even then, my philosophy for estate and trust administration is to counsel the named individual fiduciary (a personal representative or trustee, as the case may be) to do as much as possible on his or her own without formally retaining an estate lawyer. I have observed that lawyer involvement during the estate administration process, no matter the reason, often adds undue tension to the process and brings out the worst in family relationships.
For complex matters or when the relationship among surviving beneficiaries is adversarial, I believe the situation always calls for the use of a professional fiduciary (not a lawyer). The named individual fiduciary and the beneficiaries might still choose to obtain separate representation by retaining an estate lawyer with litigation experience to protect their own interests, but the actual administration of the estate or trust is best handled by a professional fiduciary.
In some cases, the deceased person's bank or investment company may be able to serve in the fiduciary role. However, I usually suggest an independent professional fiduciary such as:
- Mission Management & Trust Company
- TrustBank of Arizona
- Zia Trust
- Arizona Fiduciary Services
- Affordable Paralegal Solutions
Yes, we still offer scheduled meetings for estate administration if the deceased person was a past client of mine. During the initial consultation I can provide the following:
- Evaluate whether a probate is needed. If yes, I can help direct you to the starting point.
- Determine whether a paralegal or a professional fiduciary may be helpful.
- Interpret the lawyer language so you can understand what needs to be done.
- Draft an assortment of related legal documents. For example, I can help establish sub-trusts and testamentary trusts when called for by a will or living trust. I can also draft affidavits to remove a deceased person's name from a property deed.
The initial consultation fee is $450 regardless of the duration of the meeting.
My usual and customary fee for any additional meetings or legal document drafting after the initial meeting is $450/hour.
Please note that I do not specialize in estate litigation, nor would I represent you in a personal sense. If you are concerned about protecting your own personal interests during a probate or trust administration, you should reach out to a law firm with lawyers who focus on estate litigation. I can give you a referral upon request.
Read articles about estate administration:
Articles Library
Download my books about estate administration:
Free PDF Books
Sample engagement letter:
Estate Administration Engagement Letter