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29 Jan, 2020 by Carol
Mr. Mathis was courteous and efficient in updating our documents. He took the extra step of referring us to an attorney in a different field who could answer specific questions which fell out of the purview of estate planning. I recommend his services and appreciate his professional expertise.
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06 Jan, 2020 by Diana
I would highly recommend Joseph Mathis to anyone considering an attorney for a matter. Period. I have been a paralegal for the past 25 years in Washington state, but lacked a referral from any sources to handle the probate of my stepmother in Maryland. I found Mr. Mathis just as you are doing now by reading his reviews on AVVO. I was compelled by the online review to contact him and I was not disappointed in any area of representation.
My case involved the probate of my stepmother’s estate. My father pre-deceased my stepmother, but my father’s estate was not probated based on the assumption that my stepmother would “do the right thing” by my father. This was my father’s third wife, but he also had been married to her for over 30 years. She had no children of her own, her parents had pre-deceased her and she was estranged from her sister for over a decade, if not longer.
My step-mother did sign a will within months of my father’s passing that accomplished doing the “right thing”, however, due to either her severe alcoholism or undue pressure/influence from “friends”, she changed her will to exclude all three of my father’s children and leave her estate to three of her “friends”. Two of these friends hadn’t been part of her life for over five years and one of them was my father’s friend who she had been “dating” after my father’s passing.
After she passed away, we discovered that my stepmother’s alcoholism was more severe than anyone thought it to be. It was on this fact that I pursued investigating a will contest, aka caveat proceeding, with Mr. Mathis. Based upon my stepmother’s severe change in behavior, her self-isolation, and new discovered high level of alcoholism, I truly believed that my stepmother was not in her right state of mind when she signed the second will. . In addition to my stepmother signing the new will two years after my father’s passing and 4 years before she passed, we were told by her attorney that she had sent a letter to him that stated that none of her deceased husband’s family were to inherit from her estate.
In the end the land my grandfather gifted to my father in the early 70s (pre-marriage to my step-mother) where he and my father built the only home my father’s children knew, and the only piece of land my father grew up on from age 12, was sold and the proceeds split between “friends”.
I was forced to purchase a few of my father’s guns from my stepmother’s estate. I found out about the auction of my father’s items the morning of the auction. Obviously, I couldn’t get to Gettysburg from the West Coast in time. I emailed and called Mr. Mathis’ office at 6:00 am (PST) and Mr. Mathis called the personal representative’s attorney to see about stopping the auction or what options might be available to us. There was nothing I could do but bid on my father’s property. I called Mr. Mathis in tears this day to tell him how things went. I had to leave him a message with my crying voice. He was so kind, he called me after hours to see how I was doing.
All of this hurt my heart wickedly, but I cannot say enough positive things about Mr. Mathis’ handling of this case. When we discovered the letter plus the new will of my step-mother, Mr. Mathis was very honest with me about worrying about the amount of money it might take to fight the will with this new information plus the probability of not being able to “win”. Mr. Mathis could have simply told me a retainer amount and taken my money, however, he admitted he was concerned about the costs versus the probability of winning. This is the mark of a truly great attorney. Based on my experience, a great attorney is more concerned about the negative affect on his/her client’s versus being paid a fee in a probable no win situation.
I recommend Mr. Mathis for any legal matter you seek counsel on without any reservation!!!
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25 Oct, 2019 by Mark
Mr Mathis is a very knowledgable, easy going estate planner. He was able to explain many things in simple terms and my 87 year old mom thought he was great too!
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12 Feb, 2023 by Kathy
Lauren was extremely helpful in creating our Family Trust and how to place all our assets into the trust. We highly recommend her.
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26 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Lauren Leffler was just the attorney my family needed. My spouse and I approached her with the thought we were making small edits to our wills, but she helped us realize that we needed a full revamp. She was really knowledgeable about our unique needs and we feel secure that our wishes will be upheld thanks to our documents that she created. It would not have happened with the old ones. We’re so relieved to have found her!
A few months later, we needed to update my parents’ documents, this was much more of a time crunch than ours. After our good experience, I reached out to her for help. She got their documents done with the speed we needed. She was equally knowledgeable about my parents’ needs, which were very different from my own. We’ve been doing a lot of meetings for my parents these days getting their affairs tidied up, and Lauren has been the only one who has come to the initial consultation meeting having read their existing documents in advance.
Their office is easy to get to, but for my housebound parents, she came to their apartment.
My sibling plans to use Lauren to update their documents, my other sibling who lives out of state is disappointed they can’t use her (they asked).
We’ll definitely call Lauren in the future for any needs that arise.
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12 Dec, 2021 by Rhonda
I hired Lauren to help me with a guardianship case. There are not enough good things I can possibly say about my experience with her. She gave immediate attention to all the items needed in the case and returned emails and phone calls quickly. She seemed to always be one step ahead of the case. Her and her staff made this an easier than I anticipated experience. Not only is she knowledgeable and professional but she really cares about you and the parties involved. I can never thank her enough and highly recommend her and her firm.
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17 Jun, 2024 by Diana
My experience was very positive from the start. All my questions and concerns were addressed in detail and with patience. The service I received was very timely, the complete process was explained to me thoroughly. Everyone that helped me at McDonald Law Firm was very friendly and knowledgeable. I've told my friends and family I highly recommend McDonald Law Firm for their needs. 5 stars across the board.
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06 May, 2024 by Patricia a. dailey
My husband and I were clients of McDonald Law Firm, LLC with Andre McDonald as our lawyer. Mr. McDonald thoroughly understood our needs in executing a legal will to meet our requirements. I would highly recommend to my family and friends to consider McDonald Law Firm, LLC for any legal representation that they may need.
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10 Apr, 2024 by Liz
We contacted Mr. McDonald about a complex and sensitive estate matter. His comprehensive and astute review of the issue resulted in a most satisfactory solution. We sincerely appreciated his expertise, insights, and attention to this matter of much significance to us.
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23 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous
We had the pleasure to work with Chris Walter at HFF Legal in Towson, MD and would highly recommend Chris and his firm. Chris was professional, courteous and walked me and wife through the entire Estate planning process. He made us feel comfortable and made a difficult process about as easy as it could be. We appreciate all his help and efforts.
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03 Apr, 2020 by Stan
Had exceptional service provided by Mr. Walter and team. Wills and POA's created quickly and accurately. One less thing to worry about in life in these difficult times. Thank you!
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5.0
2 Reviews
05 Jan, 2016 by Doris
My elderly parents did not have there affairs in order. I meat with Mr. Burke and he started the process to help them.
Mr. Burke came out to have Daddy sign the papers. Kevin was sweet , patient and kind to my parents.
Unfortunately My father passed away a month later. But everything was taken care of so my Mother didn't have to do a thing
Thanks Kevin!
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05 Jan, 2016 by Joe
My wife and I along with my young son moved to Annapolis where I started my own business. I thought I knew enough about wills and estate planning, but after meeting with Kevin, I found out I did not. His insights and experience were valuable. A great job by Kevin and highly recommended.
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09 Dec, 2015 by Judith
I have spoken to clients who have used her as their attorney and I have used her as well. She was very knowledgable, able to answer all questions, easy to communicate with and easy to reach.
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19 Jul, 2014 by Jaine
Stacey came to our home and the hospital. She guided us in getting what was needed on paper.
Other professionals who have seen documents praised the detail and width of items covered.
She asked us about items we had never thought about.
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22 Jun, 2021 by Faith
I was referred to Meghan by another attorney. I had been involved in a car accident in 2016, and it was becoming increasingly obvious that I was not improving to a pre-accident level of function. I met with Meghan to fill out the initial paperwork, and for me, it was an amazing experience to have someone not question my limitations.
I was very fortunate to be able to reach Meghan when necessary. I know how busy she was, both at work and at home. The car accident case, and the resulting disability, stretched on or *years*, and throughout this process, Meghan was supportive and helpful. She empathized with the difficulties in obtaining some of the medical records. This case was a mammoth undertaking that involved thousands of pages of medical records, insurance forms, doctors’ reports, radiology scans, and receipts. Meghan was also willing and able to coordinate with the lawyer handling the car accident case.
Meghan was very clear on “next steps” and what to expect. Not only did Social Security have a significant backlog, but after the global pandemic led to a shutdown, it seemed like everything would be on hold indefinitely. But, Social Security made a miraculous decision to workshare with field offices, and we were able to arrange for a phone hearing with the administrative judge. Meghan referenced minute details from my medical records to hit home the severity of my limitations. Her negotiating skills garnered full approval with substantial backpay, monthly payments and auxiliary benefits for my children. This settlement enabled me to pay off debt, stock emergency savings, and to pay school tuition.
Without Meghan’s fierce advocating on my behalf, impeccable preparation and guidance, this case would have gone awry.
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15 Aug, 2024 by Andrew ambrogi
Tom is a fierce, compassionate advocate for his clients with a tremendous amount of experience. I would strongly recommend his services to anyone looking for a divorce/family attorney.
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10 Aug, 2024 by Scott davis
Im a very satisfied customer! I spoke with Tom regarding estate planning and powers of attorney documents. He was very honest, forthright, respectful of my needs and wishes, and very efficient. I will be using him again!
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11 Jul, 2024 by Mark costley
14 Oct, 2024 by Rudy
Mr. Fox took all the stress off of what would be a problematic divorce. My now Ex just broke contact possibly thinking I wouldn't be able to get it done. Mr. Fox saved me possibly years of headaches.
CHEERS!!!!!
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28 Apr, 2024 by D dav
Victor Berger is a world-class attorney with exceptional litigation and negotiation skills. Victor works with clients towards the view of avoiding court if humanly possible but diligently prepares for a winning strategy if court is unavoidable. Not only is Victor a people person and very relatable, his work ethic is impeccable. Victor promptly returns all calls and emails, returned several calls on weekends and even a Sunday, called me before traveling out of the country to update me on my legal matter, and completed every task he told me would do. If Victor agrees to take your case, hire him on the spot. I was thrilled with the outcome of my very difficult legal matter. I give Victor 150% credit for my positive outcome. Much gratitude to Victor Berger!
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25 Apr, 2024 by Art cleaver
The Collaborative Law Group was very helpful with my case. They are knowledgeable, professional and friendly. Would definitely recommend for your legal needs.
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10 Aug, 2024 by Tonya davis
I was recommended to Keith by my debt consolidation company. He settled my credit card lawsuit in a day and helped me achieve payments that I could afford. He understood that I did not want to file for bankruptcy and just needed affordable monthly payments. I highly recommend Keith! He was a lifesaver.
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24 Apr, 2024 by Diane
Jac was very clear and slowly walked me through the process of a living will. Very kind and considerate. I highly recommend
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17 Mar, 2024 by David nutter
Mr. Blair is very professional and knowledgeable. He helped me win my case. He comes highly recommended.
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31 Aug, 2015 by Carol
Thanks to Brenda.... the facts surrounding my son's automobile accident were revealed and the outcome changed in his favor. Through her hard work and persistence, my son was fully compensated for his injuries and property loss. Our calls were ALWAYS returned promptly, with any questions answered in a timely manner. As the case progressed, Brenda continually kept us abreast of any new or changing details. I would HIGHLY recommend her services as she has proven to be a skilled attorney who is both personable and professional.
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27 Aug, 2015 by Leslie
I have been very happy with Mrs. Fishbein. She stays on top of the situation. She is available when I need her and returns my calls in a timely fashion.
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27 Aug, 2015 by Jennifer
Brenda did an excellent job helping me through one of the most challenging times. Her calm demeanor and ability to see the bigger picture was crucial for the success of my case. We were able to resolve things in just one meeting with a mediator because of the great work Brenda accomplished. I am grateful that I had her with me throughout this process.
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23 Oct, 2019 by Anonymous
Mr. Dore knows the law (I think) but is a terrible lawyer. He showed up for every meeting unprepared, including with the opposing party and for a court hearing. He could never retain the facts about my case, and as a result misrepresented some details about my case in court. I don't know if he has too many cases or just can't retain facts and/or can't be bothered to learn details about a case, but he was truly a detriment to my case and resulted in thousands of dollars of unnecessary legal fees, some of which I was able to get written off by his firm.
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13 Nov, 2013 by Avril
I paid a retainer to Jim for some family law work. He did some and then dropped of the face of the earth. Despite my many requests for an accounting of his work, and his email promises he would send it, I never received it and he stopped having any contact with me. He TOOK over $3,000 from me and my family. Apparently, he left the firm he was working for when I hired him, went through a bad divorce and absconded with retainer fees paid to him.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Probate Lawyer Can Do for You
A probate lawyer assists with the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. This often involves guiding executors (if a will exists) or beneficiaries (if no will exists) through the probate process to settle the estate according to the deceased’s wishes or applicable laws. Probate lawyers can help validate the will, distribute assets, resolve disputes among heirs, handle outstanding debts or taxes, and ensure the estate is legally and efficiently administered.
Whether you’re an executor of an estate or an heir facing probate proceedings, a probate lawyer can help you navigate the often-complex legal process to ensure the estate is settled correctly.
When Should I Hire a Probate Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a probate lawyer when you are responsible for managing the estate of a deceased individual, especially in the following situations:
- The estate has substantial assets: If the estate includes significant assets like real estate, investments, or business interests, legal assistance is often necessary to handle the distribution properly.
- The will is being contested: If there are disputes among heirs regarding the validity of the will or the division of assets, a probate lawyer can help resolve the conflict.
- The estate includes complex or unclear provisions: If the will contains complicated instructions or there are no clear beneficiaries, a lawyer can ensure that the estate is administered according to legal requirements.
- There is no will (intestate estate): When a person dies without a will, the estate is subject to intestacy laws, which determine how assets are distributed. A probate lawyer can help navigate this process.
- Debt or tax issues exist: If the estate owes significant debts or is subject to estate taxes, a probate lawyer can help ensure debts are paid appropriately and taxes are minimized.
- Probate disputes: If family members or other parties are disputing the distribution of assets or challenging the executor's actions, legal representation is crucial to defending your rights and ensuring the estate is handled properly.
Hiring a probate lawyer early in the process can help avoid costly mistakes and ensure the estate is settled efficiently.
What Does a Probate Lawyer Do?
A probate lawyer provides a wide range of legal services to help manage and settle an estate. Their tasks can include:
- Validating the will: Filing the will with the probate court and ensuring its legal validity.
- Guiding executors or administrators: Advising the person responsible for managing the estate on their duties, including inventorying assets, notifying creditors, and paying debts.
- Filing necessary paperwork: Preparing and submitting the legal documents required to initiate and complete the probate process.
- Resolving disputes: Mediating or litigating disputes among heirs or between beneficiaries and executors, including challenges to the will or disagreements over asset distribution.
- Handling debt and tax matters: Ensuring that outstanding debts, taxes, and estate taxes are properly calculated and paid from the estate’s assets.
- Distributing assets: Ensuring that assets are distributed to the beneficiaries according to the will or intestacy laws, and that all legal requirements are fulfilled.
- Closing the estate: Completing the final steps of the probate process, including filing a final accounting with the court and formally closing the estate.
How Are Probate Lawyers Paid?
Probate lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the estate and the nature of the legal work involved. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Most probate lawyers charge by the hour, with rates depending on the lawyer’s experience and the complexity of the estate. Hourly rates can range from $150 to $500 or more.
- Flat fee: For simple estates or straightforward probate tasks, some lawyers may charge a flat fee that covers all of the necessary legal work.
- Percentage of the estate: In some states, probate lawyers are allowed to charge a percentage of the estate's value as their fee. This percentage typically ranges from 2% to 5%, depending on the size of the estate and state regulations.
- Retainer fee: Some lawyers may require an upfront retainer fee, which is billed against as the probate process progresses.
It’s important to clarify the fee structure during your initial consultation to understand how you will be charged and avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does a Probate Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a probate lawyer depends on several factors, including the complexity of the estate, the type of legal issues involved, and the lawyer’s fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Simple estates: For estates with straightforward assets and no disputes, probate legal fees can range from $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the lawyer's fees and the state's probate laws.
- Complex estates: For larger or more complicated estates with multiple properties, business interests, or disputes, probate costs can exceed $10,000 and may reach $20,000 or more.
- Hourly rates: If charged by the hour, expect rates between $150 and $500, depending on the lawyer’s expertise and geographic location.
- Percentage fees: In some cases, a probate lawyer may charge 2% to 5% of the estate’s value, particularly for larger estates or those involving complex legal matters.
Always ask for a clear estimate of fees during your initial consultation to understand the total cost of probate representation.
Top Questions to Ask a Probate Lawyer
Before hiring a probate lawyer, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure you’re hiring someone qualified to handle your estate needs. Key questions include:
-
What experience do you have with probate cases like mine?
Ensure the lawyer has experience with estates of similar complexity, especially if disputes or high-value assets are involved. -
How do you charge for your services?
Ask whether the lawyer charges an hourly rate, a flat fee, or a percentage of the estate, and request a cost estimate. -
What is the likely timeline for my probate case?
While it’s hard to predict exactly, an experienced lawyer can give you a general idea of how long the probate process may take based on the specifics of your estate. -
What steps will you take to manage and distribute the estate?
Ask about the lawyer’s approach to handling debts, taxes, and asset distribution. -
Will you be handling my case personally?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle some aspects of your case, so it’s important to know who will be working on your probate case. -
What are potential challenges we may face?
A good lawyer will be able to anticipate possible issues, such as will contests or creditor claims, and explain how they would handle them.
How to Check the Credibility of a Probate Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable probate lawyer, follow these steps to check their credentials and experience:
- Verify their state bar status: Check with your state’s bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed to practice and has no history of disciplinary action.
- Look for probate experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in probate law and have experience handling estates of similar complexity.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for online reviews on platforms like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see what past clients have said about the lawyer’s probate experience.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who can vouch for their professionalism and expertise in handling probate matters.
- Look for membership in professional organizations: Membership in organizations like the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA) or the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) can indicate a lawyer's commitment to estate and probate law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with a probate lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- A copy of the will or trust (if applicable): Bring any estate planning documents left by the deceased, including wills, trusts, or powers of attorney.
- List of assets and debts: Prepare a detailed list of the deceased’s assets (e.g., real estate, bank accounts, investments) and outstanding debts (e.g., loans, mortgages, credit cards).
- Death certificate: Bring a certified copy of the deceased person’s death certificate.
- Contact information for heirs and beneficiaries: Have a list of all individuals or entities named in the will or who are entitled to inherit under intestacy laws.
- Questions about the probate process: Write down any questions you have about the process, costs, and potential issues you might face.
- Relevant financial records: If available, bring any relevant financial documents, such as bank statements, property deeds, and tax returns.
By coming prepared, you can ensure a productive consultation and allow the lawyer to provide the best advice for your situation.
