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06 Jun, 2013 by John
When I hired Mr. Dennis Habel to contest my mother's fake will I thought I was getting a good lawyer. I did NOT receive any help at all. He was not knowledgeable in a parent's complex estate case, he was very expensive, and did not keep me informed as the case moved very, very slowly because of his lack of commitment. I finally had to fire him and go with a different attorney. Please do not make the same mistake as I did in hiring this lazy man.
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04 Dec, 2012 by Max
I have always been afraid of just find a lawyer out of the phone book so I asked some friends to recommend someone, it was Dennis. He was very professional and he is knowledgeable. I would hire him again and highly recommend him.
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19 May, 2009 by Anonymous
Was totally ripped off of 9,000.00 $. Was the worst lawyer I ever had. NEVER did a thing in my behalf. Did lots for the other side though. Didn't follow thru, didn't return calls. overpriced, bad advice, lied, and just a mess that i had to live with. I did complain to the state. But, the damge this man already did was huge.
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09 Dec, 2018 by Anonymous
John handled the filing of our organizations not for profit status. He filed quickly,his fees were reasonable, he asked the right questions and knew what he was doing. I also understand he handles real estate transactions and would retain him in a NY. Minute.
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04 Aug, 2015 by Anonymous
He doesn't show up to any court dates, and as a opposing lawyer never has good arguments, and he brings up irrelevant facts. He doesn't show any progress in work.
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24 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
We started our case for adoption almost 2yrs ago but until now nothing has been happening. We started the case with Atty. John Halkias but lately we havent heard from him for a whille. The only parson who talks to us is his brother who works in the same office. Til now we got stuck up with them coz we already give them a deposit plus all the papers that were needed for adoption. Can anyone give us any recommendation on what should we do to expedite this case? We are so frustrated right now and this lawyer is not giving us any update on our case.. I wish we never get this lawyer to take care of our case..we could have gone somewhere else.
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27 Jan, 2016 by Anonymous
I hired Mr. Robert J. Ahlstrom Jr. as a Real Estate Attorney. He is on sharp, timely and on the ball. Always had my best interest. Office support is extremely bright and pleasant to work with. Highly recommend for future use
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10 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
I hired to handle some legal matters, never returns phone calls or emails. Always told he is too busy.
I had to hire another attorney to get proper action on my legal matter.
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20 Jan, 2012 by Judith
I had a prenuptial drawn up by Robert. I called his office to have a copy sent to me as he never sent the completed copy. I left a message for him to call me. Never called me back. I called again and got his receptionist and told her that I had requested a copy of the prenuptial and she said they did not have a completed copy but would have Robert call me back. I called again (as he did not return my phone call). Again got receptionist who said that they did not have a completed copy. A total of three phone calls were made and each time she said he would call me back. I told her I have a receipt from him saying that it is completed and charging us a hefty fee (which we paid!). We also had our wills done by him.
I have since had another lawyer review the few pages of the prenuptial that he gave us and he said it is useless...never signed, missing the page that lists all our assets and should have been done by separate lawyers unless there was a waiver indicating that we requested just one lawyer for the prenuptial.
Needless to say I am very upset. Now my husband and I have to pay another lawyer to rectify this.
Looks like he is just in it for the money and does not know what he's doing.
Very dissatisfied!!!!!
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27 Sep, 2022 by Paul rory
We used James Walsh for our property purchase & he went way above and beyond throughout the entire process. James took all of our calls & answered questions making sure that we knew all the details. I recommend James to anyone needing any assistance with purchasing & property needs.
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06 Apr, 2022 by Toma dedaj
Great legal services performed by Mr. Walsh and his firm. I recommend him to all of my friends who are buying homes or for their estate planning needs.
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25 May, 2020 by Robert scarano
27 Sep, 2022 by Paul rory
We used James Walsh for our property purchase & he went way above and beyond throughout the entire process. James took all of our calls & answered questions making sure that we knew all the details. I recommend James to anyone needing any assistance with purchasing & property needs.
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06 Apr, 2022 by Toma dedaj
Great legal services performed by Mr. Walsh and his firm. I recommend him to all of my friends who are buying homes or for their estate planning needs.
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25 May, 2020 by Robert scarano
25 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
I was one of 3 equal partners in a horse farm/real estate LLC; unfortunately the other two were grifters and in many deliberate ways sabotaged the corporation, They submitted an unsigned by me agreement to buy out one of the partners who was a lawyer who, acting pro-se while receiving SSD due to incapacity to practice law, sued me to buy him out despite the fact that the second suit began after the time limited contract had run out. He placed a lien on my house. Despite the Appellate Division's decision that the Supreme Court Justice had no legal rationale to order me to pay, (as the deep pocket), who never signed the time limited buy out; the lawyer partner proceeded with his dissolution cause of action. When the dissolution of the LLC case was resumed, Ms. Weigert overcharged me to "think about" my case and review almost every document in this large file despite my telling her the facts to focus on for the action brought by the attorney partner to dissolve the LLC. I separated the documents that were necessary to review and wrote a history of the lawyer and horse trainer grifter partners and what they had done and how much money they cheated me out of and how they worked to sabotage the LLC including not paying their share of the mortgage payments nor fixing the rate; non- payment of taxes and a phoney $90,000 construction agreement that the trainer illegally signed; which all contributed to the land being forclosed on. The operating agreement of the LLC stated that all 3 partners had to agree on anything over $2500 spent. The lawyer partner was to act as the business officer. Ms. Weigert did nothing to work out the financial losses that these grifters caused me and only agreed to dissolve the LLC. She also "advised" me not to appear in Court do as not to get involved in any arguments with the other two. Even with being grossly overcharged for unprovable and obscure "work" on the case and incorrect information, (the name and address of the person who bought the forclosed property at auction after the construction company signers of the phony work order- lien, could not afford to buy it and who, in addition, removed all the good farmland topsoil and did not reimburse the LLC, I still have not received any justice in this travesty and probably never will.
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21 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Mr. Seachrist handled a property transfer for me, and did all the paperwork and filing in a timely fashion; however, I found it so difficult to get the filed documents from him after the transaction was completed that I eventually got copies from the County Clerk instead.
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18 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
While organized and aware, he makes very little time for a client who cannot offer him a lot. He will also nickel and dime you to death. Doesn't seem like the kind of professional who would ever do anything out of kindness or decency.
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25 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
All around horrible experience. If anything, she made things significantly worse for me and my children.
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07 Dec, 2021 by Francesco
i am recently divorced , and although i didn't always like or understand Eileen's methods but am i glad that she didn't give up on me, After being displaced from my home for a year while another man lived in my house with my ex wife and her and his children as i payed the bills Eileen got me the justice i deserved! when i thought the world was against me at my darkest moments in life she helped me pull thru! i still get emotional as i type this and talk about it today. she truly saved me! the system i felt (and still do) is broken! i am so lucky to have had the help of Attorney Eileen Marie Stiglmeier , who i can say has PROVED ME WRONG in my assumption that all lawyers are sharks and thieves she sure as hell IS NOT!
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16 May, 2019 by Connie
After a recommendation through an experienced family court attorney, I hired Ms. Stiglmeier after filing a petition to enforce a separation and opting out agreement that survived my divorce. A month after I filed this, my ex husband went to court and requested emergency custody on false allegations and domestic violence allegations I had with another individual that did not occur when I had my children and my children never met this person. I contacted police and police did not arrest. Subsequently, attorney for the children and judge (agreeing with AFC, which is not allowed), said due to my “poor decision making I’m not having the man arrested.” My children were immediately removed from my physical custody with a no contact order and he received temporary full custody. Ms. Stiglmeier (I have full evidence to support these claims) told me to sign documents that the courts afterward deemed me to have waived my right to my $30,000 in maintenance, child support, and primary custody...she also caused me to miss an appearance in a support matter. She was always unavailable an in open court acknowledged not reading a significant part of my separation and opting out agreement specifically detailing custody, even though she charged me for review of such. 5 years later and I am still fighting for my children and the irreparable harm caused by her ineffective counsel. My ex husband would hold visitation against me if I didn’t sign subsequent agreements, and she never responded or defended such. My ex husband said he hoped she was stupid enough not to read the agreement and didn’t realize she actually was...
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06 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
This Attorney was horrible. He charged me a lot more than the other Attorney I had. He did not get me a fair deal. He is extremely rude and shows no concern for the client. Please do your research and hire a competent Attorney unlike Ed Odesser!
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31 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
I would not recommend this attorney. His behavior & the quality of his representation was inconsistent. At times, he was pleasant & worked competently. Unfortunately, he could also be so rude that it was difficult & unpleasant to deal with him. He didn't keep his promises & dropped the ball on some issues (more than once), & this made it difficult to trust him. His fees were high and not worth the attention my case received. In the end, I felt that he had never really understood my case, and that he didn't care about its outcome.
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15 Aug, 2024 by Frishta
WORST “Attorney” Ever!
How is her license not revoked?
First consultation she was a whole different face to get you to hire her… as soon as the retainer fee was paid, SHE CHANGED.
I needed a SIMPLE divorce, no alimony, claims or anything. She NEVER got me my divorce. SIMPLE.
KEPT CHARGING for every little thing, and nothing would get done. You have to PLEAD to her to do her job. She won’t pick up calls, reply to texts, emails, list GOES ON. She will tell you that she is BUSY always.
She yells at her clients, belittles them, makes your case MISERABLE. PLEASE LOOK away from this INHUMANE attorney. Something needs to be done; her license should be revoked.
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17 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
She kept going on tangents saying that my son will pay off the absurd charges I have been slammed with when it wasn’t even my fault. She was talking as if she was the opposing party’s lawyer and scammed me of 100$
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31 Aug, 2017 by Anonymous
She never responded to my calls or texts. If she did, they were two word texts. She missed important court dates at the last minute. She never discussed my case with me or kept me informed. I had to beg her to file motions. I had to go to court on my own and file all paperwork. She let my ex get away with violating court orders and failing to appear to show. After 10 months all I had was temporary support. She didn't care about orders of protection (which I had to get on my own). She caused me to take out loans and go on social services by not enforcing support orders. I had to beg her for help but she just didn't have the time or concern for my case. I had to drop her
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08 Aug, 2019 by Anonymous
Mr. Moore was hired by the bank that had my mortgage for me, I had questions and Mr Moore would always answer I'm only here for the closing. Although he he would say "I'm representing you" he would never help with anything long story short...he did the short sale for the bank not for me never got any paperwork which I was told I would get in the mail. That was 3 months ago STILL Waiting, after numerous phone calls. I would Never hire him for anything. Mr Moore is rude, unprofessional and uninterested in your situation. He's only there to collect his pay. Avoid him at all cost!!!
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10 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
Adjourned a number of times letting my case last a year and frustrating the DA and court. Did not answer the phone and was difficult to get in touch with. Refused to contact the DA directly to meet and he disclosed sensitive information that threw the case in favor of the DA. Be careful he talks a big game in the beginning and builds confidence.
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20 May, 2013 by Anonymous
Unresposive is an understatement....
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29 Mar, 2024 by Jamie
My ex-wife and I enlisted Robin to assist with the dissolution of our marriage. We brought documentation that had been the result of our mediation and handed it over per the mediator's instructions. Robin was recommended to us as someone who would work efficiently and take care of the rest of the process for a flat fee. That was not the case. The paperwork returned to us was clearly not prepared by an attorney. We were billed at attorney's rates for barely paralegal work. As a layperson I was able to identify problems with the documents. Whole paragraphs started over mid-sentence. Negotiated provisions from our mediation were missing. It was a mess. Then she literally billed me for her time to answer the question "How much will the rest of this work cost?" We finally walked away and took what she had done to a _FAR_ more reputable firm in Ithaca. Our attorney at that firm initially resisted taking the work because Robin had done such a bad job. That firm required a separate agreement to take on our work that specifically held them harmless from any potential litigation arising from the enforcement of the horrible agreement Robin wrote up. That was nearly 14 years ago. I'm disappointed to see she's still practicing. Run, don't walk, to any other attorney in town.
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28 Aug, 2018 by Barb
Robin handled a possible home purchase. I was young, naive and inexperienced. She barely looked at the purchase agreement, allowed me to put a 5000$ deposit The deal eventually fell thorough and when I asked about the 5000 deposit she shrugged her shoulders. I learned later that if the deal falls through for lack of the ability to finance the deposit should be returned. But the worst part of all was that she and the sellers attorney kept arguing while myself and the seller actually got along. AND she charged me 3000$ for all the phone calls they had arguing about something that was not arguable- I couldn’t get the financing!!!!! Terrible!
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07 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
This attorney was appointed as Referee in a foreclosure matter and has been unresponsive for months regarding completion of the foreclosure transfer docs. A court order has been issued for her to complete the action as failure to conduct her duties has delayed an REO closing but there still has been no action on her end. We continue to wait for her to do her job.
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14 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
Ms. Allen was engaged to close an estate and has for the past five years absolved herself of completing said duties by stating that her personal problems have interfered with her ability to professionally conduct business. I would recommend that you stay far away from this attorney.
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16 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Do not use at all cost. Edmund Fong is lazy, not knowledgeable and will not represent the client. He showed up in court verifying if this is the correct case. Reciting all the facts that are not true. We lost the case and he just walked off pretending nothing happened. Two days later, he called me to remind me of the balance. SeriouslY!?
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16 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Do not use at all cost. Edmund Fong is lazy, not knowledgeable and will not represent the client. He showed up in court verifying if this is the correct case. Reciting all the facts that are not true. We lost the case and he just walked off pretending nothing happened. Two days later, he called me toremind me of the balance. SeriouslY!?
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04 Jan, 2013 by Anonymous
He handled my auto injury claim in 2001 and took the majority of my winnings and left me broke.
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20 Jan, 2011 by Anonymous
I expected Chris to speak for me when i could not. He failed at this. He was very slow to act, in fact he had to file for an extention to bring the suit as he drug his feet for literally 3 plus years. Had I not been so incapacitated I would have been more on top of him, but this is why i needed him, I was not at my best. He seemed very tenatious at the inception of our lawyer client relationship but that wained. He did very little with me to prepare for the trial and did not tell me about the defendants witnesses that were to be called until the day before the trial. He kept me in the dark. His performance in court can only be as good as his preparation, and that is where he failed. He did not have all the facts. I would not recommend him!
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06 Aug, 2022 by John
I would advise to steer clear of Gary and Donna. Having used their services after a loved ones passing, my siblings and I often think back to their misdirection and exorbitant fees. Time has passed since our last interaction with this firm and we are still uncovering items that had not been executed on our behalf (although they were paid to do so).
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23 Sep, 2012 by Anonymous
This lawyer failed to look after my rights as an appointed executor. He communicated with another relative about the case even though I told him to stop. He even advised me to take an action against my interests. I fear his misrepresentation may have caused me to lose my inheritance.
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21 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
It was very hard to get in touch with this attorney. The first time I called him he replied that he was busy and requested that I call him back after an hour. When I called him back an hour later he said he was still busy and requested that I call him back after two hours. When I called him back two hours later he repeated that he was still busy and requested that I call him back after another two hours, but that time I counter-requested that he call me back. Not only he called me two days later at 9:30 pm, but he seemed in a rush during the entire call and did not provide any helpful consultation besides paraphrasing the thoughts that I had just exposed to him.
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01 Apr, 2020 by Stanley
I was unlucky twice, first with my buyer and then with Carolyn Weiss as my litigator. Lack of focus, poor communication, many contradictions in her directions are some examples of my bad experience with her office. She is very quick to charge and slow to react.
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21 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
The worst attorney ever. Insanely slow!! Does not thoroughly review contract and then tries to then pull the wool over your eyes hoping you don’t notice. Awful personality to tie it all together.
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16 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Tom has neglected my case and has not given timelines on the progress whatsoever. I only had updates when I sent him email after email. And even then, he would reply with a very unprofessional four word answer that didn't even address the concern. Waste of money. If I wanted to be left in the dark about my case, I would have hired someone for much less.
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10 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
We hired Mr Katims to represent us during a real estate transaction through a recommendation of a family member that had used him for real estate transactions and estate planning. Throughout the process, he failed to communicate effectively with us, the seller's attorney, and the HOA and their lawyers. He worked very slow and at times claimed to have done things (like reaching out to the HOA) when he really hadn't. All in all, he delayed the closing by about a month due to how inept he was at following up with the other people involved in the transaction. He was not prepared to attend the closing, which meant we needed to go to a nearby bank to secure checks to make payments that he had failed to disclose to us, and it was incredibly apparent that he dropped the ball because the seller's attorney had printed out emails that he had responded to agreeing to this. He would schedule us to come into his office when a simple email or phone call would have sufficed, which felt like a waste of our time and a disregard for the value of our time. He required an undue amount of prompting and follow up on our part to do any work, which was exacerbated by the fact that he regularly took off from work without notifying his clients, he doesn't have any paralegal help, and his receptionists don't seem to communicate with each other well or with him. He continuously missed small details, such as repeatedly sending documents to the wrong address or email address and he needed us to notice issues because he simply missed them. Lastly, he would regularly give questionable advice, such as advising us to schedule our final walkthrough a week ahead of the closing date. Save yourself the headache and find a different, more professional and capable lawyer.
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29 Jan, 2014 by Ricardo anthony
This man was asked to do a Will probate . When the Will was signed by Witnessess , he did not give a copy of the will to the executer of the Will or the witness , 5 months later Roberto L . Pagan lopez has yet to produce a copy of the Will or documents that indicate that he submitted the will to the court. $700 was given to him for this service.
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21 Aug, 2023 by Rich
Once his fee is paid, does bare minimum and is unresponsive to emails and phone calls. It took me sending certified return receipt letters to him, the court, and the trustee to get some answers to questions. If I get answers 95% of the time they are incomplete and/or inaccurate. If I send an email, I have to follow up multiple times. More than a month can go by with sending follow ups, and still won't get an answer. Was patient when this happened during the pandemic considering everything going on but, that's not an issue now and, still very unresponsive. Phone calls get answered buy an assistant who says they'll forward the messages on to him because he's in court but, then a phone call is never returned 99.99% of the time. Documents needed by trustee on annual basis one year did not get submitted or addressed by him for a whole entire year after they were due. He got paid thousands of dollars and, does work that is truly worth a fraction of what he got paid. True feeling that after he gets his money, he doesn't care about the hardship created for his clients or letting them know what's going on.
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25 May, 2016 by Anonymous
I worked with this attorney to settle a dispute, thru drafting of the dispute a mistake was made that was very costly and was not caught by the attorney. I then had to use the attorney to litigate that mistake and after a year of paying thousands of dollars i regularily did not get my calls returned or emails for weeks at a time, when we did talk the attorney was very rude and made it seem like it was a hassle to talk (when i'm paying for his services). I would never suggest an attorney that does not find it a professional courtesy to call or return an email to a client within a few days let alone weeks.
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23 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
I cannot ever recommend this lawyer. She really hurt my case by not providing all the facts to me, while also misrepresenting matters, and making unilateral decisions on her own. She did not know how to correctly file even a basic pendente lite with proper supporting documents. Also when the Judge gave any orders, she would incorrectly interpret them. It is difficult to believe that was possible considering her many years of experience. Unfortunately, she also maintained a very hostile and acrimonious relationship with opposing counsel, and did not provide me all and especially crucial letters and paperwork from them. She was very expensive and billed for many hours of work that she could not possibly have put in. She was a very glib and smooth talker, and as she called herself a collaborative lawyer, I was mistaken into thinking she would try to settle the case. I was wrong, the case actually dragged on as she created many problems as a result of her failing to keep track of required legal technicalities in a timely manner. She set a very bad and poor tone for my case from outset, so later on the other attorney I was forced to hire had a very difficult time trying to get things back on track. She consumed huge amounts of money while getting a very poor outcome for my children. The Judge can only make decisions based on what is presented to him. She appeared to be intimidated while speaking to Judge or the Law secretary in chambers, so did not state facts. Also damaging was that she did not convey to me clearly or actually misrepresented what was said or advised by the Judge. I doubt this is an ethical way of practicing law. If required I can provide actual and specific instances. I do not have words strong enough to warn you to stay away from this attorney, unless you want a mess on your hands. I am writing this to try and make sure others do not suffer consequences similar to mine.
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27 Feb, 2012 by Anonymous
I have never experienced such an incompetent law office in my life. They have been working on a case for my family for a few years now and they are never in the office, the phone is frequently out of order and when you are able to get through they never return phone calls. They never submit paperwork on our behalf and do not inform us of updates or provide us with copies of anything. They use an outside service and the person who is handling the file cannot be contacted. We are in the process of replacing this horrible so-called attorney, FRANK TANTONE. Stay away from this firm. They have no website either. Shady.
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12 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
He was unaware of our closing date two days before. He hadn't touched the file. Couldn't find information that had been emailed to him. He said he would "get right on it" but it took another month. And then to top it all off, he couldn't be bothered to transfer the money to our account. Steer clear!
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12 Apr, 2017 by Bob
This woman was my mothers lawyer till a little before she died. I was the only blood relative avail, and was listed as executor of her will. Nichole withheld important information after being hired by my Uncle who was backup guardian when my mother was hospitalized permanently. I had a meeting discussing why I shouldn't or want to be executor. My uncle stated that he had everything done down to a phone bill and all assets sold and all cash, and he could execute the will promptly. I was told it wasn't worth me doing it, maybe $5,000 and a lot of trouble. Well I decided to do it out of principal because at our meeting her and my uncle took advantage of my grief and thought they had it locked in. I wasn't told my mothers belongings including 2 cars belonged to me upon her death, moreso, upon her death ALL money goes to the other family. On the day of our meeting I went to my mothers house. All her thnigs laid out for sale the next day. I was told it was the best thing for me to do. There was not much left anyway, but out of respect I left everything there. Then I went to meet Nichole. I was never told that after everythng my mother had was sold, that money would go to the other family. I could have taken anything I wanted on that day. I live in Atlanta so It's a rare trip. I didn't receive as much as a button from my mothers possessions. THEN, since I was now acting as executor, and hired a lawfirm that was happy to do it. Nichole advised me nobody really wanted the case. It took her and Dan over a year!!!!!!, to transfer the proper things. I sat and listened to Dan tell her everythng was wrapped up. TAXES, THE WHOLE ESTATE LIQUIDATED, everything down to a phone bill. This was one of the hardest times of my life, and was the blood son of this woman that other people decided they would do what they saw fit. So, there's one more lawyer that's better at the bottom of the sea. Thanks Nichole and Dan. I did my part and served my mothers last wishes. Too bad I didn't get what was due to me. Memories of her. I didn't want money. Oh and by the way, my executor check was over $10,000. Another lie.
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16 Jul, 2017 by Karen
I hired Eugene Moramarco as my attorney to see me threw a commercial real estate sale, listing, contract and closing. After closing I was sued by my listing real estate agency for them not receiving the commission check which Eugene Moramarco wrote out improperly at closing.
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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:
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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.
