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01 May, 2017 by Randi lisa knox
When my partner needed his will drawn up, and I needed corresponding changes in my will; she returned my email almost immediately, and her schedule assistant got us on her calendar right away. Within the week, we had our consultation. Very positive and experienced.
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12 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
I had hired Ms. Caulkins in 2009 she seemed great at first meeting , but once paid the retainer fee everything had changed , I could never reach her to get details on my case and she over charged me for just simple emails or phone calls which added up to me paying thousands of dollars more than I should have. my case never went to trial due to Ms. Caulkins lack of commitment to my case instead she just sat back and kept charging me but I ended up receiving nothing in the end only a huge bill that I could not afford. if you are smart and are looking for a good lawyer trust me save your time and money go some where else.
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20 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
When I first meet with Caulkins she seemed like she was a go getter and very organized. The first time we went to court she was amazing. Then it changed. She waited until the night before our documents for court were due to have me review them. When we went to court she was completely unprepared, she had this little file folder with papers just jumbled and shoved in it. She dropped it and everything fell out, she just shoved them back in not even caring what they were. His attorney completely slammed me with false allegations, she said nothing. I had told her before my ex threatened to kidnap my kids and she completely disregarded this when he has the means to do it. I was so appalled I didn't know what to do. She put my kids endanger and me in financial ruins.
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16 Dec, 2020 by Dan
If you read this review and still hire Daniel Pizarro you can't say you weren't warned. I worked directly with attorney Pizarro as he was assigned to work my case by his employer Thomas Dickson. Perhaps the individuals that gave him 5 star ratings did so on false pretenses. I found Mr. Pizarro completely inexperience and lacking legal gravitas. I was forced to spend a great deal of time on the phone with Pizarro and sent dozens of emails to him to get him up to speed. This was a complete duplication of effort as I had already done the exact same thing with Pizarro’s boss – Thomas Dickson. Not only was this an extremely frustrating experience – I felt like I was paying for Pizarro’s continuing education. Having being a licensed realtor, real estate investor and rental property owner for ~35 years I felt Pizarro didn’t know much about real estate.
Mr. Pizarro was working for the law firm Dickson/Frohlich when I was involved with him. Thomas L Dickson and his partner Daniel J Frohlich are both rated on AVVO as 1 star attorneys. Their reviews by others all indicate that they overcharge their clients, lack professionalism, and fail to communicate with their clients. I agree. Don’t take my word on it. Just type in their names and see for yourself. Same on Yelp and other attorney review web-sites. Unfortunately, as a senior citizen, I was not aware of these rating web sites before I hired Dickson/Frohlich law firm.
I agreed to hire Dickson as he talks a great talk when I was interviewing attorneys to hire for my case. He claimed that he had more than ~30 years of experience. To me – experience equates into efficiency. And efficiency equates into value and cost savings. I had no idea that Dickson was going to turn over my case to Mr. Pizarro. What I learned from this experience is Dickson/Frohlich hires inexperienced new attorneys, i.e., Pizarro, and uses them to do case management. However, because these junior attorneys have little or no experience they have to consult with Dickson/Frohlich about every little aspect of your case. Both Pizarro and Dickson’s names appeared on the on the documents that were prepared for my case. The end result in my situation - I ended up paying for 2 attorneys. I received a bill for more than $4K for 5 pages, (double spaced, huge top and bottom page margins), for a simple standard summons and complaint for breach of contact. (1.5 pages for the summons, and 3.5 pages for the complaint). What a joke. These are cut and paste documents that should have taken a paralegal 15 minutes to prepare. Being shell shock after seeing my bill – I called other attorneys to determine if this was a reasonable price for a simple summons and complaint. The consensuses was – no is was not a reasonable price. From the 4 attorneys that I talked to I found that the average price for this work should have been around ~$2,500. Not more than $4,000.00. I fired Pizarro and hired one of those attorney’s. I can tell you my new attorney not only consulted with me to get the case going but consulted with apposing attorney, prepared and filed court documents, appeared at a hearing, argued and won the hearing, prepared and filed more documents, and debriefed me – all for less than $4K.
If you want to pay double to get little or nothing – Pizarro is your guy.
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21 Jul, 2017 by Daniel
He was straight forward in how things worked, what limitations existed and options.
Responsive (eg following up when I am slow and responding within 24 hours when needed on general questions).
Appreciated and would recommend.
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16 Nov, 2015 by Elizabeth & enrique
After my initial consultation, Daniel was able to initiate processes immediately that brought me peace of mind and his representation is exactly what I was looking for. Recommended by another attorney, Daniel has already brought our stress level down by 100% knowing that we are in capable hands. Thank you!
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14 Jun, 2022 by Deena
I met David Britton on Ashley Madison. He was my “fun friend” for a long time. He told me his wife was frigid and no longer made him feel desire. So, we had an affair.
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18 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
I have used Mr. Britton several times. He is easy to work with and will give you realistic expectations and not just what you want to hear.
Mr. Britton help my parents get their Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney taken care of quickly.
I feel that I can call Mr. Britton at anytime for advice and services and I have. When I haven't been able to make it to his office he has made other arrangements to help me or allowed me to meet him after regular scheduled work hours.
I am so glad to have met and used Mr. Brittons services. I just wish I could use him for all my legal needs.
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23 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
Very disappointed in outcome. Once he realized it was a large estate his fees kept increasing at an alarming rate. His changing of the wording in the documents caused me to have to do costly repetitions which he charged full price for, and these did not seem like mere accidents. He was always polite, professional in his attitude and presentation, but I do not trust him at all. Very disagreeable experience & one I will not soon forget. Watch out, is my advice to anyone considering this attorney!
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24 Jul, 2014 by Jeryl
Mr Masters was referred to me from a family member who had used him previously for estate matters. He took charge and helped me through a very difficult time in my life. He advised me and told me exactly what I needed to do. If there were things I could do myself he would recommend doing it that way to save money. He was very professional. I always knew exactly what was going on and what he was working on. I highly recommend him.
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16 Oct, 2013 by Anonymous
I retained Mr. Masters to protect an estate. He took the ball and started running like he was going for a touchdown. The retainer money was gone lickty split. He refuse to keep me informed of all expenses. Finally, I ask him to withdrawl from the estate. Low and behold an out ragious billing. TWO one hour meetings amounted to over $4000.00 . Nothing I asked him to do was accomplished. Then I learned he was providing personal consultation, at the expense of the estate.
After Mr. Masters withdrew. The estates became more safe and protected.
Nothing I said ment a thing. He did as he chose. Communication was none. I would provide him information about my wishes and to dis continue communucation with an another attorney. He blew me off and charged the estate. He was completly out of control. He can write a good last will and testament. He handled the initial paper work just fine. But after that the 4 month period. It became wacked. GOUGED is a very light term....
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30 Jul, 2020 by Anonymous
Long story short
Mr Frohlich is lazy.
We asked him to reach out about a settlement. He didn’t and essentially we ended up settling our own case. He is charming but that doesn’t get the job done!!
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04 Feb, 2020 by Anonymous
Our family hired Mr. Frohlich to represent us in our property- boundary dispute. We had a horrible experience with Mr. Frohlich representing us. Essentially, he charged us an exorbitant amount of our hard-earned money and we ended up in a worse position than before we hired him. Not only was Mr. Frohlich overmatched by opposing counsel, he did not seem to care about our well-being nor did he show any willingness to advocate properly for us. We invested a ton of money on his legal fees and he LOST every hearing! During our Court of Appeals oral argument hearing, Mr. Frohlich was lambasted by one of the judges for not properly including information in his pleadings. He apologized to the judge, admitting that he was wrong. When we asked him why he apologized he could not give us any legitimate reason. Overall, we would have been better off had we never hired Mr. Frohlich for our legal matter. The only thing Mr. Frohlich did well was get his firm's office manager to periodically bill us with his expensive legal fees. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND DANIEL FROHLICH AND WILL NEVER HIRE HIM EVER AGAIN!
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10 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
I hired Tanya to investigate and provide factual documentation pertaining to my estranged recently deceased father's estate (i.e. will, personal property, bank accounts). Tanya worked on it for 3 months and did not find anything more than what I had already found in the county court record. The only new info I received was a bill for over $1,100 . . . for every minute of time she spent reading my e-mails, responding to e-mails and taking my calls. Sadly, I thought I'd be safe with an attorney the bar assoc recommended . . . but I was wrong. Live and learn.
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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.
