Are you concerned about the costs of probate? Have you discussed with a Palm Beach probate litigator how much all of this is going to cost? Believe it or not depending on your circumstances you may have as much as three fee options for probating an estate with the help of an experienced lawyer. Do you know all three? Click here to learn more.
Fee Option 1: Flat Fee
- A flat fee is the simplest of the fee options involved in a West Palm Beach probate.
- Sounds simple enough right, you and the lawyer agree on a fee.
- How do you know what a fair fee is?
- You could discuss this with friends and relatives who have been involved in a West Palm Beach probate.
- Also this option is probably not ideal if you predict a lot of litigation, the attorney may want to side on the area of caution with a larger fee.
- What is a good option if you foresee you going to court to get a sizeable inheritance?
- Then it may be time to look into option number 2, a contingency agreement.
Fee Option 2: Contingency Agreements
- A contingency agreement means your Palm Beach attorney’s fee is contingent or based on his success.
- This is a common set up in personal injury and similar cases do you see why?
- If they get you nothing, you owe them nothing minus some minimal fees for copying and filing probably.
- Contingency agreements in West Palm Beach have to be in writing if your contingency agreement is not in writing it may not be enforceable.
- Do you know why?
- When should you use this method of payment?
- This is a good idea if there is a lot of money to be gotten but your likelihood of success is not absolute – it can avoid you being on the hook for large fees you cannot afford.
- So what is the third option?
Fee Option 3: Hourly
- One of the more common ways any attorney can bill is through hourly fees.
- These should be in writing as all fee agreements should be but they need not be the same standard as a contingency agreement to be enforceable.
- Do you know what a fair hourly fee is?
- Some factors to consider are the experience of the West Palm Beach attorney, the complexity of the case as well as how much time it will take.
- Are you prepared to retain counsel effectively?
- Florida does not protect those that sit on their rights so act now or you risk waiving those rights in the future!