If you live in California, or have vacation property or rental property in California, do whatever you can to avoid probate in California after you die. California uses a statutory attorneys fees formula to set the lawyer's fee for probate matters. If you have a $100,000 estate, the lawyer's fee is $4,000, plus expenses. If you have a $1 million estate, the lawyer's fee is $23,000, plus expenses. Here in Washington and Idaho, at the Law Offices of P. Stephen Aita, if you have a $100,000 estate, we'll charge about $3,500 INCLUDING expenses. And guess what we'll charge for a $1 million estate? Yep, about $3,500 including expenses. The amount of legal work, assuming there are no disputes among heirs or other glitches, is exactly the same for a $100,000 estate as for a $1 million estate. How does the California scheme seem fair and right? This is why things like Revocable Living Trusts and other probate avoidance techniques are much more popular in California than they are in places like Washington and Idaho with much more client-friendly attorneys fees laws and ethics rules.
We know things are weird right now, but life is still going on. The passing of a loved one is part of that, and our current situation isn't making that any easier. If you have a need for a probate lawyer in Washington or Idaho, give us a call at 253.858.5434. We're here to help!