Faq

You probably wouldn’t have posted if something wasn’t a little funny about the bill. He should have been giving itemized statements throughout the engagement, to just spring it on you and if he didn’t have an engagement letter in place is not the best practice on his part. You should request a meeting with him to discuss the bill and see what the rate was, what was specifically done, and whether there was any error. It’s not always the size of the estate that determines how much it will cost to wind up, but what you have written seems excessive to me.

You can’t just transfer a property by deed from a dead person, someone must have authority to act on behalf of the estate. If someone dies with a will that person is the executor, without a will the law of intestacy applies and someone can be appointed as an administrator of the estate. Once an authorized representative of the estate is appointed by the surrogates court then the transfer of property by way of deed can take place. Hope this was helpful.

I am sorry you are dealing with this. Make sure the will has been probated and you can usually find the contact information from the Surrogate’s Court in the county she lived in. Another attorney can help you find this information as well and help you handle the executor issues that have been created,