Estate Planning & Probate Adminstration

Our goal is to identify your needs and help develop a constructive, strategic approach to handling your estate. We will help you prepare (or amend) legal documents to ensure that every legal instrument conveys your wishes accurately, in a way that also minimizes tax consequences and creditor claims on your estate.

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Whether a person had a will or not, we assist in navigating whether to open an estate, preparing and filing the appropriate documents, administering estate assets, selling property or whatever other needs may arise related to an estate of a deceased person.

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Simple Estate Plan Packages:

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A simple estate plan for an individual includes the following:

- Last Will and Testament

- Durable Power of Attorney

 - Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will)

Total Fee: $500

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A simple estate plan for a couple or closely related family members includes the following:

- Last Will and Testament (2)

- Durable Power of Attorney (2)

- Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will) (2)

Total Fee: $750

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* We handle more complex estate planning matters on a case by case basis. 

Uncontested Probate Administration Packages:

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The firm uses a bundled, flat fee billing structure to construct attorney fees for all intestate probate administration matters. We charge a flat fee for every event or action in the case and gather them together in bundled packages of services charged as flat fees for the different stages of probate administration. Clients will be required to pay an initial flat fee with expenses included before we start work on their case. Additional fees may need to be paid at different stages of the intestate probate administration process.

The schedule of fees listed below reflects the legal fees due for each stage of a case. Not all fees will be incurred in every case, and you will only be charged for those services required. All fees are due when invoiced.

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Summary of Fees

Initial filing of petition, notice of probate, inventory, and notice to creditors      $3,000

Substantive estate administration tasks                                                                           $300+

Filing of petition to close estate                                                                                             $2,000

Explanation of Fees

 Initial filing of petition, notice of probate, inventory, and notice to creditors

• Draft and file petition for letters of administration with required attachments

• Obtain surety bond for Personal Representative

• If applicable, obtain renunciation from County Administrator

• Draft and file Inventory of decedent’s estate

• Complete and send notice of probate form to Alabama Medicaid and file affidavit of submission with the probate court 

Substantive estate administration tasks:

• Negotiate reductions with creditor(s)

• Obtain and store estate assets on behalf of Personal Representative

• Obtain IRS EIN on behalf of estate

• Attendance at miscellaneous court dates 

Filing of petition to close estate:

• Draft and file petition to close estate with required attachments

• Obtain notarized waivers from all heirs

• Obtain notarized surety bond waiver from bond provider

• Send client original case documents

• Attend any necessary court settings

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