CONTINGENCY FEE, RETAINER FEE, FIXED FEE— WHAT DO THESE MEAN AND HOW MUCH IS MY LAWYER GOING TO CHARGE?

Okay, I admit it.  We lawyers use so many different terms for the different types of fees we charge, if you didn’t know what a wholesome and compassionate bunch we are you might suspect that we’re throwing legalese about just to distract you while our staff reaches into your pocket book.

Ask Roxy understands your confusion.  On my own website I try to be very clear about my pricing.

I’ll break it down for you here:

WHAT IS PROBATE?

In the most simplest terms, probate is a court-supervised process for transferring a deceased person’s assets to the beneficiaries listed in his or her will. Typically, the executor named in your will would start the process after your death by filing a petition in court and seeking appointment. Your executor would then take charge of your assets, pay your debts and, after receiving court approval, distribute the rest of your estate to your beneficiaries. If you were to die intestate (that is, without a will), a relative or other interested person could start the process. In such an instance, the court would appoint an administrator to handle your estate. “Personal representative" is another term used to describe the administrator or executor appointed to handle an estate.


Simpler procedures are available for transferring property to a spouse or for handling very small estates.