Any lawyers out there?

[The Exiled]

$1600 is in the ballpark. 6k is probably the cost to probate the will after death. And Nassau County Court gets about $1200 to file the will.

 

[trader1]

$1600 is in the ballpark. 6k is probably the cost to probate the will after death. And Nassau County Court gets about $1200 to file the will.

Ty
So I just spoke to a firm that specializes in trusts (which I really don’t think I need)
9k to start-
WTF

 

[mrwarpo]

You can always roll the dice with an online service like Legal Zoom.
Probably better for simple cases. And seems like a la carte menu
for more complicated setups like trusts.

https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/estate-planning/legal-zoom-review/

 

[genius]

Was this for a simple Will or estate with trust etc -6 k seems like a lot of work/time was invested

Sounds more like pricing for a trust and not a simple will.

 

[Raptor808]

Was this for a simple Will or estate with trust etc -6 k seems like a lot of work/time was invested

It was both. You guys are correct. The trust was to protect her money. Has health issues.

 

[genius]

You can always roll the dice with an online service like Legal Zoom....

Alas anyone who goes this route will never know if it actually works w/o complications because when needed will be dead

 

[The Exiled]

A friend of mine who is in Elder Law says a simple will with advance directive is about $6000.

 

[genius]

A friend of mine who is in Elder Law says a simple will with advance directive is about $6000.

a simple will with advance directive?

 

[Lurker999]

$6k is way too high. You can shop around. Just call a few lawyers that your friends recommend. If you get wont tell you over the phone, then move on to the next.

 

[MetroJay1]

A friend of mine who is in Elder Law says a simple will with advance directive is about $6000.

This is VERY high. Maybe he meant $600?

 

[The Exiled]

This is VERY high. Maybe he meant $600?

Nope. His firm specializes in wills and thats what he said. I agree though it sounds way to much. I know my parents will cost $600 but that was 20 yrs ago.

 

[genius]

Nope. His firm specializes in wills and thats what he said. I agree though it sounds way to much. I know my parents will cost $600 but that was 20 yrs ago.

I infer that you are implying from your "20 yrs ago" comment that today's cost should be higher.

Not necessarily so. Prices my relatives have paid over the years have gone down considerably over the years — all deceased and wills probated and assets distributed w/o problems.

Also look at stock trade commissions over the past 50 years — gone from a fixed fee plus a percentage of the trade back then to almost nothing (and some have no fees like Schwab for self trading or a flat $25 fee for broker assisted trading)

Even look at price of gasoline: I paid 29.9/gal back in early 60's. Starting pay at retail store used to be $1/hr then and now is $17/hr. Could buy 3gals then or almost 5 gals now for an hours pay.

 

[trader1]

My attorney who prepared my will 15 years ago resurfaced— He suggested a new simple will ( without trusts, etc. ) would run $500.. Very reasonable and I’m going with that.. Can’t see why I would need something more complicated ( living trust etc.), but will see what he has to say.. My dog is going to be one happy fucker when I am dust..