Probate budgeting needs an estate-specific work plan, not a fee copied from another family’s experience. Documents, asset ownership, administration tasks and disputes can change the assignment. Before comparing proposals, ask the lawyer what information is needed to identify the work and who would be represented. This guide does not determine whether probate is required or what procedure applies.
Prepare an administration information pack
Ask the firm which records to bring, such as available estate documents, asset information, notices and relevant contact details. Keep uncertainty visible rather than classifying property yourself. The Bar’s probate explanation shows why ownership and beneficiary arrangements matter; the lawyer should assess their significance for the particular estate. Do not send account numbers or private estate files to a public comparison form.
Separate representation from other estate work
Request a written description of the lawyer’s client and tasks. Ask whether the proposal covers routine administration, property-related work, tax coordination, a contested issue or only a particular stage. Identify work carried out by other professionals and request information about their separate charges. A legal-fee estimate should not be assumed to include every cost associated with maintaining property or administering an estate.
Clarify payment and changes to the estimate
Ask who is expected to pay each invoice, when payment may be requested and what records will show the charges. Do not assume that an estimated fee can immediately be paid from a particular account. Ask what happens if an asset cannot be located, an administration task takes longer or a dispute develops. Request an explanation of any proposed fee calculation without treating a percentage mentioned elsewhere as a complete quotation.
Your written-proposal checklist
| Item | Question or evidence to record |
|---|---|
| Representation | Who is the client and what administration stage is covered? |
| Outside costs | Which property, court, accounting or specialist costs are separate? |
| Payment | Who receives and pays invoices, and when? |
| Changes | Which disputed or additional tasks require a revised agreement? |
Record the firm, document version, quotation date, assignment and unresolved questions in your own private notes. Do not upload confidential legal documents to this website.
Next step for this decision
Keep the professional-fee comparison separate from the estate’s wider cash needs. Ask the lawyer to resolve procedural and payment questions before relying on a budget. Where proposals describe different kinds of administration, obtain clarified scopes rather than comparing their totals as equivalent services.