how much can an attorney personal representative charge for services florida

by Jayden Tromp 9 min read

Helpfully, Florida law allows personal representatives to receive a fee for their services. According to the state’s statute, you earn a fee based on the value of the estate: 3% of the first $1 million 5% for any amount over $1 million and up to $5 million 2% for any amount over $5 million and up to $10 million 5% for any amount above $10 million

Reasonable Fee
Helpfully, Florida law allows personal representatives to receive a fee for their services. According to the state's statute, you earn a fee based on the value of the estate: 3% of the first $1 million. 5% for any amount over $1 million and up to $5 million.
Apr 26, 2018

Full Answer

What compensation is the personal representative entitled to under Florida law?

Helpfully, Florida law allows personal representatives to receive a fee for their services. According to the state’s statute, you earn a fee based on the value of the estate: 3% of the first $1 million. 5% for any amount over $1 million and up to $5 million. 2% for any amount over $5 million and up to $10 million.

Can a personal representative charge other lawyers the same hourly fee?

Jan 11, 2021 · Under Florida law, attorneys for personal representatives shall be entitled to reasonable compensation payable from estate assets without court order.

What is a presumed reasonable fee for a personal representative?

Jun 16, 2009 · For the amount between $5 million and $10 million dollars, the personal representative is entitled to 2 percent or $100,000. And for the amount above $10 million and up to our $20 million dollar estate, the personal representative is entitled to 1.5 percent or $150,000.

How are attorney fees paid in Florida probate cases?

Florida law states that the attorney for the personal representative, for ordinary administration services, is entitled to compensation pursuant to Section 733.6171. Section 733.6171(3) states that a percentage of the

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How much can a personal representative charge in Florida?

Personal Representatives are compensated up to 3% of the value of the probate assets up to 1 million dollars. The table pursuant to the Florida statute is below: (a) At the rate of 3 percent for the first $1 million. (b) At the rate of 2.5 percent for all above $1 million and not exceeding $5 million.Aug 28, 2018

Does a personal representative get paid in Florida?

How much does the attorney for the personal representative get paid in Florida? Under Florida law, attorneys for personal representatives shall be entitled to reasonable compensation payable from estate assets without court order.Jan 11, 2021

What is a reasonable executor fee in Florida?

Executor Fees In Florida, executors are entitled to a percentage of the decedent's estate as compensation for their work. This starts at 3% of the first million dollars, 2.5% on the next four million dollars, and 2% on the next five million dollars.

Can an attorney serve as personal representative in Florida?

Any person, including an attorney, who serves as a personal representative is entitled to receive reasonable compensation for serving as a personal representative. 3.

What is a reasonable trustee fee in Florida?

1% to 3%On average, trustee fees can range from 1% to 3% of the trust assets. For example, a 3% fee can be considered a reasonable fee for large and complex assets that can take years to administer.Mar 24, 2011

What are the responsibilities of a personal representative in Florida?

The Duties of the Personal Representative in FloridaNotifying all heirs and other interested parties that the will is being submitted to probate.Identifying and taking control of any estate assets.Filing tax returns and paying taxes.Paying creditors claims.More items...•Nov 16, 2020

Does an executor have to show accounting to beneficiaries?

To summarize, the executor does not automatically have to disclose accounting to beneficiaries. However, if the beneficiaries request this information from the executor, it is the executor's responsibility to provide it. In most cases, the executor will provide informal accounting to the beneficiaries.

Does the executor of a will get paid?

Executor fees are charged on the gross value of the deceased estate's assets which includes all property that the individual had, or was due to him, at his death.Aug 29, 2017

Can an executor of a will be a beneficiary in Florida?

Under Florida law, the considerations that factor into the court's choice of a personal representative do not include any individual's designation as a beneficiary of the decedent's will.Jul 9, 2020

How much does an estate have to be worth to go to probate in Florida?

$75,000Formal administration is the more involved variety of Florida probate. Formal administration is required for any estate with non-exempt assets valued at over $75,000 when a decedent died less than two years ago.Jan 2, 2022

Who is qualified to serve as personal representative in Florida?

The personal representative can be an individual or a bank or trust company, subject to certain restrictions. To qualify to serve as a personal representative, an individual must be either a Florida resident or, regardless of residence, a spouse, sibling, parent, child, or other close relative of the decedent.

How do I get rid of a personal representative in Florida?

A personal representative may be removed and the letters revoked for any of the following causes:(1) Adjudication that the personal representative is incapacitated.(2) Physical or mental incapacity rendering the personal representative incapable of the discharge of his or her duties.More items...

732.806: Gifts to Lawyers and other disqualified persons

All actions brought under this section, BUT no fees against a party who, in good faith, initiates an action under this section to declare gift void

733.1061: Fees and costs Will Reformation and Modification

For a proceeding arising under 732.615 (Reformation to correct mistakes) or 732.616 (Modification to achieve testator’s tax objectives)

733.608 (8): General Power of Personal Representative

Any action for enforcement of debt described in section (Personal representative lien on homestead property)

What factors determine an attorney's fee?

A client must realize when considering a lawyer’s fee that many factors, such as time, ability and experience, may determine an attorney’s fee. Because an agreement on fees is a legal contract, if you do not understand any part of the agreement or wish independent legal advice, you should consult a separate lawyer for advice regarding this ...

What is contingent fee?

Contingent Fees: In certain types of lawsuits—such as will contests and other forms of inheritance disputes—the lawyer who represents the person suing may agree to accept a part of the money the client recovers as the fee for services. Such an arrangement is called a contingent fee. Under the lawyer’s ethics rules, ...

Do you have to pay court fees if you lose a case?

You will have to pay these costs, even if you lose your case, unless your contract specifically says that you do not owe the costs if you lose.

What is legal advice?

Legal advice regarding carrying on of the decedent’s business or conducting other commercial activity by the client. Legal advice regarding claims for damage to the environment or related procedures. Legal advice regarding homestead status of real property or proceedings involving that status.

Does an estate need an attorney?

The law requires that an estate have both a personal representative and an attorney during the estate settlement. The law also has provisions relating to settlement of trusts that may, or may not, be relevant to this estate. The law permits, but does not require, a trustee to be represented in a trust settlement. We believe that, in most instances, it is unwise for a trustee to attempt this complicated procedure without experienced and competent legal advice. The trustee may retain an attorney to answer only specific legal questions or deal with defined legal tasks (limited representation), or to represent the trustee to provide all legal advice and services required in the trust administration (general representation). The attorney for a personal representative in the probate of an estate and the attorney for a trustee of a revocable living trust are entitled to be paid a reasonable fee from the assets of the estate or the trust, even absent any specific agreement. Florida Statute 733.6171 is the controlling statute for an attorney’s compensation in probate estates, F.S. 736.1007 controls legal compensation in a trust administration, and F.S. 733.617 controls compensation of a personal representative.

Can attorney fees be increased?

Regardless of how much unanticipated effort is required of the attorney, the fee for ordinary legal services will not be increased. The other side of that is if less effort than anticipated is required, the fee will not be reduced. Neither party can change the agreement.

Do lawyers get paid hourly?

No set hourly rate for lawyers or services exists. Rates do vary among lawyers.

What is a personal representative?

The personal representative is the individual who is charged with guiding an estate through the probate process, and it can sometimes be a complicated and time-consuming job. How much they receive and when they'll be paid can depend on several factors.

Who is Ebony Howard?

She attended Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh and received her J.D. in 1994. Ebony Howard is a certified public accountant and credentialed tax expert. She has been in the accounting, audit and tax profession for 13+ years.

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