Probate is the process of transferring title to property from the decedents name to the beneficiary or beneficiaries name(s). These flat fees assume absolutely no conflict amongst the family and creditors. Further, this fee assumes that the will was properly drafted and timely probated.

Probate of Will – Independent Administration: The most common form of probate. Requires a properly drafted and clear will. Timeline can vary, but three months is common.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $2,950.00.
Other Counties: $3,000.00 to $5,000.00.

Probate of Will – Muniment of Title: A simplified form of probate that works best for a house, in an estate which has no debt. Timeline can vary, but two months is common.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $1,950.00.
Other Counties: $2,000.00 to $4,000.00.

Probate of Will – Over Four Years, Independent Administration Necessary, or Copy of the Will: If all parties are in agreement, and creditors are not an issue, even a Will that has some issues can be probated under a flat fee, but this is very case be case.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $3,950.00.
Other Counties: $4,000.00 to $6,000.00.

Probate without a Will

Independent Administration with Heirship: If there is not a Will, but all the heirs can be located and agree that a single person should oversee the estate, there are minimal creditors, and all heirs are okay with the likely distribution, then a flat fee would work. This fee only includes $500.00 towards the attorney ad litem, which is the somewhat more common fee in Montgomery County, Texas.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $5,950.00.
Other Counties: $6,000.00 to $9,000.00.

Small Estate Affidavit: Many estates qualify for this process; however, it can be disqualified if there are significant assets, debts which you desire to handle discreetly, or most real estate. The fees below do not include the fees to the attorney ad litem if they become necessary.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $1,395.00.
Other Counties: $1,500.00 to $3,000.00.

Affidavit of Heirship: This is a unique option if there is no rush to resolve real property issues, and the heirship outcome is exceptionally peaceable.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $995.00.
Other Counties: $1,000.00 to $2,000.00.

If your case does not qualify for one of these flat fees, that is okay. When you come in for the consultation, we will discuss the facts of your case, and what fee arrangement best suits your needs and goals. Some matters are best suited to contingency fee arrangements, capped billing arrangements, recovery arrangements, or pure hourly arrangements. Generally speaking, our initial retainers for contested probate matters are $5,000.00.

Estate Planning

Estate Planning is a place where the flat fee concept can really shine. There is no surprise billing, and time is spent discussing your needs and fitting or tailoring your estate plan to your specific situation and needs. A significant amount of quality Estate Planning is more about getting to know the needs of the client, their family backgrounds, and their personal philosophies. Unfortunately, ‘online applications’, such as artificial intelligence, pre-printed forms, or form generators cannot learn about, and they cannot secure the legality of your Will or Trust through a properly conducted execution ceremony. In probate, these ‘online’ wills often have the most issues. Furthermore, the estates utilizing ‘online’ Wills are more likely to have unanticipated consequences. Not every case qualifies for a flat fee, as sometimes significant business transactions, out of state real property, title clarification, tax returns, or in-depth tax planning can be necessary. We use three tiers for flat fee estate planning pricing.

Simple Will: This is a professionally drafted, and attorney executed Last Will & Testament designed to meet your needs. This package also includes your Statutory Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, Directive to Physicians, and Disposition of Remains. Sometimes, additional ancillary estate planning documents are called for, and included. You can also add a non-probate transfer of your Texas real estate, with a Revocable Transfer on Death Deed, or Ladybird Deed for a reasonable additional fee.

Single Person: $995.00
Married Couple: $1,495.00
Transfer Deed: $275.00

Simple Will & Trust: Includes all the items mentioned in the above package, a Transfer Deed, as well as the drafting and formation of a Living Revocable Trust to ease probate concerns and simplify later financial management. A Trust is not right for everyone, but it is a popular choice when certain circumstances present themselves – such as a blended family situation, multiple pieces of real property, particular family philosophies, or the like. Under this package, trust is not tailor drafted to meet your ever need, but we instead focus on the power of commonly used methods to create a simple and effective plan.

Single Person: $1,695.00
Married Couple: $2,125.00

Fully Customized Estate Plan: Sometimes you want the certainty of a flat fee but also desire a tailored estate plan to meet your unique needs. In these circumstances, an estate plan would generally include custom drafts of a Will, Trust(s), and perhaps some other ancillary documents regarding entities you own, firearms collections you have, or other pieces of real property in the State of Texas, or in a different state. You may also desire to consider generational wealth issues, targeted charitable purposes, or be prepared for reasonable changes in Estate Tax law. Under this package, a significant amount of time is spent exploring your needs and goals, then creating an estate planning package that meets your needs, along with the attendant guidance to utilize your plan to the best of its ability.

Single Person or Married Couple: $3,950.00
Out of State Transactions: Market Rate

Probate is the process of transferring title to property from the decedents name to the beneficiary or beneficiaries name(s). These flat fees assume absolutely no conflict amongst the family and creditors. Further, this fee assumes that the will was properly drafted and timely probated.

Probate of Will – Independent Administration: The most common form of probate. Requires a properly drafted and clear will. Timeline can vary, but three months is common.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $2,950.00.
Other Counties: $3,000.00 to $5,000.00.

Probate of Will – Muniment of Title: A simplified form of probate that works best for a house, in an estate which has no debt. Timeline can vary, but two months is common.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $1,950.00.
Other Counties: $2,000.00 to $4,000.00.

Probate of Will – Over Four Years, Independent Administration Necessary, or Copy of the Will: If all parties are in agreement, and creditors are not an issue, even a Will that has some issues can be probated under a flat fee, but this is very case be case.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $3,950.00.
Other Counties: $4,000.00 to $6,000.00.

Probate without a Will

Independent Administration with Heirship: If there is not a Will, but all the heirs can be located and agree that a single person should oversee the estate, there are minimal creditors, and all heirs are okay with the likely distribution, then a flat fee would work. This fee only includes $500.00 towards the attorney ad litem, which is the somewhat more common fee in Montgomery County, Texas.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $5,950.00.
Other Counties: $6,000.00 to $9,000.00.

Small Estate Affidavit: Many estates qualify for this process; however, it can be disqualified if there are significant assets, debts which you desire to handle discreetly, or most real estate. The fees below do not include the fees to the attorney ad litem if they become necessary.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $1,395.00.
Other Counties: $1,500.00 to $3,000.00.

Affidavit of Heirship: This is a unique option if there is no rush to resolve real property issues, and the heirship outcome is exceptionally peaceable.

Montgomery, Harris, and Walker County: $995.00.
Other Counties: $1,000.00 to $2,000.00.

If your case does not qualify for one of these flat fees, that is okay. When you come in for the consultation, we will discuss the facts of your case, and what fee arrangement best suits your needs and goals. Some matters are best suited to contingency fee arrangements, capped billing arrangements, recovery arrangements, or pure hourly arrangements. Generally speaking, our initial retainers for contested probate matters are $5,000.00.

Estate Planning

Estate Planning is a place where the flat fee concept can really shine. There is no surprise billing, and time is spent discussing your needs and fitting or tailoring your estate plan to your specific situation and needs. A significant amount of quality Estate Planning is more about getting to know the needs of the client, their family backgrounds, and their personal philosophies. Unfortunately, ‘online applications’, such as artificial intelligence, pre-printed forms, or form generators cannot learn about, and they cannot secure the legality of your Will or Trust through a properly conducted execution ceremony. In probate, these ‘online’ wills often have the most issues. Furthermore, the estates utilizing ‘online’ Wills are more likely to have unanticipated consequences. Not every case qualifies for a flat fee, as sometimes significant business transactions, out of state real property, title clarification, tax returns, or in-depth tax planning can be necessary. We use three tiers for flat fee estate planning pricing.

Simple Will: This is a professionally drafted, and attorney executed Last Will & Testament designed to meet your needs. This package also includes your Statutory Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, Directive to Physicians, and Disposition of Remains. Sometimes, additional ancillary estate planning documents are called for, and included. You can also add a non-probate transfer of your Texas real estate, with a Revocable Transfer on Death Deed, or Ladybird Deed for a reasonable additional fee.

Single Person: $995.00
Married Couple: $1,495.00
Transfer Deed: $275.00

Simple Will & Trust: Includes all the items mentioned in the above package, a Transfer Deed, as well as the drafting and formation of a Living Revocable Trust to ease probate concerns and simplify later financial management. A Trust is not right for everyone, but it is a popular choice when certain circumstances present themselves – such as a blended family situation, multiple pieces of real property, particular family philosophies, or the like. Under this package, trust is not tailor drafted to meet your ever need, but we instead focus on the power of commonly used methods to create a simple and effective plan.

Single Person: $1,695.00
Married Couple: $2,125.00

Fully Customized Estate Plan: Sometimes you want the certainty of a flat fee but also desire a tailored estate plan to meet your unique needs. In these circumstances, an estate plan would generally include custom drafts of a Will, Trust(s), and perhaps some other ancillary documents regarding entities you own, firearms collections you have, or other pieces of real property in the State of Texas, or in a different state. You may also desire to consider generational wealth issues, targeted charitable purposes, or be prepared for reasonable changes in Estate Tax law. Under this package, a significant amount of time is spent exploring your needs and goals, then creating an estate planning package that meets your needs, along with the attendant guidance to utilize your plan to the best of its ability.

Single Person or Married Couple: $3,950.00
Out of State Transactions: Market Rate