Probate & Related Matters

Probate is a general legal term to refer to what we have to do when someone does or is incapacitated – this includes settling the debts and dispersing assets at death, caring for someone who cannot care for himself physically or mentally, handling his finances of someone who cannot handle his own or the administration of a trust.

Whatever your issue after the death or incapacitation of a loved one, Lion Legal will help you resolve the issues in the most economical way possible.

Possible areas where Lion Lawyers can help are: 

1.    Probating large estates – representing the administrator, when someone dies with or without a will

2.   Administering Small estates – representing the affiant, when someone dies with or without a will

3.  Trust Administration – representing the trustee meet all fiduciary obligations 

4. Representing trust beneficiaries in challenging the Trustee for not meeting fiduciary obligations 

5. Representing heirs in challenging the administrator for not meeting legal obligations such as hiding or destroying estate assets 

6. establishing paternity posthumously for purposes of inheritance

Technically guardianships and adoptions are also “probate matters.” This does not make any sense really, and lawyers often refer to them as family or domestic matters. It’s an important distinction though – check out the separate pages for adoption and guardianship services, even though they are technically probate matters. 

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate fees at Lion Legal follow the Arkansas statute which sets fees based on a percentage of the value of the estate. These fees are for non-contested matters. 

All fees include communication with client, opposing counsel and court related to that stage, including negotiations, advice, counsel, and completion of the probate process without contested issues between heirs. 

All hearing fees include complete and thorough preparation by the attorney and with client in a separate preparation appointment at least 2 weeks before the event.

Unlike other types of cases, probate matters can often be paid at the end of the case from the estate of the deceased, so fees do not have to be paid up front by the heir/administrator.  

• Estate less than 100,000
  • $3,300 flat fee,
• Estate between $100,000 and $300,000
  • $3,300 + 2.75% of amount over $100,000
• Estate between $300,000 and $600,000
  • $8,800 + 2.5% of amount over $300,000
• Estate more than $600,000
  • $16,300 + 2% of amount over $600,000