Our Preferred Method
Hourly rate paid monthly with expenses reimbursed as they occur. Requires a retainer up front which is added to as needed.
Contingency Fee
We take a few select cases on a contingency basis. On conclusion of the case, our fee is deducted and then our expenses are deducted.
We Can Help
The initial consult is free and there is no obligation. Delay may mean that you lose what is rightfully yours.
Cost to Contest Will
When you are forced to contest a will in Texas or are forced to obtain your inheritance from someone because they are trying to keep you from your rightful inheritance, you have to retain an inheritance attorney. The cost to contest a will and how you pay that inheritance lawyer may determine whether you can or can’t contest the will.
Hourly Fee
When you are contesting a will in Texas, you normally pay the attorney on an hourly fee basis. You pay month in and month out as the inheritance lawyer works on your case.
You also pay the expenses as they are incurred by the attorney. This is the preferred method of payment for the lawyer. He works, he gets paid. Expenses are repaid when they are incurred. This works well for the client as long as the client has the resources to fund the lawsuit.
Some attorneys won’t agree to contingency fees when contesting a will in Texas. They will only handle a will contest on an hourly basis. Will contest can get expensive quickly. Will contest may last for several years. In addition to the fees, the expenses can become a burden as shown by a case where a doctor charged over $34,500.00 for providing expert testimony in a will contest.
Contingency Fees When Contesting A Will?
Many people do not have the resources to fund an expensive case contesting a will. If their choice is contesting a will on an hourly pay basis or not contesting a will, they are often left not being able to contest the will.
While many attorneys won’t agree to contingency fees when contesting a will in Texas, we handle a select few will contest on a contingency basis. We won’t handle every case using contingency fees when contesting a will but we handle some. Small estates don’t lend themselves to contingency fees when contesting a will, large estates do. Small and large are relative terms but generally, if your part should you win is less than $300,000, it is a small estate.
The Right Client
We won’t agree to contingency fees when contesting a will unless our client has been or will be deprived of what is rightfully theirs by someone trying to gain an unfair advantage. If we agree to contingency fees when contesting a will, we advance cost and expenses as the case progresses. While you will have to repay these cost and expenses if you win, you are not out any money while the case is progressing. Because of the risk to the attorney, we are selective in the cases that we handle on a contingency. Attorney’s fees are paid before expenses are deducted from the recovery. I have written an article on our blog about contingency fees in will contest.
Robert Ray
Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We handle cases all across Texas. Our principal office is in Lantana, Texas (DFW area).
Why Us?
Inheritance disputes involve someone who has taken advantage of the elderly. These cases are complicated and most often, but not always, involve outsiders. We represent you knowing that these inheritance disputes are private and painful family matters. We know this is a stressful time for you. We strive to obtain the quickest and best results possible so that you can get this troubling episode behind you.
Articles
Is contesting a will worth it?
You should not be discouraged about the cost of contesting a will. Is it worth it depends on the estate involved. Ask us.
Can You Have an Oral Will?
Texas requires that all wills be in writing. Before 2007, however, Texas recognized nuncupative or oral wills. Former §§ 64 and 65 of the Texas Probate Code, repealed 2007. Now, oral wills are no longer recognized. Before 2007 when oral wills were admitted to...
How much does it cost to contest a will | challenge a will | dispute a will?
Everyone is concerned about the cost of an inheritance dispute or the cost involved in contesting a will in Texas. Below, I have outlined the normal cost so you will learn how much an inheritance dispute or a will contest will cost. Hourly Rate with Retainer Our...
Contingency Fees In Will Contest?
When you are forced to contest a will in Texas because someone is trying to keep you from your rightful inheritance, you have to retain an inheritance attorney. How you pay that lawyer may determine whether you can or can’t contest the will.