Law Offices of Grey Lund, PC

06/03/2026

This fact pattern results in $40,000 in probate fees/costs and potentially more! Fees for a California Probate are set by California law, and it is a percentage of the value of the assets of the estate (the assets left behind when someone passes away). Here is a breakdown:

4% of the first $100K
3% of the next $100K
2% of the next $800K
1% of the next $9M
and if you leave more than that, the fees increase.
In our fact pattern, the "Personal Representative" of the Estate (the person that walks your assets through the Probate Court Process) is entitled to be paid $19,000 for his/her work (and it is work!). And if that person hires an attorney to help them through the process (they probably will because the process is complicated), that attorney is entitled to the same $19,000 compensation! On top of that, there are court filing fees, publication fees, probate referee fees, and other costs that easily add up to $2,000 or more. Plus, if additional issues come up that are above-and-beyond what is normal, the Personal Representative and attorney can request "extraordinary compensation" on top of the statutory comp.
The good news is you don't have to put your family through that. Probate can be avoided (along with the probate fees) with the right estate planning strategy. Give us a call and let's talk!

05/26/2026

Happy Memorial Day!

05/14/2026

Probate is the court process for validating a will, appointing a personal representative, and transferring a decedent's assets. It ensures debts, taxes, and expenses are paid before beneficiaries receive property. In California, it is a formal, paperwork-heavy proceeding with strict notice, accounting, and statutory timelines. Generally, most people try to avoid probate if they can--it's expensive, time consuming, and public.

Luckily, a trust-based estate plan, if executed and funded correctly, can side-step probate completely. Your kids will thank you.

04/24/2026

About us:

At the Law Offices of Grey Lund, PC, we help individuals and families navigate the world of estate planning, trust and probate administration, and related litigation.

Grey is licensed to practice law in both California and Utah, and is a Certified Specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He assists trustees, beneficiaries, personal representatives, and other interested parties at all stages of their trust and estate matters.

Prior to establishing the Law Offices of Grey Lund, PC, Grey practiced law at one of the largest law firms in California as a trust and estate attorney. He's been named as a "Rising Star" in Northern California by Super Lawyers Magazine each year since 2022.

If you need a trust/estate related resource, feel free to give us a call!

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