Consequences of Probate Administration
If your estate plan makes no provision for avoiding probate, distribution of your assets may be delayed for a number of months. The identity, value and distribution of your property becomes a matter of public record. Attorney fees, court costs, appraisal fees and other costs may reduce the amount of your estate available for distribution to your beneficiaries by as much as five to ten percent.
The following table illustrates the cost of attorney fees and personal representative fees under minimum fee statutes followed by a number of states.
| Value of Estate | Minimum Fee Attorney/Personal Rep. | Minimum Fee Attorney & Probabte Personel Rep. |
| $50,000 | $1,800 | $3,600 |
| $100,000 | $3,300 | $6,600 |
| $200,000 | $6,050 | $12,100 |
| $300,000 | $8,800 | $17,600 |
| $400,000 | $11,550 | $23,100 |
| $1,000,000 | $26,650 | $53,100 |
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