From our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: Firing Your Burlington County Probate Attorney

Most Recently Updated July 14, 2018.

“I am a New Jersey resident serving as the Personal Representative of my mother’s Burlington County, New Jersey Estate. I hired a Burlington County attorney to probate the estate and help me administer the estate, but I cannot get her to return my calls. What can I do?”

Firing Your Burlington County Probate Attorney

Firing Your Burlington County Probate Attorney

As the Personal Representative, the Probate Attorney works for you. You hire the Probate Attorney, and you can fire the Probate Attorney.

However, this happens more than you might think. Many attorneys fail to recognize that we work in a service industry, and that client satisfaction is important!

Most of us feel comfortable enough to send food back to a restaurant’s kitchen if our order comes out cold. Likewise, if someone’s remodeling your kitchen, you’d make them do it again if they didn’t follow your instructions. If you’re not getting the service you expect, you can easily retain a new Probate Attorney. Your first attorney must turn over the files to the new attorney.

You are responsible for the Estate’s progress!

Further, remember you are responsible for the estate’s progress. If the Probate Attorney is not moving quickly enough, the beneficiaries may have a complaint against you. If deadlines are not met, especially tax deadlines, and interest or penalties are levied, then you could be surcharged as the Executor or Personal Representative. The Probate Lawyer’s job is to keep you out of trouble, not create trouble.

More Probate Questions?

Estate progress being on schedule is only part of the overall probate process. By all means, if you wish to learn more, please read my more detailed article, The Probate Process All You Need to Know.

In Conclusion: Firing Your Burlington County Probate Attorney

I hope that this article was helpful in explaining your responsibilities in the estate’s progress. Further, I included links to even more detailed information on my website. Therefore, please contact me and let me know how I did. Certainly, your comments and questions are welcome!

Let our Probate Lawyers help walk you through what can be a confusing process. To begin with, call to speak to one of our experienced Probate Attorneys.  By all means, our lawyers are ready to answer your questions. In fact, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. Ultimately our goal is to make the process as painless as possible!

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