What percentage does a lawyer get for settling an estate in PA?
In Pennsylvania, a probate attorney’s fees are paid out of the estate funds. As part of the executor’s responsibility in managing an estate, state laws require that the attorney’s fee is “fair and reasonable.” Let’s take a look at what fair and reasonable looks like in the context of a probate attorney’s fees.
Serving as executor of a Pennsylvania estate is a difficult and time-consuming task. In addition to the emotional strength required, the executor must be able to quickly digest numerous laws and responsibilities enforced by various bureaucracies and institutions. It’s a monumental task in a foreign field. Fortunately, there is help.
Executors are strongly encouraged to hire a probate attorney. An experienced Pennsylvania probate attorney will guide an executor through the probate process, takes responsibility for most of the difficult tasks, and helps to ensure the executor satisfies all of their fiduciary responsibilities.
The Legislature doesn’t set probate attorney’s fees in Pennsylvania. Any challenge to the “fair and reasonable” requirement will be left to the discretion of each county’s Orphan’s Court. While the Pennsylvania Legislature has resisted the ease of adopting a percentage based fee schedule, some Orphan’s Court judges have supplied some helpful precedent. Pennsylvania probate judges regularly apply a schedule attached to a 1983 case opinion, the Johnson Estate.
The Johnson Estate executor fee schedule is posted below. It’s a benchmark many judges have recognized or referenced over the past 30 years when an attorney’s fees have been challenged. Rather then balancing countless factors, many judges first examine how the claimed fee compares to the schedule in Johnson. This schedule therefore serves as the most intelligible answer to an appropriate executor’s fee in Pennsylvania.
This schedule represents by no means what an estate must, or should pay. Ultimately, the executor and the attorney must decide the fee based on the work involved with that individual estate.
Regardless, the fee agreement should detail the work to be done by the executor and the attorney, including the division of responsibilities. The fee should be calculated based on the size of the estate, responsibility incurred by the attorney, the complexity of the estate and experience of the attorney. Each estate is different, understanding the responsibilities of the attorney and their background will ensure you make an informed decision using Johnson as a guidepost.
If you have questions about probate attorney fees or any other estate planning concerns contact our office for a free consultation.
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Is Actec legit?
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ACTEC is the premiere trust and estate planning fellowship in the U.S., comprised of leading lawyers in all 50 states and 16 countries. Do you have the right stuff?
The Institutes offer a six-day program of intensive trust and estate education over a one-year period for third through sixth-year law associates. Programs are designed to develop the trust and estate profession’s future leaders through a series of in-depth educational presentations.
What does the acronym Actec stand for?
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a nonprofit association of lawyers and law professors skilled and experienced in the preparation of wills and trusts; estate planning; and probate procedure and administration of trusts and estates of decedents, minors and incompetents.
What are the magic 5 law firms?
In the world of Commercial Law, you will often hear talk of ‘Magic Circle’ firms. This is an informal term used to describe what are generally regarded as the five leading UK-headquartered law firms, namely Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters and Slaughter and May. These firms are some of the most prestigious in the world, and consistently guarantee highest earnings per-partner and earnings per-lawyer amongst firms headquartered in the UK. If you’re considering applying to a Magic Circle law firm, it’s worth knowing the key difference between them to find out which one you’re best suited to.
Working at one of these firms involves long hours, high pressure and a fast-paced working environment, so it’s good to be aware of what you’re getting in to. We’ve put each firm under the spotlight to give you an idea of what to expect.
Allen & Overy is an international law firm structured across seven practice areas: corporate, banking, international capital markets, litigation and dispute resolution, employment and benefits, tax and real estate. They are known for their banking and geographical strengths, and have a big presence in China.
Trainees at this firm describe it as an open and sociable environment, with their own café/restaurant-by-day and bar-by-night “Lavanda” being a popular spot for trainee lawyers. The firm’s headquarters are located on the fringe of the City, meaning you are right next to Shoreditch which is packed with trendy bars for after work drinks and client entertainment.
At Clifford Chance, transactional work rules the roost. Within this work, it’s traditionally the finance practice that shines the brightest, in particular in areas like banking and finance, capital markets and asset finance. The firm’s global nerve centre is London, and a trainee role here revolves mainly around project management. This will mean co-ordinating lawyers across different jurisdictions. The UK produces 35% of the firm’s total revenue, however there are still vast opportunities for global travel.
Based on Fleet Street, Freshfields‘ trainees are unanimous about what sets their training contract apart from others: flexibility. There is the option of three-month seats, but also the opportunity to apply for seats as you go through the training contract rather than having to do so at first. The firm boasts a glittering client list – its first ever client being the Bank of England back in 1743. A couple of years ago, Freshfields advised the government on the flotation of the Royal Mail, so you can be assured of high profile client interaction and a particularly interesting workload. This firm prides itself in its personable, team oriented environment.
Linklaters is an ideal place to work for those who want a hand in matters that visibly impact the key economies and sectors. As a trainee, you will get involved in projects reaching beyond UK stores – above and beyond what a lot of other firms can offer. It’s a transaction-heavy firm, so half of…
What is the world’s largest law firm?
Rank
Firm
Country with the most lawyers
1
Kirkland & Ellis
US
2
Latham & Watkins
US
3
DLA Piper (Swiss verein)
US UK
4
Allen Overy Shearman Sterling (LLP)
UK US
What is the most elite law firm in the world?
Cravath is most prestigious law firm for ninth straight year; Kirkland takes No. 1 in General Corporate Practice,
For the ninth year running, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP tops the Vault 100 as the most prestigious firm in the United States. Cravath, which associates in Vault’s survey refer to as “the gold standard,” has U.S. offices in New York City and Washington, DC. The Vault 100 ranking is based on scores from more than 20,000 law firm associates surveyed earlier this year. Vault’s top 10 most prestigious firms for 2025 are:
#1 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP | #2 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | #3 Skadden | #4 Latham & Watkins | #5 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP |
#6 Kirkland & Ellis | #7 Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | #8 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP | #9 Simpson Thacher | #10 Gibson Dunn |
In addition to the Vault 100, Vault has also released 14 regional rankings and 24 practice area rankings. Some highlights include:
“Cravath continued its position as the most prestigious firm according to associates in our survey, as the firm continued to set a high bar across compensation and in the quality of lawyering across multiple practice areas,” said Eric Stutzke, SVP & General Manager of Vault.
Stutzke continued, “Our associate survey also revealed movement within core practice area rankings, resulting in Kirkland taking five #1 spots, including in General Corporate Practice for the first time.”
About Vault Law
Vault Law, an Infobase company, is the most comprehensive and trusted resource for law students and laterals to research law firms, delivering the insider perspective and essential information that candidates need to make successful career decisions.
SOURCE Vault Law
What is the highest paid law firm?
Back to Rankings
Associates assess their own firms on a range of workplace issues related to career development, job satisfaction, and quality of life. Vault’s 2025 Rankings are derived from Vault’s Annual Associate Survey conducted from January 2024 through March 2024.
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2025 Best Law Firms for Compensation