Leaving the world without a will is indeed troublesome to the people who are still alive. I don't blame her. Just that none of us family members know anything about legal stuff. Who would have known, to settle all these would require so many steps to proceed. No wonder they say it'll take years if we don't know how to do it.
Anyone have any idea? How much the legal fee for an LA (Letter of Administration) ?
We were charged 5k for this at first. We were already in the state of shocked when we heard the amount. At first, the lawyer asked his assistant, she said 5-6k , and so, the lawyer quoted us 5k. Fine, 5k even though we're not wealthy but it's less hassle than to deal with legal stuff when we ourselves not good at it. We paid a deposit of 1k. Few things I was quite disappointed with this firm. It's not fair for me to "promote" them here since we haven't settle this up yet. I'll see if I want to "promote" them over the internet. Although their websites are everywhere.
Anyway, back to the topic, few things that made me disappointed with this firm:
1) On the day when we discuss whether we want to get this lawyer or not, he insist on saying "Don't talk about money. If want to talk about money, then there's nothing to talk". Very arrogant.
2) Contact me for follow up 1 week later, asked me to go over to JPN to extract my mom's death cert. I did told her (another lawyer that deal with me) that I have another copy, whether I could use that or not. She INSISTED that I go over to their firm and then to JPN to extract the cert. WHAT? Since government offices don't open over the weekend, it has to be on weekday. WHAT? Don't I need to work? How much are they paying me back if I have to take leave? I even asked her to explain to me what does "extract" means, just so that I don't get her wrong. Probably it's a legal procedure, I wouldn't know. Then she said, I need to go, fill up a form, and extract the death cert. If I'm not free to go, my dad or brother could replace me and do it. WHAT? Then why can't you just use the extracted death cert? No, she insist. Then I have to call back. Then only this time is the first lawyer who deal with me, answered the phone. He said I don't have to go. Since I have 2 copies, I'll just have to give them one. PFFT! LOUSY, INEXPERIENCED!
3) So I went on that weekend to the lawyer's firm to pass them the extracted death cert. I sat down at the room for more than 30 minutes, just to wait them PRINT the documents. I have already informed that I would be there on Saturday. Why don't they prepare it earlier? Never mind the wait, even the printing have error. Our names, the items to be administered, ID number, etc. Then I called up and they said will email me the corrected version. Still with a lot of errors. Doing some half-assed work. pfft. So NOT PROFESSIONAL. That also I need to print them on my own! How about I charge them back the ink and paper value? We were charged additional 1.5k for the disbursement.
Dad would be there to talk to them this weekend as I am busy. I hope things work out. If not, I'll be pissed. Suddenly from 5k to 6k and with additional 1.5k AND 6% govt tax. WTF.
Total up came to 5360 + 1.5 ! If they insist on charging that high, I'm gonna ask for the breakdown.
Anyway, anyone with experience on this? How much does an LA usually cost? I feel like it's such a rip off. Agreement on 5K has been made though. But it's good to know what's the actual amount.
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