Estate Responsibilities

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

The benefactor of the estate hired an attorney to contest the will and then never followed up with the lawyer, causeing the lawyer to incur unpaid fees. Now the lawyer is attempting to bill the estate.

Is this legal?

Should the attorney go after the benefactor for the fees?

Will I, the executor, be responsible to pay the lawyer?

Tell the attorney to produce the documentation that you engaged him/her or else you will see him/her in front of the judge.

(I think that you mean "beneficiary.")

Why is it the attorney's fault that the benefactor (don't you mean beneficiary) didn't follow up, and why wouldn't the benefactor follow up (which is a very weak excuse)?

If the detailed explanation on the billing invoice shows reasonable services performed by the attorney, he is due to be paid.

If the beneficiary benefited from the attorney's successful will contest it would be unethical for the beneficiary to complain.

DANDY DON IN OKLAHOMA ([email protected])