McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson has an extensive estate and trust practice and has been assisting families with their estate matters, small and large, simple and complex. We provide assistance to survivors in administering an estate including preparing the necessary documentation to apply for probate or administration of the estate. We make sure that the administration of the estate moves along as quickly and efficiently as is possible. We discuss the fees that will be incurred with respect to the administration of the estate up front so there are no surprises for the executors or the beneficiaries. Legal fees to administer an estate run typically in the 1.5 to 2.5 percent of the aggregate value of the estate, depending on the amount of legal work involved and the complexity of the estate generally. McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson assists families with a variety of estate matters, we can provide guidance with respect to obtaining death benefits under pension plans, arranging for final tax returns to be completed and filed, assisting with transmission of assets held in joint tenancy, and ensuring probate fees are calculated correctly. We routinely assist estates with the disposition of estate assets including real estate, businesses and other investments. In those instances where a trust has been created by the estate, we provide advice to the trustee on a long term basis as to the administration of the trust.

Many of our clients have appointed members of McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson as executors and trustees of their estates, and we provide this service on a regular basis. The significant number of these appointments and the magnitude of some of the estates involved reflects on the integrity and the high regard in which the members of this firm are held by our clients. Executor fees can vary anywhere from 2% to a maximum of 5%. The average Executor fees at McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson are 3% to 3.5%.

We employ highly competent and efficient estate support staff who can provide a direct contact with executors and beneficiaries regarding the administration of their particular estate. This results in efficient and prompt service to the client and a high level of communication with the parties involved. We make it a point to keep the executors up to date on the status of the estate (ie: the length of time to obtain probate, and when a distribution of estate assets may take place).

Where a person has died without a will (intestacy), we assist members of the family or other interested applicants in obtaining letters of administration and advise on the administration of the estate to ensure that the estate is both administered and distributed in accordance with the Estate Administration Act.

McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson will give you sound advice and assistance in dealing with an estate. Whether you are a testator who wishes to discuss how we might assist your executors in administering the estate, or if you are an executor who is faced with the responsibility of administering an estate, we would be pleased to meet with you and discuss that matter with you. If you are a beneficiary under an estate and are unsure of your rights, we can give you advice in that regard also. For more information on estates turn to our question and answer section on estates.