Written Fee Agreement Not Required to Recover Statutory Probate Fees

   California law generally provides with respect to hourly and flat fee agreements, except in an emergency or when the client is a corporation, that when it is reasonably foreseeable that total expense to a client, including attorney fees, will exceed $1,000, the contract for services in the case shall be in writing. In the event there is no written contract when one is required, or the agreement fails to comply in some other respect with Business and Professions Code section 6148, the agreement is voidable at the client’s option. If the agreement is voided by a client, the attorney is nonetheless entitled to a reasonable fee. Continue reading