Opinion ID: 2275208
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Executor's compensation and Attorneys' fee

Text: In 18-A M.R.S.A. § 8-401, it is provided that (2) The Code applies to any proceedings in Court then [January 1, 1981] pending or thereafter commenced regardless of the time of death of decedent except to the extent that in the opinion of the court the former procedure should be made applicable in a particular case in the interest of justice . . . . Thus, pursuant to 18-A M.R.S.A. § 3-719, the Bank, as personal representative, was entitled to reasonable compensation for its services. The 5% commission charged and received by the Bank stemmed from an agreement made by it with Mr. Tessier, the testator. The law expressly recognizes such inter vivos agreements, since the reference section does state that if a will provides for compensation of the personal representative and there is no contract with the decedent regarding compensation, he may renounce the provision before qualifying and be entitled to reasonable compensation. We see nothing in this record to preclude the Bank's recovery of compensation according to the pre-arranged commission agreement. So far as the attorneys' fees paid out are concerned, we cannot say that the Probate Court was clearly in error in approving such disbursements. The record is devoid of any expert evidence to support a claim of excessive charges by the attorneys for the legal services furnished the executor in connection with the dispute surrounding the Pensiero option and its defense of the children's petition for removal of the Bank as executor carried on appeal to the Superior Court acting as the Supreme Court of Probate. The Probate Court was justified in accepting the attorney's testimony that the total hours of work involved and the rates per hour charged were not outside the range which attorneys of his standing in comparable cases would say are reasonable. See 18-A M.R.S.A. § 3-720. These legal charges were made necessary by reason of the ongoing disputes between the children and the Bank executor. Although a personal representative should not reject out of hand the suggestions of the beneficiaries, but in the exercise of a sound discretion might honor their wishes if consistent with the overriding duty which the law imposes upon an executor to provide a prudent, efficient, expeditious, impartial and professional administration of the estate, we find in this record no cause for surcharge on account of payment of excessive attorneys' fees. The Probate Court could consider as guides in determining their reasonableness: the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the service properly; the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar services; the amount involved and the results obtained; the time limitations imposed by the personal representative or by the circumstances; the experience, reputation and ability of the person performing the services. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 3-721. The Probate Court's ultimate decision thereon consisted of findings of fact which we cannot reverse on appeal except for clear error. [4] The entry is: Judgment affirmed. All concurring.