Opinion ID: 6351441
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Charge I ([A] Estate)

Text: On July 11,1976, [A] died a resident of [ ] County leaving a will dated December 31, 1964, and a codicil, in the form of a personal letter, dated June 26, 1976. A few days after [A]’s death, his sister-in-law (hereinafter A’s sister-in-law) retained respondent to represent her as executrix of the [A] Estate. Among the few assets contained in the estate were a cottage property on [ ] Road in [ ] Lake and a 1973 Ford station wagon. According to the terms of the codicil, the cottage property was devised to a minor by the name of [B] and the car was to go to [B]’s father, [ ]. At the time [A’s sister-in-law] retained respondent, she gave him a copy of the codicil and informed him the original thereof was with the person to whom the letter was addressed. However, no attempts were made by respondent or anyone else to obtain the original codicil until September of 1979, more than three years after [A’s] death. In March of 1978, respondent had given the [A] Estate file to Attorney [C] to prepare certain papers in typed form. When Attorney [C] received the file, it contained prepared rough drafts of probate documents, including a petition for probate, bond for nonresident executor, oath for nonsubscribing Witness, oath of executor, apphcation for charitable exemption, and an inventory for the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return. While respondent was retained to represent [A’s sister-in-law], he never caused the will or codicil of [A] to be probated and never had [A’s sister-in-law] appointed executrix of the estate. He failed to do this despite repeated telephone calls from [A’s sister-in-law] — over 100 according to her testimony — and numerous letters from [A’s sister-in-law] and [D], Esq., counsel for [B’s father]. While respondent did meet with [A’s sister-in-law] on at least two occasions and did return some of her phone calls, respondent always assured her “things were being taken care of,” which was not correct since respondent had not even raised an estate for [A], In February of 1979, totally frustrated by respondent’s inaction, [A’s sister-in-law], by letter, discharged respondent as her attorney and directed him to turn over the estate file to [D] Esq. Not only did respondent fail to reply to [A’s sister-in-law]’s letter, he did not turn over the file to [D] or to [A’s sister-in-law]. Respondent spoke with [D] who advised respondent that he did not want the file and would not accept it. [A’s sister-in-law], at the reluctant suggestion of [D] filed her complaint with the Disciplinary Board in April of 1979. By letter dated September 6, 1979, petitioner, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, advised respondent of [A’s sister-in-law]’s complaint. It was not until after respondent was advised of [A’s sister-in-law]’s complaint that he took some definitive action to raise and begin the administration of the [A] Estate. No inheritance tax was due. Respondent, from his own funds, on or about September 1, 1978, paid property taxes in the amount of $215.93, for the period through 1977, on the property which was part of the estate, which property was not exposed to tax sale. Further, respondent paid from his own funds the balance due on the funeral bill in the amount of $427. Attorney [C] was paid $150 by respondent for doing work on the estate. The will and codicil were not presented for probate until September 14, 1979, at which time [A’s sister-in-law] was appointed executrix. At that time, with [A’s sister-in-law]’s consent, Attorney [C] took over for respondent as counsel for the estate. Thereafter, it took an additional year to finally settle this estate.