Showed the letter to the lawyer-co worker today. After reading it carefully, he told me a story. When he did probate work in Wash DC, anything not freaking obvious -- like a list of liquid assets and their beneficiaries and no debts of any kind -- would be considered extraordinary, and therefore they would charge 10%. "They're letting you off easy at 4 flat," he said.

My DH, the step-son of a banker, mentioned tonight that at a decent flat rate the bank has a stake in maximizing the assets, trying to get the highest prices on the land and the effects. You'll pay more but you'll get more.

I emailed sister the news. I know she'll be disappointed. I don't know how she will react - will she loosen up and accept it, or dig in her heels? Its a familiy trait, assuming that everyone is trying to screw you over. Heck, my natural inclination is to assume it, but the straight fact is that the farm has to be sold, and this is not a do-it-yourself project. Plus, nothing's ours. I have to keep explaining it to her that a nice legal entity called Dad's estate owns everything.

Spending log - $1.65 coffee + $9 lunch + $2.75 bubble tea.
Saving log - $2.00 tip box

(Tip box is a little opaque box I keep in my desk at work and put small bills and change. Usually I deposit whatever's in there monthly, but sometimes I use it for office collections.)