Richard Errol Gifford

As an Executor, I consulted on 5/9/17 with Richard Gifford (Edmonds Way Law Center) to review a Will & personal assets of an estate. Mr. Gifford advertised himself as specializing in Estate settlement and after provided with all documents and information involved, he declared the Estate “simple and ...uncontested” and to be settled through “unsupervised Probate”. I agreed to enter into contract with Mr. Gifford after his written estimate stating a typical cost range of $4000-$7000 for the described Estate and with the mutual understanding that he would act in a Fiduciary capacity for the Estate and myself as the Executor. No details, information or circumstances related to the Estate changed over the course of settlement. The Estate included no family members, debts or probate property. Assets consisted of a Bank account and one stock holding……both left as POD to one person. The Will instructed 10% stock to charity and all else divided 50/50 to two beneficiaries. Settlement of this Estate took 8 months because Mr. Gifford was unable to decide how to proceed due to differences between the Will’s instructions and the Asset’s POD designations. From this concern extensive communication, research, review, discussion and planning resulted in ever escalating charges until the final cost to the Estate was $10,000. In addition, professional services left much to be desired. Document misspellings, a billing date error and several times errors with beneficiary relations, and name (some misspellings, some wrong person). Because costs to the Estate seemed out of control I chose to execute much of the remaining attorney responsibilities; obtaining death certificates, submitting creditor notice, opening Estate and brokerage accounts, transferring of stock, arranging and documenting stock charity donation, generating receipt documents and securing their return, court notification of finalization, and distribution of assets. I requested no further chargeable actions from the Attorney and yet he found it necessary for continuation of email requests and questions, all of which he charged hundreds of dollars for on the final invoice. Anyone considering doing business with this firm should proceed with caution and decide if my experience is instructive. Knowing what I know now I’m confident If handled properly, this Estate, 2 beneficiaries and one charity donation, no family involvement and just 2 Asset accounts, POD to one person, should have been concluded in less than 3 months and at half of cost.