Contrary to popular belief, there is almost never such a thing as a "fairly simple" estate.
Especially not these days with the additional searches and probity checks that have to be done, even when they turn up nothing.
Further (even if maybe not in this case...), additional work can be required to
dis-embugger people's DIY wills that they do to try and save a few dollars.
(in short and simple... that $20 will instrument that Dad bought at the newsagent
could end up costing his estate thousands to fix when he screws it up)
Further, it's not necessarily "dragging things out" to make two amended applications
as things change, and/or when facts - or documents - emerge that change things.
(textbook example of this is when the family one day finds a properly executed will
in the bottom drawer of Dad's desk after all...).
Each of those amended applications can involve new work from scratch, and
can have a public notice period that restarts each new time.
As a beneficiary, short of gross misbehaviour by the executor,
you don't have all that much say in how the executor does their job.
There's a bit of information about solicitors' costs in Queensland
here.
Consider that may
you not be the solicitor's client, and therefore
you may not have standing to bring a dispute about costs against the lawyer (as distinct from the executor)
