Judge Joel David Littlefield

Applies to

Billing

Court appointees are expected to maintain itemized billing at the standard rate and should be prepared to submit it when requesting compensation above the flat rate for a case that may not be typical or average.

Applies to

Dual compensation request

A request for dual compensation must be fully disclosed at appointment or, if made later, upon motion and hearing.

Applies to

Time and expense records

An attorney-fiduciary must keep detailed time and expense records that separate legal from non-legal work.

A payment request submitted six months or more after the last reasonable and necessary action may be denied by the Court.

The applicant must initiate appointment of the attorney ad litem immediately upon filing the probate application.

The attached citation indicates the date by which an objector should file a written objection.

For a post-appointment request for dual compensation, notice of the motion and hearing must be given to interested parties who have appeared.

Before probate, the specified notice must be served or affidavits waiving notice must be delivered to the Court.

Immediately after receiving the appointment order, the applicant must provide the attorney ad litem copies of the order, probate application, and will.

Fee

550

Applies to

Attorney ad litem retainer deposit

For the listed applications or motions filed on or after April 1, 2024, the Clerk must collect a $550 Attorney Ad Litem retainer deposit unless an affidavit of indigency has been filed; the administrative fee is waived.

Applies to

Attorney ad litem retainer deposit

The Clerk must hold the retainer deposit for payment of Attorney Ad Litem fees when a proper order directs that the fees be taxed as costs.

Fee

550

Applies to

Attorney ad litem retainer deposit

The deposit pays court-ordered Attorney Ad Litem fees, and any amount exceeding a fee award below $550 must be refunded to the applicant.