Fees For Services

Nationally Certified Guardian

James Lee Lawson, Ph.D., MSN, MBA, RN-BC, CLPF, RN-BC, NCG, CDP. serves as a Professional Fiduciary in two distinct areas: “Of The Person” and “Of The Estate.” Generally, fees for “Of The Person” are hourly and “Of The Estate” are an annual percentage of the Assets Under Management. Some roles are a hybrid and combine both areas, and then a negotiated fee is based on duties and responsibilities.

Fees are further categorized as “Standard” or “UCR” (Usual, Customary, and Reasonable) for general public reference; “VIP” for referral and special populations, and “Minimum” for those vulnerable and needy populations. All fees are negotiable during the intake assessment and initial consultation process. While not guaranteed, Dr. Lawson has a history of rendering more than a third of his billable fees as Pro Bono in appropriate circumstances. In addition to his Fiduciary Fees, Dr. Lawson charges “Extra-Ordinary” Professional Fees in other areas in which he holds additional licenses and certifications. These are entirely optional and negotiable services.

Dr. Lawson does not charge for intake assessments or initial consultations, as some Professional Fiduciary’s do. He does not charge for local mileage or travel time, local postage, or communications charges. His Fiduciary Associates and Fiduciary Assistants bill lessor charges at their own rate for their services. Services for contracted and subcontracted services are billed separately. All billings are monthly, retrospectively. Each activity is billed to the nearest one-tenth of an hour (six (6) minute increments).

For Court Supervised Cases, Dr. Lawson will file a stipulated published fee schedule for the Court’s approval. All such fees are paid only after Court Approval and Supervision. For services under private party arrangements, Dr. Lawson will execute an Engagement Letter & Fee Agreement, after the intake assessment and initial consultation process.

Dr. Lawson does not charge for services as a Social Security Administration Representative Payee or Veterans Administration Federal Fiduciary, unless authorized by statute and pre-approved in writing by the appropriate federal agency. He does not charge fee for being listed in estate documents as a future contingent fiduciary. In such cases he does require his written consent, a copy of the appropriate estate document, and the listing to recognize his succession plan as: “James Lee Lawson, CLPF; d/b/a Lawson Professional Fiduciary Services, its heirs, agents, successors, and assigns.”. Dr. Lawson will consider Co-Fiduciary assignments only after discussions and possible considerations in advance.

We provide services to a wide array of clients, including public, private, not-for-profits, and governmental agencies. Our firm is certified as a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB). We do not discriminate in delivering or charging for services for any reason.

  • PRINCIPAL FIDUCIARY

“OF THE PERSON”

Position                                                             Standard Fee        VIP Fee                Minimum Fee

Mental Health Provider                                                $195/Hr.                     $170/Hr.                       $145/Hr.
Certified Dementia Provider                                        $170/Hr.                     $145/Hr.                       $110/Hr.

Registered Nurse                                                            $195/Hr.                     $170/Hr.                       $145/Hr.
Special Needs Trustee                                                   $170/Hr.                     $145/Hr.                       $125/Hr.
Probate Conservator                                                     $145/Hr.                     $125/Hr.                       $115/Hr.
Attorney In Fact: Limited Special DPOA-Benefits     $125/Hr.                     $125/Hr.                       $115/Hr.

Limited Conservator                                                      $125/Hr.                        $115/Hr.                         100/Hr.
Agent for Healthcare Decisions (DPOA-HC)              $125/Hr.                        $115/Hr.                          $100/Hr.
LPS Conservator                                                            $125/Hr.                       $115/Hr.                          $100Hr.

 

“OF THE ESTATE”

Position                                                    Method #1   Method #2 Method #3 Method #4

Named Executor                                             X
Administrator of Estate                                 X

Named Trustee                                               X                      X                    X                  X

Named Successor Trustee                            X                      X                    X                   X

Attorney In Fact (DPOA-Finance)                ?                       X                  X                   X

 

A person is writing on paper with a pen.

Method #1. ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT FEE BASED ON GROSS ESTATE VALUE. Progressive billing, Daily, Monthly, quarterly based on Annual Fee.

Computation of AUM Annual Fee
4 Percent of first $100,000
3 Percent of next $100,000
2 percent of next $800,000
1 percent of next $9,000,000
0.5 percent of next $15,000,000
Reasonable amount above $25,000,000 as agreed or ordered by the client or the court.

METHOD #2. STANDARD ANNUAL ALTERNATIVE OF AUM

Computation of Annual AUM Fee                                        STANDARD                  VIP              MINIMUM

1). On First Million Dollars                                                      1.50%                           1.15%           1.00%
2). Over One Million up to Twenty-Four Million Dollars   1.25%                           1.00%           0.75%
3. Over Twenty-Four Million Dollars                                     1.00%                           0.75%           0.50%

 

METHOD #3. MINIMUM ANNUAL FLAT FEE                            $6,900 per year or pro raita thereof

Method #4. A NEGOTIABLE, MONTHLY BASE FEE BASED UPON COMPLEXITY OF CASE, LEVEL OF SKILL, EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIRED. Progressive billing, monthly.

MINIMUM: $575/month based upon average of 20 hours or less per month. Requires basic business experience and acumen.

SIMPLE: $1,000/month based upon average of approximately 40 hours per month. May require advanced acumen and experience in at least one profession (Taxation/Accounting Professional, Insurance Professional, Legal Document Assistant, and Registered Nurse. Experienced CEO, CFO, COO, or Entrepreneur).

MODERATE: $1.500/month based upon average of approximately 60 hours per month. Requires advanced acumen and experience as two or more professions (Taxation/Accounting Professional, Insurance Professional, Legal Document Assistant, and Registered Nurse. Experienced CEO, CFO, COO, or Entrepreneur). May require management of real or personal property or benefit programs and applications and guidance for public entitlements.

COMPLEX: $2,000/month based upon average of approximately 80 hours per month. Requires advanced acumen and experience as two or more professions (Taxation/Accounting Professional, Insurance Professional, Legal Document Assistant, Registered Nurse. Experienced CEO, CFO, COO, or Entrepreneur). May require management of business interests, personal property management, or legal claims and defenses.

ENTERPRISE: $2,500/month based upon average of approximately 100 or more hours per month. Requires advanced acumen and experience as two or more professions (Taxation/Accounting Professional, Insurance Professional, Legal Document Assistant, Registered Nurse. Experienced CEO, CFO, COO, or Entrepreneur). May require management of extensive business interests, real estate holdings, personal property management, investment portfolio, benefit and entitlement programs, complex risk management, and legal claims and defenses.

 

A person using a calculator to calculate the cost of a home.

Other Extraordinary Professional Fees

  1. Insurance Broker/Adjuster/TPA                                                     Broker's Fee Schedule
  2. Registered Tax Professional                                                 Tax Preparer's Fee Schedule
  3. Legal Document Assistant                                                             Self-Help Fee Schedule
  4. California Notary Public                (State Regulated Fees)             Notary Fee Schedule

Insurance Professional

Dr. Lawson was approached by his Physician Clients in his Healthcare Consulting practice in 1980 to provide Insurance Services specific to their needs. He established his first Insurance Agency and Brokerage, later expanding into Healthcare Billing, Accountancy and Taxation. Thirty-seven years later he is still a Full-Lines Agent/Broker in California and Nevada.

He has lines of authority to practice in:

  • Health, Accident, Disability
  • Life
  • Long Term Care
  • Property and Casualty
  • Surplus Lines
  • Special/Surplus Lines
  • Annuities
  • Variable Contracts and Securities
  • Registered Administrator (TPA)
  • Public Insurance Adjuster

He is also qualified as a worker’s compensation claims adjuster, medical-only claims adjuster, and a medical bill reviewer.

Because of his experience and expertise, Dr. Lawson can assist in Retirement, Employment/Group Benefits, Claims Adjusting, Risk Management and Mitigation Plans, and a wide array of asset protection techniques.

FEES ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE LICENSEE’S ROLL AND ARE DISCLOSED UPON POTENTIAL ENGAGEMENT.