Lawyers' fees - the Angel Award and the IMBM Award

Director / lawyer from Kiwilaw

Last year I said 'most' NZ lawyers charged $1500 or more for probate or letters of administration.
That was probably an over-statement.
I've been making further enquiries.
Most seem to charge between $1000 and $1500, plus GST and plus disbursements (the $200 High Court filing fee).
I don't know what local firms (Rangiora/Kaiapoi) charge. So please don't take these comments personally. (Feel free to add a comment to tell us what you charge.)
Checketts McKay in Wanaka get the Angel Award so far - estimated $400-600 plus disbursements.
The IMBM [I Must Be Mistaken] Award goes to the 5 firms identified so far (out of the 22 firms surveyed to date) whose estimates were between $2000-$3500 - they were all North Island firms and I am not going to be more specific than that.
The 4 firms (so far) who were less than $1000 were all South Island: in Wanaka (as above), Timaru, Dunedin, and Oamaru.
There may well be others. I don't have time or money to do a comprehensive survey.
In my opinion, anything over $1500 requires a special explanation, if it is only for getting the grant of administration and not for the rest of the estate administration.
So ask first, and remember you have the option of using Kiwilaw's highly competitive online service for $460. (You knew that! Yes! Please tell your friends and family.)
(I have renamed the IMBM Award - previously it was called something else but I realised that might be considered discourteous towards lawyers.)