Skip to main content
Last Updated: April 20, 2026
Data-Driven Pricing

Your Fee is Based on Your Complexity Score

A proprietary, AI-powered forensic filter that objectively measures your case risk across 8 dimensions and produces a normalized 0–100 Complexity Score

System Over Hours. Transparency Over Trust.

Transparent ~ Predictable ~ Defensible

No surprise bills. No arbitrary hourly charges. Just a fair, fixed fee based on objective data.

The Velocity Dividend

We Don't Spend Inheritance — We Recover and Protect It

Traditional estates stall for 36 months, bleeding carrying costs every day. Our AI-amplified system closes in 14–18 months — saving families an average of 18 months of carrying costs on every engagement.

5.3:1

Documented ROI

Estate of Alice Maine — $80K recovered on a $15K engagement

18 mo

Average Time Saved

vs. traditional 36-month estate administration

100%

Court Acceptance Rate

Zero surcharge motions sustained against us

$272.95/hr

Optimized Efficiency Rate

Our 5-tier squad model delivers an optimized blended rate of $272.95/hr — below the $300/hr local solo fiduciary average

$17,216

Saved Per Estate

Our Delegation Strike and AI integration deleted $17,216 from the last estate we optimized — a 17% total fee reduction

"For every dollar in fees, we create at least $9 in documented, measurable value for the estate — and we can prove it in court."

How We Calculate Your Complexity Score

We evaluate your case across 8 risk dimensions. Each answer is weighted and normalized to produce a final score of 0–100

Estate Size & Asset Diversity

Number and type of assets, business interests, investment portfolios

Beneficiaries & Relationships

Number of beneficiaries, family dynamics, cooperation level

Legal & Tax Complexity

Disputes, litigation, tax issues, regulatory compliance

Geographic Dispersion

Multiple states, international assets, jurisdictional complexity

Litigation Risk

Active disputes, hostile parties, potential lawsuits

Timeline Constraints

Court deadlines, urgent requirements, time pressure

The Formula

Complexity Score = Normalized 0–100

8 risk dimensions, weighted by severity

Score delivered instantly via Sovereign Case Diagnostic™

This data-driven approach ensures your fee is fair, defensible, and aligned with California Rules of Court factors for reasonable compensation.

The Integrated Value Engine™

The Sovereign Score Trilogy™

Three scores govern your entire billing relationship. Each score has one job. Together, they certify PC §16040 compliance.

1

Intake

CLS

Case Level Score

The Entry Filter. Your Complexity Score determines the engagement tier and sets the global fee expectation before any work begins.

Engagement Tiers:

Standard (0–39)$4,600
Elevated (40–69)$12,500
Apex (70–100)$18,500
2

Execution

TVS

Task Value Score

The Price Engine. Each of our 100 catalog tasks has a fixed price determined by its complexity, risk, and recovery leverage — not by the hour.

TVS Drives:

• Fixed price per task (no hourly billing)

• Staff delegation (TVS 1–10 → Admin/AI)

• Court justification for each line item

3

Extraordinary

SVU™

Strategic Value Unit

The Strategic Trigger. When a task escalates beyond the catalog due to litigation or conflict, SVU activates the $495/hr Strategic Rate and proves the ROI.

5 Evidence Categories:

• Cost Reduction • Revenue Generation

• Risk Mitigation • Time Savings

• Relationship Enhancement

CLS estimates the caseTVS prices each taskSVU justifies extraordinary

Three Pillars of Transparent Pricing

Every fee falls into one of three categories — each grounded in the California Probate Code

STATUTORY

Court-Mandated Rates

California Probate Code §10800 sets the fee. No negotiation, no ambiguity — the court decides.

Probate

Statutory rates per PC §10800 (4%/3%/2%/1%/0.5% cascading)

Conservatorship

Hourly billing subject to court approval

Trust (AUM)

1.25% cascading — or hourly, whichever is higher

Fees set by law. Paid at conclusion. Court-approved.

PERFORMANCE

Fixed-Task Menu

Published fixed prices for the 100 most common fiduciary tasks. You know the cost before we start.

100+ Tasks

Published flat rates — no hourly surprises

Tax Services

TAX-01 ($900), TAX-02 ($675), TAX-EXP (~$1,500 pass-through)

Court Filings

Fixed per filing type — GC-400, DE-160, petitions

Price certainty from day one. No billing for inefficiency.

APEX

Forensic Restoration

High-conflict estates with active misconduct. Flat-fee forensic engagement — no hourly clock running.

Forensic Restoration Apex™

$18,500 flat fee — full forensic scope

Documented ROI

5.3:1 recovery ratio (Estate of Alice Maine)

Court-Ready

Surcharge motions, asset tracing, enforcement

The harder the case, the more we are needed.

How Our Rates Work

Three-Tier Squad Model

High-level expertise is reserved for strategy. Administrative volume is handled at or below market averages.

$495/hr

Strategic Tier (SVU-Triggered)

Activated only for extraordinary services: litigation, IRS/FTB controversy, heir conflict, forensic recovery (PC §10801)

$250/hr

Tactical Tier

Case operations, stakeholder mediation, technology architecture, and fiduciary accounting (CPA level)

$125–$150/hr

Utility Tier

Financial data operations, reconciliations, logistics, mailing, clerical filing, and high-volume data entry

The squad model ensures you only pay the strategic rate when strategic work is required. Routine tasks are handled by specialized team members at rates 47\u201379% lower than the principal rate.

Performance Pillar — Highlighted Tasks

Fixed-Task Performance Menu

A sample from our 100 published tasks. Every fee is fixed before the engagement begins.

Task CodeDescriptionFixed FeeNotes
#25Fiduciary Form 1041 Oversight & Review$900Phase II — Oversight fee. BPM CPA prepares, Brown Management reviews
#21BPM CPA Liaison & Data Synthesis$1,350Phase II — Monthly coordination with institutional tax partner
EXPBPM CPA Preparation (Pass-Through)~$1,500Direct estate expense — paid to BPM, not Brown Management
#81Form GC-400 Court Accounting Preparation$3,000Phase V — Full accounting period, court-ready format
#62Eviction/Squatter Removal Coordination$3,000Phase IV — Full coordination through resolution
#1Initial Case Intake & System Setup$2,000Phase I — Complete onboarding and case architecture

100+ tasks available in the full Performance Menu. All fees subject to court approval in supervised matters. TAX-EXP is a direct estate expense paid to BPM CPA, not a Brown Management fee.

Sovereign Case Diagnostic™

Your Score Determines Your Path

Take the 8-minute Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ and receive your Complexity Score instantly. Your score routes you to the right engagement — no guesswork, no sales call required.

1

Standard Engagement

Score 0 – 39

Cooperative beneficiaries, clear documentation, no suspected misconduct. Standard hourly or AUM-based billing applies. Predictable timeline of 14–18 months.

Flat-rate task menu pricing
Complexity Score report delivered in 24 hrs
Monthly Clarity Reports throughout
2

Elevated Engagement

Score 40 – 69

Multi-beneficiary tension, disputed assets, or prior fiduciary concerns. Enhanced oversight, Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU) billing, and court-ready documentation. Each SVU entry documents measurable estate benefit and serves as evidentiary support for extraordinary compensation petitions under PC §10801.

SVU billing — pre-approved, court-defensible entries (PC §10801 compliant)
RIDE-framework fee justification on every entry
Bi-weekly Clarity Reports + risk alerts
Apex
3

Critical — Forensic Restoration

Score 70 – 100

Active heir misconduct, asset diversion, or multi-party conflict requiring forensic reconstruction and court enforcement. The Forensic Restoration Apex™ engagement applies.

$18,500 flat fee — all-in, no hourly surprises
5.3× documented ROI (Estate of Alice Maine)
Asset tracing + surcharge motion + enforcement

Not sure which tier applies to your estate?

The Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ takes 8 minutes. Your score is calculated instantly and routes you to the right engagement — with a transparent fee estimate delivered within 24 hours.

Service-Specific Fee Structures

Detailed breakdown of how fees are calculated for each service type

Trust Administration: AUM Rates

For trusts, we charge either AUM-based fees or hourly rates, whichever is higher. Minimum monthly advance: $800, reconciled annually.

Total AssetsLiquidating TrustsOngoing Trusts
First $2,500,0001.75%1.25%
$2,500,001 to $5,000,0001.25%1.00%
$5,000,001 to $10,000,0001.00%0.75%
$10,000,001 to $20,000,0000.75%0.70%
Over $20,000,0000.70%0.65%

Additional Fees: Set-up/Initial Intake: $5,000 • Account Closure/Off-boarding: $4,000 plus hourly rate

Probate: California Statutory Rates

Probate fees follow California statutory rates, paid at conclusion of probate. No minimum annual fee.

Estate Value RangeStatutory Rate
First $100,0004%
Next $100,0003%
Next $800,0002%
Next $9,000,0001%
Next $15,000,0000.5%

Note: These rates apply to the personal representative (executor) fee only. Your probate attorney charges separate statutory fees.

Conservatorship: Hourly Rates

Conservatorships use hourly billing only. No minimum monthly advance. All fees subject to court approval.

Team MemberPublished RateTier
Keenan Brown, CLPF #790 — Principal Fiduciary$495/hrStrategic
Sherwin Estonilo — Lead Financial Specialist$250/hrTactical
Jan Alan Rosimo — IT & Technology Manager$250/hrTactical
Josie Noriega — Executive Assistant, Client Success$150/hrTactical
Latriesha Shelton — Executive Assistant, Client Success$125/hrUtility
Marwin Humilde — Financial Operations Specialist$150/hrTactical
Alma Vidal — Senior Case Manager$225/hrTactical

Brown Management charges a single published rate regardless of case complexity. Extraordinary services under PC §10801 are petitioned based on additional hours documented, not rate escalation. We don't upcharge for difficulty — the harder the case, the more value we deliver at the same rate. Time is recorded in 10ths of each hour for fiduciary staff and 1/4 of each hour for administrative staff. All conservatorship fees are subject to court approval.

PC §10801 · Extraordinary Compensation

SVU™ Compensation: The Five Triggering Categories

SVU™ (Sovereign Value Units) is Brown Management's proprietary framework for documenting and justifying extraordinary compensation under California Probate Code §10801. Extraordinary fees are not a volume play — they are triggered by complexity. Each of the five categories below has a specific triggering condition, a documented dollar range, and a statutory anchor.

SVU™

Category 1 — Asset Marshalling

Triggering condition: Estate contains real property, business interests, or out-of-state assets requiring active management beyond standard inventory

  • Multi-property portfolio coordination
  • Business interest preservation during administration
  • Out-of-state asset transfer and liquidation
$3,500 – $18,500 per asset class
PC §10801(a) — services not covered by statutory commission
SVU™

Category 2 — Business Continuity

Triggering condition: Estate includes an operating business, LLC, or professional practice requiring ongoing management decisions during administration

  • Operating business oversight
  • LLC membership interest management
  • Professional practice wind-down or sale coordination
$5,000 – $25,000 + 0.5% of business value
PC §10801(b) — extraordinary services for business management
SVU™

Category 3 — Hostile Heir / Surcharge Recovery

Triggering condition: An heir, beneficiary, or prior fiduciary has diverted assets, contested the estate, or obstructed administration — requiring forensic documentation and surcharge motion

  • Surcharge motion preparation and filing
  • Forensic asset tracing
  • Court-admissible documentation of diversion
  • Estate of Alice Maine: 5.3× ROI
$18,500 flat + 15% of recovered amount
PC §10801(c) — extraordinary services for contested matters; PC §9600 — surcharge authority
SVU™

Category 4 — Jurisdictional Complexity

Triggering condition: Estate involves assets, beneficiaries, or legal proceedings in multiple states or countries, requiring coordination across jurisdictions

  • Multi-state real property coordination
  • Foreign asset repatriation
  • Ancillary probate proceedings
$4,500 – $22,000 per jurisdiction
PC §10801(a) — services not covered by statutory commission
SVU™

Category 5 — Litigation Support

Triggering condition: Estate is subject to pending or threatened litigation — will contests, creditor disputes, conservatorship challenges, or beneficiary claims

  • Will contest defense documentation
  • Creditor claim analysis and response
  • Expert witness preparation
  • Deposition support
$495/hr + $2,500 court appearance retainer
PC §10801(c) — extraordinary services for litigation support

Attorney note: SVU™ compensation is documented using the Four-Pillar Recovery Framework and submitted to the court as a Supplemental Declaration of Extraordinary Services. All fee requests are anchored to specific Probate Code sections and supported by immutable time records. Brown Management has a 100% court acceptance rate on extraordinary fee petitions.

Market Context

Southern California Hourly Rate Comparison

Published 2026 data across 8 SoCal counties. The industry charges $145–$350/hr with no published task menu and no fee cap. Brown Management publishes every rate and offers flat-fee alternatives for the 100 most common tasks.

CountyConservatorshipExtraordinary FeeTrust Admin
Los Angeles$200–$300/hr$200–$300/hr0.5%–2.0% or $200–$300/hr
Orange$190–$260/hr$190–$260/hr0.5%–4.0% or $190–$260/hr
San Diego$190–$350/hr$190–$350/hr0.5%–1.5% or $100–$250/hr
Ventura$240–$295/hr$240–$280/hr1.0% or $240–$280/hr
Santa Barbara$240–$280/hr$240–$280/hr1.0% (tiered) or $6,000/yr min
Riverside$175–$250/hr$190–$275/hr1.0%–2.0% or $175–$250/hr
San Bernardino$190–$250/hr$190–$250/hr1.0%–2.0%
San Luis Obispo$145–$300/hr$175–$300/hr0.5%–2.0% or $175–$250/hr
Brown Management$495/hr Strategic Rate (SVU-triggered only)Court-petitioned per PC §10801AUM tiers or flat-rate menu

The $300 Ceiling

Top-tier SoCal rates cluster at $280–$300/hr. Brown Management's $495/hr Strategic Rate is above this ceiling — but it only activates for SVU-triggered extraordinary work (litigation, forensic recovery). The Fixed-Price Catalog handles routine administration, eliminating open-ended billing risk entirely.

The Support Staff Arbitrage

Competing firms charge up to $230/hr for support staff. Brown Management publishes $125/hr (admin) and $225/hr (senior case manager) — visible, competitive, and impossible to inflate invisibly.

The Black Box Problem

Across all 8 counties, the hourly model creates a black box. Clients don't know the final cost until the invoice is submitted to the court months later. The flat-rate task menu is the solution.

Flat-Rate Task Menu

Top 100 Fixed-Price Fiduciary Tasks

Brown Management is the only CLPF in Southern California with a published fixed-price menu for the 100 most common fiduciary deliverables. When a referral partner asks "what will this cost?", we answer with a specific number — before the engagement begins.

Conservatorship Services

CONS-01 through CONS-23 · Full lifecycle from establishment through closure

TaskFlat Rate
CONS-01 · Initial Consultation & Case Assessment (up to 2 hours)$750
CONS-02 · Petition for Appointment of Conservator$2,500
CONS-03 · Emergency Ex Parte Petition (Temporary Conservatorship)$3,200
CONS-04 · Court Investigation Coordination & Response$1,500
CONS-05 · Initial Marshalling of Conservatee Assets$3,800
CONS-06 · Preparation of Inventory & Appraisal (GC-040)$3,000
CONS-07 · Annual Court Accounting (GC-400/GC-405)$4,500
CONS-08 · Monthly Bill Pay & Financial Reconciliation (per month)$550
CONS-09 · Monthly Care Plan Review & Facility Liaison$650
CONS-10 · Quarterly Conservatee Visit & Welfare Report$495
CONS-11 · Sale of Real Property (Court-Supervised)$7,500
CONS-12 · Sale of Personal Property & Vehicle Liquidation$1,200
CONS-13 · Investment Account Oversight & Rebalancing (per quarter)$800
CONS-14 · Insurance Policy Review & Renewal Coordination$500
CONS-15 · Medi-Cal / Public Benefits Application & Coordination$2,200
CONS-16 · VA Benefits Application & Coordination$1,800
CONS-17 · Facility Placement Research & Transition$2,500
CONS-18 · Responding to Judicial Probate Notes$1,350
CONS-19 · Petition for Authority to Sell Real Property$1,800
CONS-20 · Petition for Substituted Judgment$2,800
CONS-21 · Petition for Termination of Conservatorship$1,800
CONS-22 · Final Accounting & Asset Distribution$3,500
CONS-23 · Post-Termination Archiving & Record Retention$750

Trust Administration Services

TRST-01 through TRST-17 · Successor trustee duties through dissolution

TaskFlat Rate
TRST-01 · Successor Trustee Acceptance & Initial Consultation$750
TRST-02 · Notice to Beneficiaries (PC §16061.7)$650
TRST-03 · Marshalling & Titling of Trust Assets (initial 3 months)$4,000
TRST-04 · Real Property Appraisal Coordination$800
TRST-05 · Trust Inventory & Asset Schedule Preparation$2,200
TRST-06 · Annual Trust Accounting & Report to Beneficiaries$3,800
TRST-07 · Monthly Bill Pay & Financial Management (per month)$500
TRST-08 · Creditor Claim Evaluation & Notice to Creditors$1,200
TRST-09 · Real Property Sale (Non-Court-Supervised)$5,500
TRST-10 · Investment Portfolio Oversight & Rebalancing (per quarter)$800
TRST-11 · Insurance Policy Review & Claims Processing$500
TRST-12 · Trust Amendment or Restatement Coordination$1,500
TRST-13 · Sub-Trust Funding & Allocation$2,800
TRST-14 · Beneficiary Dispute Mediation Coordination$2,000
TRST-15 · Preliminary & Final Distributions to Beneficiaries$2,500
TRST-16 · Winding Up & Dissolution of the Trust$1,500
TRST-17 · Post-Dissolution Archiving & Record Retention$750

Decedent Estate (Probate) Administration

PROB-01 through PROB-16 · Full court-supervised process from opening through final discharge

TaskFlat Rate
PROB-01 · Petition for Probate / Letters of Administration$2,800
PROB-02 · Marshalling of Estate Assets (initial 3 months)$3,800
PROB-03 · Preparation of Inventory & Appraisal (DE-160)$3,000
PROB-04 · Creditor Notice Publication & Claim Adjudication$1,200
PROB-05 · Sale of Real Property (Court-Confirmed Probate Sale)$8,000
PROB-06 · Sale of Personal Property & Vehicle Liquidation$1,200
PROB-07 · Monthly Bill Pay & Estate Financial Management$550/mo
PROB-08 · Preparation of First & Final Accounting$5,000
PROB-09 · Supplemental Accounting (per additional period)$3,200
PROB-10 · Petition for Extraordinary Compensation (XO)$2,500
PROB-11 · Responding to Objections to Accounting$4,500
PROB-12 · Petition for Final Distribution$3,500
PROB-13 · Distribution of Assets to Heirs/Beneficiaries$2,800
PROB-14 · Final Discharge Petition & Order$1,800
PROB-15 · Bond Exoneration & Account Closure$500
PROB-16 · Post-Discharge Archiving & Record Retention$750

Squad-Weighted Operations

100 Published Tasks Across 5 Phases

Every estate follows the same five-phase lifecycle. Each task has a published fixed fee — no hourly clock, no surprise bills. Our squad model delivers an optimized blended rate of $272.95/hr, with a documented $17,216 total fee reduction per estate through our Delegation Strike and AI integration.

I

Inception, Onboarding & Discovery

20 tasks · Case setup through initial asset marshalling

IDTaskFixed Fee
1Initial Case Intake & System Setup$2,000
2Case Diagnostic™ Risk Scoring$1,350
3Statutory Notice of Administration to Creditors/Heirs$237
4SSA, VA & Government Agency Notifications$95
5Physical Property Lock-out & Securement$1,000
6Inventory & Appraisal Coordination$1,500
7Digital Estate Access & Data Archiving$1,000
8Counsel of Record Kick-off Briefing$900
9Multi-Month Resolution Roadmap Development$1,350
10Initial Mail Review & Asset Discovery$475
11Safe Deposit Box Search & Drilling Logistics$1,000
12Title Search & Vesting Verification$750
13Life Insurance Policy Locator Search$720
14Utility Transfer & Maintenance Setup$285
15Obtaining Estate EIN & Bank Account Setup$500
16Filing Petition for Probate/Letters$1,250
17Bond Application & Issuance Management$750
18Aggregating 12-Month Financial Statements$1,080
19Securing High-Value Personal Property$1,000
20Initial Creditor Claim Investigation$1,000
II

Forensic Tax & Oversight

20 tasks · EA + Top-50 CPA partnership advantage

IDTaskFixed Fee
21BPM CPA Liaison & Data Synthesis$1,350
223-Year Forensic Tax Return Audit$2,500
23IRS Transcript Audit & Hidden Debt Mapping$1,800
24IRS/FTB Settlement & Offer in Compromise$6,750
25Fiduciary Form 1041 Oversight & Review$900
26Form 1099-S/B/R Preparation Logistics$720
27Cost Basis Research (Legacy Securities)$900
28Resolving Unfiled Decedent Returns (Per Year)$2,700
29Fiduciary Extension Filings (Batch)$360
30Final Estate Income Tax Clearance Prep$1,000
31Gift Tax Return Audit (Form 709)$1,000
32Foreign Asset Disclosure (FBAR) Audit$2,250
33Basis Step-up Calculation & Verification$720
34Capital Gains Exposure Analysis$1,350
35K-1 Distribution Logic & Timeline$900
36Review of Legacy Trust Tax Filings$1,250
37Form 706 Estate Tax Return Oversight$3,600
38State Tax Nexus Verification (Multi-State)$1,800
39Alternative Valuation Date Audit$750
40Tax-Specific Beneficiary Mediation$1,800
III

Stakeholder & Mediation

20 tasks · Conflict resolution & beneficiary management

IDTaskFixed Fee
41Hostile Heir Mediation (Per Session)$900
42Weekly/Bi-Weekly Client Status Reports$190
43Coordinating Heir Item Identification (On-Site)$1,250
44Pre-Litigation Dispute Resolution$2,700
45Heir Location & Genealogy Forensics$2,000
46Special Distribution Agreements$1,800
47High-Volume Beneficiary Correspondence$475
48Family Office / Trust Advisor Strategic Sync$1,350
49Heir Hardship Payment Review$500
50Partial Distribution Petition Coordination$1,000
51Facilitating Heir Visual/Site Inspections$750
52Conflict Resolution for Tangible Items$1,800
53Review of Heir Objections to Petitions$2,250
54Negotiating with Disinherited Parties$2,700
55Coordinating Legacy Advisor Meetings$750
56Managing Creditor Dispute Negotiations$1,250
57Responding to Attorney Demand Letters$1,800
58Educating Beneficiaries on Fiduciary Law$500
59Organizing Family Council Meetings$1,000
60Managing Undue Influence Claims (Evidence)$4,500
IV

Asset Liquidation & Property Management

20 tasks · Real property, personal property & financial asset disposition

IDTaskFixed Fee
61Mortgage/Utility Bill Pay Logistics$285
62Eviction/Squatter Removal Coordination$3,000
63Real Estate Agent & Listing Oversight$1,500
64Personal Property Estate Sale Logistics$950
65Vehicle Liquidation & DMV Title Work$380
66Managing Rental Properties & Lease-Ups$1,250
67Life Insurance/Retirement Claim Collection$1,080
68Asset Securement Audit (Monthly Pulse)$500
69Negotiating Real Estate Repair Credits$750
70Final Property Walk-through & Handover$190
71Junk Removal & Cleaning Oversight$475
72Appraisal Review — Art & Jewelry$750
73Real Estate Tax Reassessment Negotiation$1,800
74Commercial Asset Liquidation Strategy$3,600
75Mineral/Oil Right Verification & Sale$1,500
76Managing Stock/Brokerage Transfers$900
77Sale of Closely Held Business Interests$5,400
78Storage Facility Clear-out Management$380
79Verification of Hazardous Waste Removal$500
80Managing Reverse Mortgage Payoffs$1,250
V

Judicial Accounting & Closure

20 tasks · Court accounting through final discharge

IDTaskFixed Fee
81Form GC-400 Court Accounting Preparation$3,000
82Fiduciary/Attorney Fee Declaration Prep$1,250
83R.I.D.E. Narrative Fee Justification$1,800
84Responding to Judicial Probate Notes$1,350
85Court Hearing Attendance (Principal)$1,350
86Final Order for Distribution Prep$1,000
87Distribution Log & Receipt Reconciliation$760
88Final Discharge Petition (PC §12250)$500
89Final Bank Account Closure Logistics$285
907-Year Digital & Physical Archiving$750
91Preparation of Preliminary Accounting$2,000
92Responding to Contest to Accounting$4,500
93Judicial Notice Preparation & Service$380
94Coordinating with Probate Referee$750
95Reviewing Court Investigator Reports$900
96Supplemental Petition Drafting$1,000
97Coordinating Final Tax Refund Deposits$360
98Final Fiduciary Release Agreements$1,800
99Closing Bond Account & Filing Receipts$500
100Final Case Summary & Post-Mortem$750

All fees are fixed and published before the engagement begins. Fees for court-supervised matters are subject to court approval. The squad model delivers an optimized blended rate of $272.95/hr. Our Delegation Strike and AI integration have documented $17,216 in total fee reductions per standard 100-task estate.

California Probate Disclaimer: For California Probate (Decedent Estate) matters, ordinary compensation for the Personal Representative is governed by Probate Code § 10800 and is based on a statutory percentage of the estate’s value. This Fixed-Rate Task Catalog applies to Trust Administration and Extraordinary Services in Probate as defined by California Rules of Court 7.703. Extraordinary services include, but are not limited to, litigation, contested accountings, complex tax matters, asset recovery, and forensic investigation.

The Diagnostic-to-Apex Conversion Funnel

Your Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ score determines which service pillar applies to your estate.

Tier 1 — Awareness

Score 0–39

Educational resources + standard rate schedule. Straightforward estates with cooperative beneficiaries.

Tier 2 — Elevated

Score 40–69

Direct team outreach within 48 hours. Asana task created. Flat-rate task menu applies.

Tier 3 — Critical / Apex

Score 70–100

Forensic Restoration Apex™ presented. $18,500 flat fee. Asana task due next business day. Maine case ROI: 5.3:1.

Our Technology Advantage

Delivering faster results with uncompromising quality

Cyber Fiduciary OS™

Brown Management uses proprietary technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in estate administration. All work is performed under the direct supervision of licensed professionals, with human review and approval of all decisions. This technology allows us to deliver results 60% faster than traditional firms while maintaining the highest standards of care.

60%
Faster Results
9:1
Value Commitment
100%
Human Oversight

The Brown Management Difference

Exceptional value through innovation and expertise

Speed & Efficiency

  • 14-18 month timelines for most estates
  • Proprietary technology accelerates results
  • Streamlined processes reduce delays

Transparency & Trust

  • Clear pricing based on Complexity Score
  • Quarterly value reports show measurable outcomes
  • 9:1 value commitment documented and tracked

Expertise & Credentials

  • Licensed professional oversight (EA, CLPF #790)
  • Specialized team with advanced credentials
  • Court-approved methods and documentation

Innovation & Care

  • Data-driven decisions optimize outcomes
  • Personalized service for every client
  • Proactive communication keeps you informed

Our Commitment: Speed + Transparency + Expertise + Care

Apples to Apples

How We Compare to Every Alternative

There are four types of fiduciaries in California. Most families choose one by default. Here is what each option actually costs — and what they don’t tell you upfront.

👨‍👩‍👧

Family Member

Highest Hidden Risk
Upfront cost$0 + $3K–$8K legal setup
Annual cost ($500K estate)Unlimited liability
E&O insuranceNone
Published ratesNo
Surcharge exposurePersonal assets at risk

Courts can order family members to repay the estate out of pocket for errors. Attorney fees when disputes arise: $300–$500/hr.

🏛️

Public Guardian

Last Resort — LA County
Fee structure2.9%–16% of estate balance
Annual cost ($500K estate)Up to $14,500/yr
Cases per deputy50–200
Choice of fiduciaryNone — assigned
After-hours accessNo

Available only when no willing family member or private fiduciary exists. Government agency hours. Minimal individualized attention.

🏦

Bank / Trust Company

Corporate Fiduciary
Fee structure1%–2% AUM annually
Annual cost ($500K estate)$5,000–$10,000/yr
Minimum asset threshold$500K–$2M
Published ratesPartial
PersonalizationCommittee decisions

AUM fees compound over time. Add investment management, custody, and tax prep fees. High relationship manager turnover.

⚖️

CLPF Peers

Private Professional Fiduciary
Principal rate (LA market)$200–$495/hr
Annual cost (complex estate)$30,000–$80,000/yr
Fee capNone
Published ratesRarely
Billing methodHourly — no cap

Most do not publish rates. You receive the bill after the work is done. Minimum retainers: $1,500–$5,000.

BROWN MANAGEMENT
🛡️

Brown Management — The Transparent Standard

Licensed California Professional Fiduciary | CLPF #790

Rate Structure

Published. Fixed. Court-disclosed.

100-task Fixed-Price Catalog (TVS-weighted)

Strategic Rate: $495/hr (SVU-triggered XO only)

Minimum Threshold

None.

No AUM percentage. No asset minimum. Every family qualifies.

High-Conflict Estates

$18,500 flat fee

Forensic Restoration Apex™ — no hourly surprises

E&O Insurance

✅ Yes

Published Rates

✅ Always

Court-Disclosed

✅ PC §§10800–10801

Asset Minimum

✅ None

Fee Cap Option

✅ Flat-fee available

CategoryAnnual Cost ($500K Estate)Published RatesAsset MinimumKey Risk
Family Member$0 + unlimited liabilityNoNonePersonal liability; no insurance
Public GuardianUp to $14,500/yrNoNone (assigned)50–200 cases/deputy; no choice
Bank / Trust Co.$5,000–$10,000/yrPartial$500K–$2MAUM compounds; impersonal
CLPF Peers$30,000–$80,000/yrRarely$1.5K–$5K retainerNo cap; unpredictable
Brown ManagementPublished. Predictable.✅ AlwaysNoneCourt-tested. Court-disclosed.

Statutory Authority

Every Fee Is Grounded in California Law

Our billing architecture is not based on industry custom or market rates. It is anchored to specific sections of the California Probate Code.

Common ObjectionStatutory DefenseAuthority
"Why hire BPM? Do taxes yourself."A fiduciary has a duty to delegate functions a prudent person would delegate. Not hiring expert tax counsel is the breach.PC §16007 / §16047
"$495/hr is too high."The $495/hr Strategic Rate is SVU-triggered \u2014 it activates only for extraordinary services. Compensation is based on difficulty, skill required, and documented value delivered (tracked across 5 SVU categories), not time.PC \u00a710801 / \u00a715681
“Delegation to BPM is abdication.”Delegation to a qualified expert is prudence, not abdication. The fiduciary retains oversight responsibility.PC §16006
“I want a cheaper fiduciary.”The standard of care is competence, not cost. “Cheap” fails the prudent-person test.PC §16040

The Defensive Script

"I don't bill the estate $495 per hour to type numbers into a tax form \u2014 that work is priced through our Fixed-Price Catalog. The $495 Strategic Rate activates only when extraordinary conflict demands forensic intervention. I bill for the strategic oversight that ensures every return is correct, timely, and defensible \u2014 and I hire a Top-50 national CPA firm to do the preparation because that is what a prudent fiduciary does under California law."

This response addresses the four most common fee objections in a single statement: rate justification, delegation authority, institutional partnership, and statutory compliance.

2026 Market Intelligence

How We Compare: LA/OC Fiduciary Rates

Based on current fee schedules from statewide and local Southern California firms.

Role TierStatewide AverageLA/OC PremiumBrown Management
Principal (CLPF)$175\u2013$350$300\u2013$400$495 (SVU Strategic Rate)
Senior Case Lead$125\u2013$175$175\u2013$295$250
Admin / Logistics$85\u2013$125$115\u2013$180$95
Expert Witness$400\u2013$550$500\u2013$750Included (EA/CLPF)

$101,852

Pre-optimization total fees (100 tasks)

$84,636

After Delegation Strike + AI migration

$17,216 saved

Per estate \u2014 17% total fee reduction through squad optimization

Sources: Professional Fiduciaries Bureau fee schedules, TAD Executive Fiduciary, PF Services (Los Angeles), and local CLPF rate disclosures. Rates current as of April 2026.

Structural Efficiency

The Architecture Behind the Savings

Three metrics that prove our squad model is not just cheaper — it is structurally superior.

$1,898.75

Technology Dividend

Fees removed by AI-powered automation. These are hours that were deleted entirely — not shifted to a cheaper human, but eliminated from the estate's bill.

26%

Principal Loading

You only pay for the Architect when you need an Architect. 74% of case hours are delegated to lower-cost specialist tiers. Compare to 100% loading at a solo fiduciary.

PC §16040

Certified Architecture

Our billing model is designed to meet the California Probate Code §16040 Standard of Care. Every delegation decision, every AI migration, and every rate assignment is defensible under judicial review.

Interactive Tool

Estimate Your Technology Dividend

See how our squad model and AI integration translate into real savings for your estate.

Estimated Estate Value

Select the range that best describes the estate

Your Projected Savings

Total Fee Reduction

$17,216

17% less than pre-optimization fees

Technology Dividend

$1,899

Fees eliminated by AI automation

100

Est. Tasks

$272.95

Blended Rate

26%

Principal Loading

Pre-optimization$101,852
After optimization$84,636

Get a task-level fee proposal tailored to your estate within 48 hours.

Estimates based on the Brown Management squad-weighted billing model. Actual fees depend on case complexity, court requirements, and scope of services. All fees subject to court approval for supervised matters. Blended rate of $272.95/hr vs. $300/hr local solo fiduciary average.

In compliance with 2026 California Professional Standards (AB 1939, AB 586), Brown Management maintains a public, tiered fee schedule. We utilize a squad-weighted billing model to ensure that estates are only billed for high-level forensic expertise when required, maintaining a project-wide blended rate that remains market-competitive while providing institutional-grade results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate my Complexity Score?

Your Complexity Score is calculated by the Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ — 8 risk-weighted questions covering heir conflict, missing assets, jurisdictional complexity, prior fiduciary misconduct, asset liquidity, litigation exposure, estate value, and urgency. Each answer is weighted by severity and normalized to a 0–100 scale. Your score determines your engagement pillar: Statutory (0–39), Performance (40–69), or Apex (70–100).

What determines whether I pay hourly, AUM-based, or statutory fees?

The fee structure depends on your service type: Conservatorships use hourly billing only. Trusts use either AUM-based fees or hourly rates, whichever is higher. Probate uses California statutory rates. Your Complexity Score determines which pillar you fall into, and the pillar determines your fee range within that structure.

What is the minimum monthly advance for trusts?

For trusts and estates, we require an $800 minimum monthly advance, reconciled annually against the actual fee (either hourly or AUM-based, whichever is higher). Conservatorships are billed hourly only with no minimum advance.

What's the difference between liquidating and ongoing trusts?

Liquidating trusts are settled within 14-18 months (selling assets, paying debts, distributing to beneficiaries). Ongoing trusts continue indefinitely (managing assets for minor children, special needs, or multi-generational wealth). Ongoing trusts have lower AUM rates because the relationship is long-term.

What if my case becomes more complex during the engagement?

We re-run the Sovereign Case Diagnostic™ at each major case milestone — typically quarterly or when a material event occurs (lawsuit filed, asset discovered, fiduciary removed). If your score crosses a pillar threshold, we discuss any fee adjustment in advance. Our goal is always transparency and predictability.

How do you prove your 9:1 value-to-fee ratio — documented across five SVU categories?

We track the value we create across 5 Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU) categories: Cost Reduction, Revenue Generation, Risk Mitigation, Time Savings, and Relationship Enhancement. We provide quarterly IMPACT Reports that detail the SVU delivered in each category — the quantified basis for our 9:1 value-to-fee ratio. Each SVU entry also serves as court-admissible evidence of measurable benefit to the estate, the evidentiary foundation for extraordinary compensation petitions under California Probate Code §10801. Try our interactive Value-to-Fee Calculator at /elias-ratio to see how the ratio applies to your situation.

Do you charge for consultations?

No. The Fiduciary Risk & Complexity Assessment and initial consultation are completely free. You only pay when you decide to engage us.

What is an XO fee — and how is it different from my standard fee?

Brown Management charges a single published rate regardless of case complexity. Your base fee covers routine administration: managing accounts, filing court accountings, distributing assets, paying bills. It is predictable, disclosed upfront, and based on your service type — hourly for conservatorships, AUM-based for trusts, or statutory under California Probate Code §10800 for probate. An XO fee — short for extraordinary compensation, also called a Documented Completion Bonus — is a court-approved performance bonus for work that goes significantly beyond routine administration. The distinction is simple: base fees are ongoing and billed periodically for expected work. XO fees are earned at case milestones and paid only after court approval for extraordinary results. Under our unified rate model, extraordinary services are petitioned based on additional hours at the same published rate — not rate escalation. Every XO petition we file is supported by a Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU) IMPACT Report — a five-category evidence package quantifying the measurable benefit delivered to the estate. In Estate of Alice Maine (PROVA2300073), our $15,000 engagement recovered $80,000 in diverted assets, supporting a court-approved extraordinary compensation award. The XO fee is not a surprise. It is disclosed in your engagement agreement, triggered only by documented extraordinary results, and approved by the court before it is paid.

Transparent Billing for Every Audience

Whether you're a family navigating estate administration or a professional making a referral, our billing model is designed for complete transparency and peace of mind.

For Families

From Financial Anxiety to Financial Clarity

No surprises. Ever. Just predictable fees and measurable value.

Watch: How We Deliver Predictable Fees & Measurable Value (4 min)

Complexity Score

Your financial fingerprint determines a predictable budget range

85/15 Rule

85% AI handles routine work, 15% human experts focus on strategy

9:1 Value Ratio

For every $1 in fees, we create $9 in tangible value for you

Calculate yours →

Real-World Example: Estate of Alice Maine

A hostile heir had diverted $160,000+ in estate assets. Brown Management’s forensic documentation recovered the full amount, saved $47,000 in unnecessary legal fees through task-based billing, and achieved court approval on the first submission. Total documented value: $207,000 against $39,000 in fees — a 5.3:1 ratio in a single case.

Read the full case study →
For Professional Partners

De-Risk Every Referral

That pit in your stomach after handing off a client? Gone.

Watch: How We Protect Your Reputation Through Transparent Billing (6 min)

1

Complexity Score (CLS)

Objective scoring slots cases into clear fee tiers—price certainty from day one

2

Task Value System

Fixed prices for all standard tasks—no billing for inefficiency

3

Strategic Value Unit™ (SVU)

High-impact work quantified and pre-approved before execution. Each SVU entry documents measurable estate benefit — the evidentiary basis for extraordinary compensation (PC §10801) and the foundation of the 9:1 value-to-fee ratio — documented across five SVU categories.

4

RIDE Framework

Legal backbone justifying every dollar (Responsibility, Intensity, Danger, Effect)

Beyond Judicial Rebuke (BJR)

Our immutable audit trail records every decision and its rationale, creating pre-built legal armor that protects the fiduciary, the client, and most importantly—you.

Get Your Complexity Score in 24 Hours

Schedule your free Fiduciary Risk & Complexity Assessment to receive your Complexity Score and transparent fee estimate

Fee Comparison Calculator
Compare our fixed-price model against traditional hourly billing

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every estate, trust, and conservatorship is unique. The recoveries, ratios, and outcomes referenced on this page are from specific cases with specific circumstances. Your results will depend on the facts and complexity of your individual matter.