Statutory vs. Catalog Fee Disclosure
This document discloses how Brown Management calculates fees for fiduciary engagements. All fees are subject to court approval where applicable and are disclosed to prospective clients before any engagement begins.
Probate Statutory Compensation
For California Decedent Estate (Probate) matters, ordinary compensation for the Personal Representative and Attorney is governed by California Probate Code §10800. These rates are set by statute — Brown Management does not set or negotiate them.
| Estate Value Bracket | Statutory Rate |
|---|---|
| First $100,000 | 4% |
| Next $100,000 | 3% |
| Next $800,000 | 2% |
| Next $9,000,000 | 1% |
| Next $15,000,000 | 0.5% |
| Over $25,000,000 | Court-determined reasonable amount |
Example: For a $500,000 estate, statutory compensation is calculated as: ($100K × 4%) + ($100K × 3%) + ($300K × 2%) = $4,000 + $3,000 + $6,000 = $13,000. This amount is subject to court approval per PC §10801.
Trust Administration — AUM-Based Fees
For Trust Administration engagements, fees are calculated as a percentage of Assets Under Management (AUM). Rates vary based on whether the trust is being liquidated (distributed and closed) or administered on an ongoing basis.
| AUM Bracket | Liquidating Trust | Ongoing Trust |
|---|---|---|
| First $2,500,000 | 1.75% | 1.25% |
| $2,500,001 to $5,000,000 | 1.25% | 1.00% |
| $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 | 1.00% | 0.75% |
| $10,000,001 to $20,000,000 | 0.75% | 0.70% |
| Over $20,000,000 | 0.70% | 0.65% |
Example: For a $3M ongoing trust: ($2.5M × 1.25%) + ($500K × 1.00%) = $31,250 + $5,000 = $36,250/year, with a $800/month minimum advance reconciled annually.
Fixed-Rate Task Catalog — Extraordinary Services
Beyond statutory and AUM-based fees, Brown Management offers fixed-price engagements for Extraordinary Services as defined by California Rules of Court 7.703. These are complex, high-stakes tasks that fall outside ordinary administration.
$4,600
CLS Score 0–39
Standard Administration
$12,500
CLS Score 40–69
Estate Recovery Engagement
$18,500
CLS Score 70–100
Forensic Restoration Apex™
Important: 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.
Staff Rate Schedule
When hourly billing applies (conservatorships, extraordinary services billed by time), the following squad-weighted rates are used. The blended rate across all staff is $272.95/hr.
| Team Member | Role | Tier | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan Brown, CLPF #790 | Principal Fiduciary | Strategic | $495/hr |
| Sherwin Estonilo | Lead Financial Specialist | Tactical | $250/hr |
| Jan Alan Rosimo | IT & Technology Manager | Tactical | $250/hr |
| Josie Noriega | Executive Assistant, Client Success | Tactical | $150/hr |
| Latriesha Shelton | Executive Assistant, Client Success | Utility | $125/hr |
| Marwin Humilde | Financial Operations Specialist | Tactical | $150/hr |
| Alma Vidal | Senior Case Manager | Tactical | $225/hr |
Rate range: $125/hr–$495/hr. Squad-weighted blended rate: $272.95/hr. Tasks are assigned based on the Task Value Score™ (TVS) — a Complexity × Risk × Recovery Leverage formula.
Bond & Insurance
Fiduciary Bond
Fiduciary bonds sized to assets under management per California Probate Code §2320. Bond amounts are set by the court based on the value of assets under management in each case. Brown Management maintains fidelity bonds as required by the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Brown Management maintains $5M in Errors & Omissions insurance providing coverage for professional liability. This coverage is maintained continuously and is available for verification upon request.
Payment Terms
Annual Payment: Pay the full annual fee upfront.
Quarterly Payments: Pay 1/4 of the annual fee each quarter.
Monthly Advances: Minimum $800/month, reconciled annually against actual fee (hourly or AUM-based, whichever is higher).
All payment plans are discussed and agreed upon before any engagement begins. Fee arrangements are documented in the written service agreement provided to every client.
Regulatory Compliance
This disclosure is provided in compliance with California Business & Professions Code §6581 (Professional Fiduciaries Act — fee disclosure requirements) and California Probate Code §§10800–10811 (statutory compensation for personal representatives).
Brown Management is licensed by the California Professional Fiduciaries Bureau (License CLPF #790). All fees are subject to court approval where applicable. Extraordinary services compensation is subject to the court's determination of reasonableness per PC §10811.
For questions about this disclosure or to request a personalized fee estimate, please contact us or call (310) 928-0020.
Last updated: April 21, 2026. This document is for informational purposes and does not constitute a binding fee agreement. Actual fees are established in the written service agreement.