Solo Practitioner vs. Larger Firm — What Actually Matters in a Florida Probate Case
Choosing who handles a probate case isn’t a cosmetic decision. It’s strategic. The wrong choice creates delays, communication failures, unnecessary fees, and mistakes that expose the personal representative to personal liability.
The truth is, solo probate attorneys and larger probate firms each have strengths and weaknesses — but most people pick blindly. They look at websites, reviews, or price tags without understanding how the size of the legal team changes the entire administration process.
Here’s the brutally honest breakdown of how to choose the right fit for your situation.
The Reality: Probate Is Either Simple… or a Minefield
Your choice depends on the complexity of the estate.
There are two categories:
1. Straightforward estates
- Valid will
- Cooperative heirs
- No real estate issues
- No creditor disputes
- No foreign assets
- No litigation
- Minimal conflict
2. Complex or high-risk estates
- Multiple properties
- Disputes among heirs
- Suspicious wills
- Business interests
- Foreign assets
- Debt issues
- Missing heirs
- Capacity/undue influence concerns
Your estate type determines whether a solo practitioner can handle the load or whether a multi-layered team is essential.
When a Solo Probate Attorney Is the Better Choice
1. The Estate Is Simple and Uncontested
A skilled solo attorney can move a clean estate through probate efficiently without unnecessary overhead.
You want:
- Direct access
- A predictable workflow
- Lower administrative complexity
2. You Want One Primary Point of Contact
With solos, you usually work directly with the attorney — not assistants, paralegals, or rotating staff.
If you need clarity and consistent communication, this matters.
3. Speed Isn’t Dependent on Large Teams
Simple estates don’t benefit much from a larger infrastructure.
One organized attorney can handle everything.
4. You Need Flexible Pricing
Solo practitioners often offer:
- Flat fees
- Hybrid pricing
- More control over costs
Larger firms rarely do.
5. You Prefer Personal Attention
Some clients want a personal relationship with the person handling the estate.
Solo attorneys are built for that.
Bottom line:
Solos excel at straightforward estates where individual attention beats a corporate structure.
When a Larger Estate Administration Firm Is the Better Choice
1. The Estate Has Multiple Moving Parts
High-value or conflict-heavy estates need a team. Larger firms bring:
- Probate attorneys
- Litigators
- Tax advisors
- Paralegals
- Title specialists
- Support staff
This matters when every week without progress costs real money.
2. There Are Heir Disputes or Will Contests
If conflict is brewing, a solo attorney is outgunned.
You need:
- Litigation support
- Resources for discovery
- Expert access
- Staff to manage deadlines
3. The Estate Has Real Estate Issues
Examples:
- Homestead complications
- Unclear title
- Investment property
- HOA/condo disputes
- Pending sales
Bigger firms handle these faster because they’ve seen them repeatedly.
4. There Are Tax Complications
Larger firms often have:
- In-house CPAs
- Tax attorneys
- Strategic planners
If the estate includes businesses, foreign assets, or high-value investments, tax mistakes become catastrophic.
5. The Personal Representative Needs Protection
A complex estate is a liability trap.
Larger firms provide protective redundancies and formal systems — the PR isn’t relying on one person’s bandwidth.
6. Tight Court Deadlines or Heavy Workload
When the estate demands motion practice, creditor negotiations, or litigation, a solo attorney may not have the capacity to keep pace.
Bottom line:
Larger firms are built for estates that require depth, speed, and multiple specialists.
Risks of Choosing Wrong
Risks of Choosing a Solo Attorney for a Complex Estate
- Missed deadlines
- Overwhelm
- Limited support
- Lack of litigation backup
- Slow response times during crunch periods
- Inability to coordinate tax, real estate, and dispute issues
If your estate is complex, a solo attorney without support may drown.
Risks of Choosing a Large Firm for a Simple Estate
- Overpriced services
- You become “just another file”
- Multiple handoffs
- Poor communication
- Unnecessary legal work
- Upcharges for tasks a paralegal could do
Simple estates don’t need an army — they need focus.
Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing
1. Who will be my day-to-day contact?
- Solo attorneys: usually themselves
- Firms: usually paralegals or assistants
Decide what communication style you want.
2. What happens if the case turns into litigation?
Some solos can’t litigate probate disputes.
Some large firms won’t touch contested matters.
You need clarity.
3. How many probate cases have you handled in the last year?
Experience beats marketing.
4. Who handles tax questions?
If the answer is “you’ll have to hire someone else,” evaluate whether that fits your needs.
5. What’s the pricing structure?
Many firms use percentage-based fees.
Solos may offer more flexible arrangements.
6. What’s your turnaround time for emails and calls?
Lack of communication is the #1 client complaint in probate.
Real Miami Example
A family in Doral hired a solo probate attorney for an estate involving:
- Two condos
- A rental property
- A business
- A sibling dispute
- Foreign-held assets
The attorney was competent but overwhelmed. Deadlines were missed, a creditor claim went unanswered, and the PR was nearly sued personally.
They switched to a multi-attorney probate firm, which:
- Filed missing objections
- Coordinated with a CPA
- Managed property valuations
- Brought in litigation counsel
- Closed the estate efficiently
Had they chosen the larger team from the start, the family would have saved months and tens of thousands of dollars.
Takeaways
- A solo probate attorney is ideal for simple, clean, uncontested estates needing personal attention and cost efficiency.
- A larger estate administration firm is better for complex estates, including those with disputes, tax issues, multiple properties, or high-value assets.
- The biggest mistake is choosing a firm based on marketing instead of matching the estate’s complexity to the team’s capacity.
- Ask hard questions about communication, expertise, litigation capability, and support staff before deciding.
Choosing the right legal structure isn’t about prestige — it’s about aligning the estate’s needs with the right level of horsepower.
