Ellis & Ellis

Avoid this attorney's office. Very little care or consideration is given to a loved one's estate. I've received poor legal advice and no help since my mother passed away. The family member who was originally supposed to be executor of my mother's estate ultimately declined the role. I had established contact with Ellis and shared my concern about the only family member left to take on the role. I explained that I lived 2,000 miles away, have a family, and live full time and wasn't sure that I could do it. I let Ellis know of these concerns on Jan. 7, 2022. He replied on the same date with this quote: "If there is no named Trustee the court could appoint an independent administrator. However, this is not recommended as it would mean that someone who has no connection to the family will have to sort through all of the issues." After this email, I wrongly assumed that the court system and the attorney would protect my mother's and father's assets and it would be okay. This was very poor advice. Any asset that does not have a legal document attached to it, does NOT exist. In other words, you can't steal a car because of the title. You can't steal bank accounts or life insurance policies. You can't steal a house. You CAN steal all of the assets in a house. I was told by many people that an inventory should've been created to track my mother's and father's possessions. My mother lived in her home for almost 50 years until she passed away. My father lived in the home for almost 40 years. Even my father's possessions were still in the house after he passed away as my mother didn't get rid of anything. Our agreement was that an auctioneer would clean out the house and sell my parents' possessions at auction. Then he would also auction the house. Ellis's email on March 11, 2022 indicated that this plan was moving forward, per these quotes from the email: "Unnamed person is proceeding with the process of selling the personal property in the house. This is necessary so that the house can be cleaned out and then sold. She has talked to the auctioneer that I recommended and he will take everything from the house and sell it at auction. If there are any personal items that have sentimental value to you I suggest you let her, or me, know as soon as possible so that they can be removed from the auction." He further assured me: "No one can distribute any asset in accordance with your mother's oral promises to ANY person unless she also put that promise in writing. This applies to life insurance, the car, the house, the personal property and whatever else she owned." The house was emptied and sold at auction, in the summer of 2022. All items in the house had disappeared. I let Ellis know that I did not receive my box of items, and the executor had multiple people in the house, who I assume also took items. The executor claimed there were no contents in the house to sell at auction, as we agreed upon. This would’ve been impossible. My mother’s home was fully functioning at the time of her sudden death. She had a fully functioning kitchen with small appliances, dishes, etc. Here are some things known to be in the house: large amounts of Avon jewelry and many other pieces of jewelry, a large collection of elephants, random Fenton pieces including a lamp, random decor, figurines, and collectibles, antique toy trains belonging to my grandfather kept in a display case, lots of Lionel trains belonging to my father, large amounts of Christmas decorations, furniture in multiple rooms, 1-2 sewing machines, an older Bose model stereo that was still used regularly, wedding china & silver, furniture, a Smart tv, another tv, an iPad, a newer modeled laptop, an iPhone, war memorabilia from my grandfather and my father. I am sure there are many other items as well, but these are things that I remember easily. In addition, a family member offered to have a collector / seller go out to the house to give an offer on the antique trains and my father’s Lionel trains, but the executor refused the offer.

Most helpful people I've ever met.

Very nice and helpful legal secretary Cheryl Gore, she was a huge help!

Easy to work with, great with clients.

Very nice man, very helpful!