If for litigation, i.e. court proceedings, then it is subjective. Different law firms will charge you differently. So it is not based on the value of the property or the work hours required for the whole process.

If for conveyancing, i.e. transfer of property, then in Semenanjung, there is the SRO 2005 which regulates a fixed scaled based on the price of the property. If it is a transfer pursuant to a will, then it would be based on the market price. This is set by the Bar Council.

Am not sure as to the scaled fees in Sabah. Perhaps you can call the Sabah Law Association, whcih governs advocates and solicitors in Sabah.

With regard to your comment on how it doesn't make sense to you if they charge on the value of the house when the procedure is the same, let me explain to you the basis for it - the higher the price, the higher the risk it is for the lawyer doing the work. If things go wrong, then the lawyer would be sued for that higher amount. What if you act in person. You bear that same higher risk. When you appoint a lawyer, you pass the risk to the lawyer. As such, the higher the risk, the higher the remuneration must be.

That is the logic for it. 

Just get another quotation from another law firm. It's a free world and I'm sure there's many other lawyers in your town/city. Am sure you can get one who can do the work for much less (since your priority is low legal fees). You can keep on going until you find a lawyer who can match your budget.

Good luck. 

Grant of Probate is a document which empowers the executor to deal with the estate of a person who died leaving a will.

Dealing with the estate would mean dealing with the properties, monies, belongings and also to cover debts, liabilities as provided for in the will.

I do not understand how in your case, the lawyer purportedly transferred all the properties without the Grant of Probate being first obtained from the Court? That should've been the first thing done.

Boss, was there a will or not?

If got will - Grant of Probate. No will - letters of admin (LA).

Both require going to Court to obtain an order. Both require a lawyer to be appointed to prepare it.

LA is more complicated than probate as all the beneficiaries need to repudiate their claim to be the administrator (same function as an executor explained earlier). The administrator will administer the estate accordingly once the order has been given.

Go back to the lawyer again and ask what was done. Did you pay fees? What did you pay for?

Are you in Semenanjung or Sabah/Sarawak? Because there is no such concept of "grant of letter of administration with will annexed" in S'jung.

If got will - GoP. If no will - LA.

How can LA with will annexed? 

Anyway, my suggestion is to get this copy of the LA from the lawyer since 10k has been paid to obtain it. If nothing is done - complain!