For many people, avoiding probate is a good idea. A recent controversy about state laws now provides yet another reason for doing so through careful estate planning. A recent article about California estate administration laws brought up an interesting Catch-22 in the process of administering a disabled or elderly person's estate. In California, unlike most other states, the law allows attorneys who are appointed by the court as trustees of the estate to bill hours spent defending their fees against when the amount of the fees is challenged. The rule has been applied even when the fees are challenged by the beneficiary of the estate. State lawmakers have now assigned a task force to investigate and, if necessary, change California estate administration law.