EstateCreditorMedicalServicesFrankRK.pdf

How a $173 Bill Turned Into Over $170,000 in Probate Cost.

When my husband passed away, I expected grief and loss—but not financial devastation. What began as a creditor claim of only $173.98 in unpaid medical expenses escalated into more than $170,000 in probate costs.

This case reveals a serious problem in the probate system: excessive fees that burden families and erode estates, even when the assets are small and the debts are minimal.

The Beginning: A Small Debt

My husband had excellent health insurance. It covered hospital and doctor bills, but it did not cover the full cost of ambulance transportation. The total ambulance bill was $1,138.47, with only $173.98 left unpaid. I received the bill at home and offered to pay it directly, but the personal representative told me I could not—everything had to go through probate.

The Probate Spiral

From there, the situation escalated. Once probate was opened, the personal representative became entitled to compensation and was permitted to hire attorneys and staff at the estate’s expense. I questioned this, since the estate assets belonged to me, the surviving spouse, and our two daughters.

The estate itself was simple, with only $2,863.50 in assets and one creditor. Yet the fees quickly surpassed the value of the estate many times over.

The Numbers Today

After three years, these are the amounts charged:

Personal Representative: over $47,000

Attorney for the Personal Representative: over $87,000

Special Magistrate/Judge: over $12,000

Guardian ad Litem Attorney: over $12,500

Appellate Attorneys (to defend the representative): over $15,000

A System in Need of Reform

This is not just about one family. It highlights a systemic issue: how probate procedures, combined with attorney and representative fees, can overwhelm estates and harm beneficiaries. Instead of protecting surviving spouses and children, the process can enrich third parties while draining the assets meant for families.

A Warning to Families

Families should approach the appointment of a personal representative or successor trustee with great care. A poor choice can lead to financial disaster, even in what should be a straightforward estate.

Probate is intended to provide order, transparency, and fairness. But as my experience shows, without safeguards against excessive costs, it can result in the very opposite—eroding trust in the system and punishing the very families it is supposed to protect.

My hope in sharing this story is to raise awareness and encourage reform. Probate should never turn a $173 debt into a $170,000 loss.

1. I-'ilin-r # 163577tr7S E-Filed 1212212022 *2:54:01 PM
CIRCUIT COURT, PNNEIIAS GSUNTY, FLORIDJ\
'
PRQBATE DIVI$ION
cASE NO.l2-010189-ES
IN RE: EETATH OF
Eec*ased
STATEMENTOF CLAIM
The undersign*d hereby presents for filing against the above-narned estate thi$ staternent of elaim and alleges:
1. The hasis fcr the claim is:
Smbula,rt$s"S$rvice,
22.-25&V1ilfr Vf25t22
2. The seQia$ security or tax identlfieatien srunnber of ttle c0airnant is: 5$-6CI0080e. and the nanne and address of the clain
is: Finellgs ecusttY ErnProenev Medieat ServicPs Authoritv {d.b.a. gunstar Paramedicsl
clo Jason C" Ester. Esq,,5 Court St. 6th Floor. Clearwater. FL 33756.
For more call 727 -464-3354.
3. The amount of the claim is:
4. The claim is not contingent.
5. The claim is not seeured.
173
gS
which arnount is now due and owing
Under pcnalties of periury, I declare that I have read the foregoing and the facts alleged are true, to the best of my knowledge
and belief.
Eated thls ?1" day of Dggsmbpr,2A22
nttorngf
fi
FBhl :.1 E&E lsFN : q&9516&
Jason C. Estcr, ts.C.$
Senlor A,ssistant eounty Attorney
315 Court Strcet, 6$t Floor
elearwater, FL 33756
(727)-4S4-3354
iester@pif ellascounty.orq
easrvice@,?inqlf ascqunty, qra
Signature of Claimant
Copy mailed to attorney for the Personal
Representative on
CLERK CIF THtr CIRCUIT COURT
by:
ww**
Cflairnant
MUST BE FILED
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DUPLICATE
FRANKilN ft K"WSFTIN Kt
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ff?EErX ilfiFIT.JELL&S IffUF,ITY EfuI5 [}/EIA SUf\ISTAR E ille,JEillPatient .31?.45$1.138.47 73.98
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Total Eharges: $1.31?.45
Total Eredits: $1.1 3S.47
TotalBalance: $173.98
Trip lrquiry for KURCHIF*SKI FRANKLIN
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3. EMERGENCY MEDICAL sERVICES
12490 Ulmerton Road
Largo, Florida33774
Run Number:
lnvoice Date:
Date of Transport:
22-2587100
09102t2022
07t25t2022
Tax lD:
596000800
NPI:
1679520571
Fttl+
tEfi
FRANKLIN R KURCHINSKI
969 SUNRISE DRIVHE
TARPON SPRINGS FL 34689
Patient Name: FRANKLIN R KURCHINSKI
FTom : I\4EASE COUNTRYSIDE HoSPITAL
TOI I\4ORTON PLANT HOSPITAL
000391
The ai'noui-rt indicated on this inr.'oice is the por"tion ycu are responsible for" relateC to this clairn. piease pay
in full or contact our office to arrange a payment schedule.
ChargeCode Description Payer Quantity Unit Price Payment Date Amount
40434
40425
CCT Base Rate
lvlileage per Loaded lr/ile
Payment - Check 65671
Payment - Check 65671
IVEDICARE PART B
MEDICARE PART B
'1.0
1 1.8
s113533
s177 12
08t29t2022
08129t2022
$762.84
$e3.1 3
($607.7e)
($74.20)
PLEASE PAY AMOUNT:
$173.98
Sunstar will file a claim with applicable insurance carriers on behalf of our customers.
Any repaining balance not covered by insurance is the responsibility of the customer.
***
DETACH THIS PORTION AND RETTIRN W]TH YOUR PAYMENT. THANK YOU.
X'!*
FOR YOUR SECURITY CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTED BY MAIL.
Credit card convenience fee - ALL credit card payments will be charged a minimum convenience fee of
g2.50 for each increment up to g100.00 paid.
Online payments for ambulance service are available at-http://www.pinellascounty.org/publicsafety/ambulance_billing.htm
or by calling our office at (721582-2009
PATIENT NAME
FRANKLIN R KURCHINSKI
INVOICE DATE
0910212022
AT/OUNT DUE
$173.98
RUN NUMBER
22-2587100
DATE OF TRANSPORT
07t25t2022
PLEASE PAY BY
10t02t2022
AMOUNT INCLOSED $
FRANKLIN R KURCHINSKI
969 SUNRISE DRIVHE
TARPON SPRINGS, FL 34689
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
SUNSTAR EMS
PO BOX 3'1074
TAI\4PA, FL 33631-3074
communications concernjnq di.sPuted gebts and inst:ruments tendered as full Fqtiqfaction of a disputed debt should be sent to the
followinq desionated address: SunstarAttn: A-aoiltinq credittontrol 12490 Ulmerton Road. Larqo. Flotida33774
**
Interested in minimizing future expenses?
**
Join the Sunstar FirstCare Membership plan.
For [Vlore information contact our office or visit
www. pi ne I I ascou nty. org/fi rstcare
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