In re Hitchcock
In re Hitchcock
Opinion of the Court
The attorneys’ petition for allowance of fees for services to the bankrupt itemizes their services as follows:
Preparing petition of bankrupt to be adjudged such, with six schedules and affidavits, and advising re the same.
Attendance in court when such petition was granted, and order granting same.
Preparing bankrupt’s petition for discharge and affidavit and attendance in court when same was granted.
The petition alleges that no fees for such services have been paid.
As this provision recognizes reasonable fees paid by the expectant voluntary bankrupt to attorneys for services in proceedings for adjudication, the court may certainly recognize such services not previously paid for by allowing reasonable fees therefor.
Under this view the first two items may be regarded as being of assistance to the bankrupt and beneficial to the estate especially as regards the correct preparation of the schedules. The item of services in preparing the order of adjudication' is evidently erroneous as such orders are always prepared in the clerk’s office. The other items, preparing bankrupt’s petition for discharge and affidavit and attendance in court at the hearing thereof, are allowed, such items being recognized by the authorities in involuntary cases. These services may be regarded as routine matters for an attorney, there being no contest. In view of the small amount of assets in this case, I consider a fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars is - reasonable and sufficient, which is allowed.
Under the trustee’s petition for allowance of attorney’s fees, the trustee is entitled to reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of his duties. General Order No. 35, div. 3. I consider that these items are in the nature of professional services and that such services were necessary for the best administration of the estate and I allow therefor a fee of thirty-five ($35.00) dollars.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN THE MATTER OF H. R. HITCHCOCK, A BANKRUPT
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Attorneys’ fees for services to voluntary ’bonkruyl: Attorneys’ fees for services to voluntary bankrupt, consisting of assistance to the bankrupt in the preparation of petition for adjudication and .schedules and attendance at hearing, also preparation of petition for discharge and attendance at hearing, allowed as entitled to priority. Attorneys’ fees for services to trustee: Attorneys’ fees for services rendered to trustee allowed as reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of his duties and as entitled to priority.