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They may not be scammers but they are vultures who swoop down on a dead body and try to pick away a third of it before the rightful claiments get to it.

Yes they do, first it was allegedly my father, then it was allegedly my mother.

You first told me it was my father, then it was my mother.  Now that's what I call carefull and precise work.

Do you really think they're going to waste their time on an estate as small as $1000?

We all know how altruistic lawyers are, that's why they enjoy such a sterling reputation. What is the smallest estate Kemp will persue $100,000; $200,000 ?  In my case they sent me a letter stating the estimated value of the estate.  How can they know this without trampling on someone's privacy rights ?  Is this what passes for high ethical standards in the legal profession ?  Would Kemp be as eager to help if the estate in question was only worth $2000.00 ?  Resistance is futile !

SYCOPHANT !

Sychophant !

The vultures are still circling the body.  I just got a call from a cousin sying that she and several other cousins had been contacted by our friends at Kemp % Associates with regard to the death of my mother.  It's really comforting to know that they are making sure that the right person gets the inheritance.  They seem to be taking a scatter gun approach to finding somebody greedy and gullable enough to give them a third of whatever the estate may be worth.  This is how concerned they are about you folks, take a lesson from this case.  Their latest letter informed me that my mother had died.  Nothing like insulting someone's intelligence to make them want to do business with them.

My mother had been dead for over six weeks when the good people at Kemp & A$$o$iates contacted me about it.  It seems that the local public administrator filed the inventory on the estate two days before the first contact. It was only after they had a feel for what their third of the estate was worth that they became so concerned that I get (their) my share of the estate.  Take a warning from this people. Check the timing of their contacts versus court docket postings,  in my stste they are available on-line.  These vultures don't get concerned for your welfare intil they know it will be worth their time.  They probably have hearse chasing lawyers on the payroll in every state that monitors probate court postings and flags them whenever an estate of suitable value is available.

Enron was a legitimate company too.  And Bernie Madoff was a legitimate businessman.

My mother received a letter that said they normally call first, but had trouble reaching her, yet there had been no messages on her machine. Then 2 days later they do call her...a lie in first paragraph of their letter. Their website is meaningless talks more about the site than providing menaingful information--who cares how many states their employees hail from? Their site shows a Florida PI license number--it is expired. Their site shows the prestigious Martindale-Hubble directory logo, yet I have not been able to find any name associated with Kemp listed as an attorney, nor is K&A listed as company in the M-H directory. My mothr is in her late 70's and this claim supposedly arises from her grandparents?? In only the most remote possibility would state laws on dormant taxes and escheat have not already extingusihed any claim she might have from her grandparents. Could they be legit? Maybe, but if I can't say so confidently, then the answer is NO.

You make some excellent points and provided more useful information.  I hope other users of this sight will learn from your research.

I have researched further since my prior post. I spoke to Kemp & Associates. I challeneged them on the issues in my prior post. I also asked for references of attys who have done work for them here in my state where it is easier for me to cross check attys reputation. Without hesitation they promptly provided a reference in Dallas and San Antonio. I used to practice in SA, so I called aan old partner to ask about the atty named by Kemp. My trusted friend spoke highly of the atty used by Kemp. I then called that atty. He confirmed that his first encounter was years ago when Kemp contacted his own dad and he, too had ben skeptical. It turned out to be a legit deal involving an intestate great uncle. Since then, he has been the atty of record on several cases worked by Kemp and he finds them to be professional and honest in their dealings with him. I the called the Dallas atty. He has worked on Kemp cases for 15 years and likewise finds them a reliable outfit. I then went back to the Florida private investigator licensing agency. I was able to confirm that their website does have a glitch on the K&A license number and was told of an alternative way to check agency records; the K&A Florida p.i. license is valid. Finally, as to the Martindale Hubble matter. Buried deep in the M-H site is a "courtesy listing" for K&A but you have to use the ampersand, not "and" to look up the name. (My mistake.) The listing contains nothing more than directory info--no ratings or other info. On balance, I now conclude that K&A is a legitimate company. Thier website is in great need of an overhaul and they must pay better attention to that publci face of their company. K&A says they in fact will roll out a new more helpful and updated website in the next couple of months. I called my folks this afternoon and told them that if they desire to accept K&A's offer, then I have no rational basis to object or be any more concerned than in other business transaction. The 1/3 assignment seemed a bit high, but it is probably reasonable in light of the fact that they also pay atty fees and costs out of that percentage.  I seldom flip flop, and confess I started with a strong bias of skeptism, but I do keep turing stones to make sure I have as much of the story as possible and not just work on bias, fear of the unknown, etc. In this case, the additional information was persuasive.

Is it legitimate if they wait until the value of an estate has been determined by the probate court and they decide if the estate is big enough for them to persue ?  I'll bet they don't look out for the best interests of heirs if the estate is only $5000.  This kind of action may pass for ethics in the legal profession but amoung honest people it's more like ambulance chasing.

Do you consider it to be an ethical and totally honest practice to notify someone of a death in their family, tell them that they may be entitled to a piece of the estate,  demand a third of such estate for their services; and not inform that person that they have the option of not availing themselves of the public administrator in the deceased's jurisdiction who will handle said estate for a good deal less?

1. That is not the experience our family had with the company.
2. In Texas there is no such thing as a "public administrator" so that is not an option here.
3. Does a thinking adult really need to be told he/she has the right to hire a lawyer of their own choosing to help them with a legal claim? You must not watch much tv or ever look at the yellow pages.
4. As I explained, the 1/3 fee did seem high at first, but that includes all of their litigation costs and atty fees. In that light it is reasonable, in my opinion.
5.  Another person was irked that they only work on cases where a significant sum may be at stake. Isn't that their right--to work with clients of their choosing, where there will be a reasonable chance to get paid? The last time I checked, a carpenter, mechanic, accountant, or painter typically agress to put their labor into my problem only when they have a deal with me to get paid, and if there isn't, then they either decline their services or may do a charity act. That is our economic system. If you don't like K&A contacting you about a potential claim or estate, and their offer to do the work necessary for you to recover 66%, then just ignore them....you don't have to ascribe evil to the company. Go find some facts about the company like I did, rather than wallow in self pity, paranoia, and greed over not wanting to share the claim to which they alerted you. There are still some good people, honest companies, and good fortune in this world. Blessings to you.

Thank you for the in depth psycoanalysis.  I didn't know psychiatry was taught in law schools.  And isn't the purpose of this sight to be critical of this company?  Except for the people that work for them almost everyone is not pleased.  The craftsman that you refer to don't come swooping down on you in a time of greef wanting a third of everything you have in order to do work for you.  And insults are the refuge of the incompitent.

so if you hear from them?  is there really and estate?  and how much do they waste their time on? is the amount worth pursuing or is it safe to assume it could be peanuts.

Our family had a positive experience with Robert Barrett from Kemp and Associates.  It is my belief that we would not have been informed without him contacting us.

Allan Anderson

THEY ARE CROOKS.