My step mother took my father's money before he died

I would say $10,000 OR 25% would be more typical than both. That is, an attorney wants to receive compensation and thus they often will agree to an hourly representation (where the $10,000 would come into play) or a contingency fee (where the 25% would come into play).  If they are asking for both then I would imagine the facts of the case are not real strong. I would encourage you to get a second or third opinion just to make sure you are in the right fee range. It's hard to know without more facts. Plus, remember different attorneys can charge greatly different amounts and that doesn't mean one is a "better deal" than the other. Things like experience and credentials are worth A LOT of money in most cases. Good luck to you.  -John