Why are we paying a probate attorney?

My father-in-law recently died as a result of his nursing home care, so we are in the process of suing the facility. His wife, my mother-in-law is the plaintiff. He left her all assets in his will, her name is on the house title, and we know that the estate will come back clean from its Colorado-required probate process. Our attorney hired a third-party probate specialist to handle that part of the process, but that third party's fee schedule, a contingent agreement, is 10% of any award my mother-in-law wins! The value of the estate is not part of the suit, nor is the probate attorney assisting with the case itself. Is that 10% fee schedule normal? Why would they be entitled to a large chunk of a settlement or award from a wrongful death suit?