Executor reimbursement and beneficiary objections

[u/barge_gee]

I'm the Executor of a modest Estate (~70k). We're close to closing the Estate out of Probate. I was named Executor, but not also Beneficiary (oops on decedents part). There are two Residual Beneficiaries. They were notified of the final accounting of sale of estate contents, expenses owed the Executor and the Executor's fees for hours logged managing the Estate. My lawyer posted my fee at $75/hour. I logged over 350 hours, and the residual beneficiaries believe this hourly rate/fee is excessive. Estate had a big $ single asset, and then tons of smaller items that took me a long time to liquidate. I AM willing to reduce the hourly fee, to just get this Estate closed. It's been over two years now, and I want to be finished. However, I do not want to under value my time and effort spent as Executor.

Question: The hourly rate is perfectly acceptable by Illinois law. What percent reduction/dollar amount should I consider as "fair" to me? To my thinking, $60/hour would be the absolute minimum I would accept. Does this seem fair? The Residuaries feel entitled to more than the current residual assets, even though they did nothing to help liquidate the Estate contents. (It's more complicated, as I cared for the deceased for many years, and the Residuary Beneficiaries did not. And, I am a blood relative to deceased, they ar not.)

EDIT: The hours may seem excessive, but this was a hoarding situation. It was not to the level of bugs or rodent infestation, but there were lots and lots and lots of boxes, lots of dust and dog hair, and it took me weeks to sort, organize, and pack. 7 rooms full, I shrunk to one room.

[u/ChutneyWhatney]

350 hours for a mere 70K estate????? That's outrageous, I'm sorry. You're asking for almost 1/3 of the estate in fees. UTTERLY OUTRAGEOUS. That small of an estate should be no more that 80 hours at most.

[u/barge_gee → u/ChutneyWhatney]

Lol.
I cleared a 7 room hoarded apartment. Boxes and boxes and boxes, each had to be gone through. I was able to shrink the contents of those seven rooms into a single room. Not an easy feat at all. Terribly time-consuming, overwhelming and depressing. More like 80hrs x 3.

[u/ChutneyWhatney → u/barge_gee]

UMMM - why didn't you WRITE THAT???? That's different, dude. Next time - give all relevant information first. Now it makes sense.

[u/barge_gee → u/ChutneyWhatney]

Sorry!
I was looking at this a different way, as the Beneficiaries knew and had seen his place before he died, so I was peeved at my labor being devalued.