What can I expect at my first meeting?
On the day of your meeting, please expect to spend up one hour with your attorney. The initial meeting with your attorney has two purposes:
- To identify whether there is a good fit between you, our firm and the attorney; and
- To educate you about the law and what would happen if you died with your current (or no) plan in place.
By looking at what would happen under your current plan, you can identify what you would want to happen differently and then together with your attorney’s guidance make the decisions that are necessary to give you the peace of mind of knowing your family would be taken care of in the way you want if something happened to you.
Assuming that you and your attorney determine that there is a good fit between our firm and your family AND that you identify specific ways you would want things to happen that are different than what would happen if something happened to you, you and your attorney can design a plan for your family right away.
How long will the planning process take?
One of the most valuable things you can get out of the estate planning process is a more thorough understanding of your legal and financial life. We take time with you throughout to provide a healthy orientation and education so you can make good decisions. We’ve found that on average the process should take 8-10 hours, dispersed over 6-8 weeks. If you can give us 1-2 hours of your time per week, we’ll handle the rest! Once we get started, we won’t stop until it’s finished and you can rest easy that the work is done. No malingering or dilly-dallying.
How much does it cost to create my plan?
It varies depending on your family dynamics, assets, and goals. We charge flat fees, meaning that before your engage with us you’ll know exactly what it will cost. No hourly billing. No surprise charges for those extra phone calls.
How should I choose my guardians?
This is one of the most difficult decisions to make, but don’t let that stop you from putting a plan in place. Let a combination of knowledge and intuition drive your decision. Understand first that if you don’t choose a guardian, and one’s needed, then someone else (a judge) will choose – someone who doesn’t know your family or your preferences.
Click here to download the 7 Must Dos When Naming Guardians for Your Kids.
