In the first (planning) stage, we will gather information, discuss options for organizing and managing your affairs, and craft a plan that meets your objectives. You will receive an oral or written summary of the plan, including available options and the pros and cons of each. This stage usually involves the completion of a few simple forms, and one or two (sometimes more) meetings with an attorney, who will help you to explore your options and get clear on your goals.
In the second (drafting/execution) stage, we will create the documents necessary to implement your plan, review them together, and help you execute (sign) them. We will also go over the additional steps that you need to take to make the plan effective, such as changing beneficiary designations on insurance or retirement benefits, purchasing life insurance, or funding trusts. This stage usually involves two meetings: a review meeting, at which we will go over draft documents, and then allow you to take them home for further consideration, and a signing meeting. Rarely, these meetings are combined, if the plan is very simple or only one or two documents are needed. If your plan includes a trust that needs to be funded (i.e., to have assets re-titled in the name of the trust), we will consult with you a month or two after you sign your trust to review the funding process and provide any additional needed services. We - unlike many firms - include assistance with retitling assets and changing beneficiary designations, as part of the flat fee that we quote you for a complete trust plan.
When you have taken all of the steps necessary to put your plan in place, you move into the third stage, which is periodic review and adjustment of the plan. Your plan should be reviewed whenever there is a major change in your family situation, such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or death of a close relative, or a change in your financial circumstances (a large gain or loss of assets, or a change in the type of assets you own, such as a major purchase or sale of real estate). Finally, your plan should be reviewed every few years to ensure that it has not been affected by a change in the law. We have an optional Maintenance Program (for a low annual fee), which can help you to keep up with changes in the law, obtain free periodic consultations to review your plan, and receive discounts on any additional planning work that becomes necessary.
What will it cost? Plan Cost: In the simplest situations, we can usually provide basic planning documents (a simple but carefully drafted will, power of attorney, health care directive and 'living will'), and assistance in naming beneficiaries on your retirement accounts, life insurance and other 'pay on death' accounts, for a total cost of about $900 for an individual, or $1,400 for a couple. A basic revocable living trust plan (trust(s), pour-over wills, powers of attorney, health care documents, and some funding assistance) most often costs in the area of $2,900 for an individual, or $3,900 for a couple.
There is a $250 charge for the initial consultation, during which we will answer many of your questions about the planning process, the differences between wills and trusts, and other common questions. We will explain how trusts avoid probate, and what they can and cannot do for you and your beneficiaries.
After that consultation, there are two possible paths, depending on the complexity of your estate and other factors. In most situations, we will be able to quote you a fixed fee for the entire process at the end of your initial consultation (or different fees, for different options, such as a will-based plan or a trust-based plan). If you agree, we will proceed with the work necessary to put the plan in place (and credit your consultation fee toward the total fee for your plan). If you do not want to proceed immediately, but do elect to resume the planning process later, we will still credit your consultation fee toward any flat-fee planning work that we do for you.
However, in some more complex situations, we may decide that a substantial amount of work is required to analyze your situation and present options. In that case, we may quote you a flat fee for the initial planning work that we will do to analyze your situation and design an appropriate plan. That fee is usually $300-500, but can be more if your estate is complex or you are interested in certain asset protection or long-term care planning options. Upon payment of the planning fee, we will begin to analyze your situation in detail, research and evaluate possible planning options, and engage in further consultations to arrive at the best plan for you. The planning fee includes all telephone calls, meetings, written and e-mail correspondence, planning, research, and in some cases, the preparation of a written plan summary. The plan summary (whether written or oral) will set forth the firm's fees for preparation and execution of the necessary documents, and any other work that must be done to effectuate your plan. If you decide to proceed, your consultation fee and a portion of the planning fee may be credited toward further services. The amount credited depends on the amount of work performed in the planning stage.
Fees may be paid by cash, check or credit card. For fees over $1,000, we offer a 2% discount for payments by cash or check.
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