COST OF AN ESTATE PLAN
Why Cost Matters
As you can imagine, I get the question “how much does an estate plan cost” quite frequently.
And, it is a good question that I want to answer for you as clearly as I can, given that there is not a “one-size-fits-all solution” for every family, and I would run quickly away from any lawyer who can tell you exactly what your plan would cost via email or over the phone, without a comprehensive discovery process.
Shopping Based on Price
You see, this is exactly why most estate plans fail. Families shop around based on price (because they don’t know any other way to shop for an estate plan).
Shopping for an estate plan based on getting the lowest cost plan possible is the fastest path to leaving your family with a useless set of documents (maybe in a beautiful binder, but not worth the paper they are written on) that will not actually work for your family when they need it.
I am sure you have heard the saying, "you get what you pay for." When it comes to estate plans, this is so true. With a cheap plan, the upfront cost might be little, but the cost, in the end, will likely be far more than the upfront cost of a moderately-priced plan that actually works when you need it.
You get what you pay for, but sadly it will likely be your family that pays the price after you are gone.
Unfortunately, I see the negative effects of cheap estate planning when family members come to me during a time of grief with that fancy binder that sat on the shelf for years sending out signals of false security, full of out-of-date estate planning documents, and find themselves stuck in court or conflict, even though that is exactly what their loved ones thought they had paid someone to handle for them.
This is not a documents-only firm.
At our firm, you pay for expert guidance and support that will be around for you and your loved ones throughout all stages of life (even when you are no longer around) — the documents themselves are included with that service.
Prices at the Intersection of Affordability and Effectiveness
In the meantime, here’s what I can assure you:
I've priced estate planning services for you and your family at the intersection of affordability and effectiveness.
I start all plans with a Family Wealth Planning Session ($750 value), which is designed to get you more financially organized than you have ever been before, and ensure that no matter what happens, none of your hard-earned assets will be lost to the state because your loved ones didn't know where to look, when something happens to you.
I Will Educate You So You Can Shop Based on Desired Outcomes Instead of Price
Even if you never do any planning with me, the Family Wealth Planning Session alone is a hugely valuable process for you and your family, because you will create a full inventory of your assets and ensure your family knows what you have.
Then, when we meet, we will review everything you own, and discuss everyone you love, and you will understand exactly what would happen to everything you own and everyone you love, in the event of your death or incapacity.
If you do not have a plan, I will cover the plan the state has for you. If you do have a plan, I will review your current plan with you.
If you are not happy with your current plan (or the plan the state has for you), you will tell me what you would want to change, and I will look at the most effective, efficient, and affordable way to achieve your goals.
You Choose Your Fee Based On Your Budget and Needs
Here is the most important part for you to know: you will be making informed, educated, empowered decisions for the people you love, not just shopping around based on price.
And the best part is that as part of this process, you will actually choose your own fee based on your budget and the planning options that are most important to you and your family. There truly is no one-size-fits-all choice.
I have created a process, though, to educate you quickly and effectively so that you can make empowered, informed choices about what you want for the people you love so that you aren't simply choosing the cheapest option because you don't have any other basis for making your decisions.
