Planning With Us
ESTATE PLANNING IS NOT FOR YOU- IT’S FOR THEM.
Let’s be frank. Creating an estate plan is primarily for the benefit of your loved ones. They are the ones who would be affected if you were to be hospitalized or worse. Your loved ones, the people and causes you care most about. Those people and causes are the face of your estate plan. The truth of the matter is that when your comprehensive plan is put into motion, it will be because you cannot be there for your family in the way you are now.
In that moment, your estate plan will serve as an extension of you.
And they won’t just be benefiting financially from your prepared plan. The benefits of an estate plan reach far beyond the financial plane. By ensuring that your estate plan is thought out, well-drafted, and properly executed, you are providing your loved ones with peace of mind during some of life’s most difficult moments. Those moments where you can no longer speak for yourself and your family must now manage your affairs on your behalf in hopes that they are doing right by you.
A Special Note for Parents
“If something happened to me, what would happen to my children?”
A question considered by all parents. And although it’s impossible to predict the details of what your child’s life would be like that in that scenario, an estate plan can ensure that your children are taken care of by the people you trust. It can ensure that your hard earned money and estate is preserved in your children’s best interest. It can ensure that your values, insights, and parenting beliefs are passed on. It can ensure that your children are safe from unnecessary and traumatic legal proceedings.
PLANNING FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Are you or your child a college student or high school grad? If so, it’s time to talk legal planning. Reaching adulthood comes with both freedom and responsibility. Legal planning will help you rest easy.
Good Things To Know
How much does an Estate Plan Cost?
It depends! Packages range from $500 to a few thousand depending on what you need and value. The right question to ask is “What do I really need to have in place to ensure me, my family and money are cared for the way I want?”.
While you can get cheap wills or canned documents from a DIY kit or the dreaded legal zoom, you don’t know what you are actually setting in motion. On the other hand, a good estate planning attorney will provide documents with expertise and service.
An accurate quote can only come once we have discussed your values and where you stand on certain issues after you have been educated on how certain estate planning tools actually work. This is pretty much the only way to make an informed decision with cost factors in mind. The final decision on which plan (and price) you use is ultimately up to you! We only offer plans that are customized to the specific needs and wants of your family.
Know that we charge for advice, guidance, counsel, and support. The documents are simply the end result!
"I don't have anything valuable to plan for."
We hear this a lot from people who don’t consider themselves “rich” or financially wealthy. But the notion that estate planning is only for the financially well-off is a grave (pun intended) misconception!
Do you own a home? Do you have a bank account or retirement account? Do you have a life insurance policy? Do you have jewelry or unique assets? Do you have children? Do you have pets? Do you have interesting family dynamics?
If your answer to any of the above is “yes” – then you need an estate plan! Say you don’t have many assets but you own your home. What will happen to that home when you are no longer here? Will your children agree on what to do with it? Without planning they would technically be “partners” in owning the home. How would that work out? There are many questions and scenarios to consider. That is just with ONE asset.
Simply put, anyone with family, friends, loved-ones, or charitable causes they are passionate about needs an estate plan. No matter the monetary value of their estate.
When do I need to make a plan?
Now!
An estate plan includes many important documents including health care directives which lay out medical decisions you make in advance in case you are in an accident or for whatever other reason cannot speak for yourself. This allows you to take the burden of making difficult choices off of your loved ones in an emotional or emergency situation.
Estate plans also include powers of attorney which can allow someone you trust to step in on your behalf in any situation where bills must be paid or documents signed in your absence. Say for example your car gets towed while you are out of the country. Only the title holder or their power of attorney can sign documents to retrieve it!
So regardless of the value of your assets, an estate plan will work to alleviate stress and pain for your loved ones in emergencies and unexpected circumstances.