Our Process 

We believe it is important to get to know our clients on their terms. For this reason, we have structured our firm to work with our clients according to their preference. Unlike some firms that meet their clients once or twice, or self-drafting services where consulation with an attorney is not offered, we follow a drafting process (detailed below) and follow-up meetings to monitor your plan to keep it current.

Our process ensures that we get to know you, hear your concerns, understand your goals, and collaborate on estate planning strategies that specifically suit your needs. Every meeting, the objective is to move one step closer to completing your estate plan. We want to assure that your estate planning experience is easy and painless. We counsel you through each step so that, when finalized, you have a completely personalized estate plan.

1. Initial Meeting 

Our process starts with a free initial consultation. This meeting allows us to get to know each other. We will also explain in detail our process and how we work with clients. This is a good time for both you and us to decide if we are a good fit to work together.

2. Design Meeting

The goal of the design meeting is to delve into the details of your particular plan. We will provide you with a questionaire and discuss various options regarding distribution of your assets, who will make financial decisions for you after you pass or become incapacitated, who will advocate for your medical needs, who will care for your children, etc. We will explain all options and make recommendations based on your particular situation. At the end of the meeting we’ll have a solid foundation upon which we will draft your documents.

3. Review Meeting

After the design meeting, we will prepare draft documents. During the review meeting, we will go over your documents in detail and explain when and how each document will be used. The goal of the review meeting is to ensure that you understand each part of your plan and agree with everything before signing. You will also have the opportunity to make changes. Based on your comments during the review meeting, we will make any necessary revisions and send them to you for a final review.

4. Signing Meeting

After the documents are finalized, we will arrange to sign and notarize everything. We will provide you hard copies your original documents, and send you electronic copies. We will also discuss how to “fund” your trust, i.e. transfer your assets into the trust. If you need more hands-on help with the funding process, we can walk you step by step through this process, like sending letters to financial institutions, etc. If you own real estate, we will ensure that your deeds are properly recorded.

5. Follow-up Meetings

We do not believe our relationship ends when we finish your estate plan. At the least, we will follow up with you every 3 years to provide a complementary review of your documents. We want to stay in touch with our clients, and make sure the estate plan we created together still alings with their financial and personal life. We believe in an open communication with our clients, and are always here to advise on any questions – estate planning related or not.