Located in the following link is an Estate Planning Questionnaire. This form asks for information which will be necessary in order for us to prepare your estate plan. The entire form does not need to be completed prior to the initial consultation. In fact, you may have several questions related to its contents. The document is a starting point, however, and at the initial consultation, discussion can and should occur regarding specific questions.

During this first meeting, we hope to learn about your family and any particular concerns you may have. We will discuss your goals related to your estate plan. For instance, do you have minor children that need to be provided for in the event you are not able to do so. If so, who do you desire to name as guardian for your child(ren) and how do your want them to receive their inheritance-outright or via a trust? Do you have any special needs or circumstances?

Additionally, it is helpful to have as much information as possible about your financial circumstances including approximate values of assets, how things are titled (are things jointly owned or in your name alone), if beneficiaries are designated and so forth. Coordination of your estate plan with your beneficiary designations is an often over-looked component to your estate plan but it is vital to coordinate these designations so that your goals are implemented as you intend.

Finally, if you have current documents that impact your estate plan, such as trusts, marital agreements, beneficiary agreements, business agreements, etc. we will want to review these documents.

The first half hour for this initial type of consultation is complementary. Typically, estate planning work is charged on a flat fee basis. You will be told what that fee is once your specific needs are known at this first meeting.

If you need our assistance with an estate or trust administration matter, it is important to bring the original Will and/or Trust documents with you to the initial meeting. Additionally, specific information about the beneficiaries and heirs will be necessary before the probate process can be initiated. This information includes addresses, telephone numbers, etc.. Also needed will be asset information including the type of assets, the location of the assets, the value of the assets, beneficiary designations and so forth.

This type of work is done on an hourly basis. A retainer is required at the initial meeting which will be applied to the costs and fees incurred during the administration process.