Our Estate Planning Process

Scheduling Your Consultation

To schedule your initial visit with one of our attorneys, please call our office at (919) 493-6351 ext. 107. We offer consultations in person, via Zoom, or by phone. The fee for the consultation is  $350.00 or $600.00, depending on which attorney you wish to consult. If you hire us, the consultation fee is credited to the flat fee for an estate plan. We also offer a complimentary 15-minute introductory call if you have questions about our process or want to meet your attorney in advance. Please understand that we will not be able to provide legal advice about your particular situation during an introductory call.

Completing Our Estate Planning Questionnaire

To make the most of your initial consultation, our goal is to gain a clear understanding of your family, financial situation, goals, and concerns prior to the meeting. To help us prepare, we ask that you complete and return our Estate Planning Questionnaire at least two (2) business days prior to your scheduled appointment. This worksheet will be sent to you electronically after your consultation is scheduled. If we do not receive your completed worksheet by the deadline, we will need to reschedule your visit.

Initial Consultation

At your initial meeting, we will review your family and estate information and discuss  your current legal documents (if any), your assets, concerns, objectives, and any questions you might have. Based on our discussion, we will outline various planning strategies and options based on your goals and objectives and our recommendations, including all fees and costs. For married couples for whom we will be doing joint planning, both spouses must attend this meeting. If one spouse is unavailable, the appointment will be rescheduled to a time when both can be present.

Design Meeting

In order to retain our services, you will sign an engagement letter and pay the initial fee. Then we will schedule a Design Meeting. During the Design Meeting, we will turn complex financial and emotional considerations into a clear, practical strategy for the protection of your family and distribution of your assets. Our goal is to create a plan that reflects your values and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Review Meeting

After your plan is designed, we will draft the documents for your estate plan and provide them to you for review. Once you have had a chance to review your documents, we will schedule a Review Meeting. During this meeting, we will carefully review the overall structure of your plan and walk you through each document in clear, understandable terms. You’ll have the opportunity to ask any remaining questions, and we will ensure you are fully informed and confident in the choices you’ve made. Your plan documents are then finalized for signing.

Signing Meeting

For clients who live near one of our offices, we generally schedule the signing meeting in our office. We can also mail the documents, along with signing instructions. The plan is not in effect until the documents are signed.

Trust Funding Meeting

After your trust-based estate plan has been signed, we will schedule a Trust Funding Meeting. This important next step focuses on the implementation of your plan. Proper funding is essential to making sure your plan works as intended and provides the protection for which you have planned.

In the Future

We encourage you to schedule an appointment to review your plan every three to five years, or sooner if there has been a significant change in your family, health, or financial situation. In the meantime, we are here to help with your legal questions and concerns.