Secure Your Legacy, Live Your Life

At most estate planning law firms the relationship ends when you sign your documents.  We see the signing of your estate planning documents as the beginning of our relationship with your family.

Over time, your assets will change; your family may change; we know for sure that the law will change.   Your plan must accommodate all of these changes in order to make sure your plan works when your family needs it the most.  If your plan is not properly updated over time, your documents become worthless… worth no more than the paper they were printed on.  And the costs of failing to update are typically far greater than keeping your plan current.

With each of our estate plans we include a no-charge three year review to ensure that as our clients’ lives change, so does their estate plan and ensure that all our clients’ assets are held properly for maximum protection. We also include in our planning process a creative way for our clients to pass on more than just their financial assets, but also their human assets—who they are and what is important to them.

All of our fees are fixed fees agreed to in advance, so there are no surprises. At our initial meeting you will choose the level of planning and fee that works best for your family, so there will never be any surprises.

A typical Estate Planning Package will consist of the following:

LIVING TRUST    A Living Trust allows your heirs to avoid the expense, delay and public nature of Probate Court when your gross estate exceeds $184,500 (as of January 1, 2020). A Living Trust allows your Successor Trustees to manage your assets for your benefit and the benefit of your loved ones, according to your own detailed instructions. You will name a minimum of two Successor Trustees

POUR-OVER WILL  A Pour-Over Will accompanies every Living Trust. It is the document in which you name a legal guardian for your minor child(ren) in the event you become incapacitated or pass away. The Pour-Over Will also enables your Successor Trustees to put any omitted assets into your trust after your death. You will name a minimum of two Guardians for your minor children and two Executors of your Will.

DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY  A Durable Power of Attorney allows you to name an Agent who will be able to exercise certain financial rights in the event you become incapacitated. These rights include filing insurance claims, filing taxes, applying for public benefits and taking distributions from retirement accounts. Your Agent will be able to sign legal documents for you. You will name a minimum of two alternate Agents (people whom you trust to make financial decisions).

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE  An AHCD lets you direct exactly what kind of medical care decisions your Healthcare Agent will make on your behalf if and when you can no longer make those decisions. It includes a HIPAA Authorization which allows your Healthcare Agents to communicate with medical personnel. You will name a minimum of two alternate Agents (people who have “heart”) and you will name everyone you wish to have access to your medical information.

FACILITATED FAMILY MEETING  Speaking to loved ones about your wishes can be a challenging and uncomfortable process. Kelly Rose Mason uses her mediation skills to facilitate these conversations between family members and helps them to hear and understand each others wishes, concerns and fears. This is an invaluable part of the estate planning process that can bring families closer together and give them peace of mind.