Questions You May Have Before Your Estate Planning Consultation

Whether you have already scheduled a free consultation with our team, or are thinking about doing so, you may have questions about what to expect and how to move forward. After all, seeking out an attorney is not something most of our clients have done before they call us.

We hope these frequently asked questions/concerns will be helpful, and we look forward to seeing you at your appointment!

Who will I be meeting with?

In most cases, you will be meeting with one of our consultants, who specialize in the initial intake and onboarding for new and prospective clients. Their role is to gather the relevant facts from you, make sure that what you need is something we can help you with, and help you understand your options moving forward. If you decide to retain the firm, they have a continuing role transitioning your matter to the assigned attorney, so that everyone has the information they need to proceed.

Is there any cost to the consult?

Absolutely not. There are never any fees due to our firm unless and until you decide to retain us and agree on the fees applicable to your case.

Do I need to have all of my financial information with me for the consultation?

No need to worry about gathering all the details and account balances before you speak with us. We will just need to know generally who is in your family, roughly what assets you have, and what your concerns and goals are. This is enough for us to identify the package best suited for you. If you choose to go forward, our team will work with you to gather any additional details that are necessary to finalize the documents.

Is the information I provide confidential?

Yes- we treat the initial consultation as protected by the attorney-client privilege, even if you do not decide to become a client. This means, subject to some limited exceptions that have literally never applied in our estate planning practice, we are not permitted to share information you give to us outside of the firm without your consent. Please do let us know if there is anyone in your immediate family who does not know you are consulting with us, so we can be sure to avoid sending correspondence to a shared address.

What if I don't know how to use Zoom or have limited internet?

No problem- we have found over the last two and a half years that zoom is a real timesaver for clients, and allows us to have the face to face contact we need to serve you the best. Our staff will also call you before your appointment to see if they can help you log onto the platform. But there are other alternatives- just let us know if you have a concern. We can do a phone call, or in most cases arrange for an in-person meeting.

What if I am looking for help for my parents or another family member?

We often hear from people reaching out about their aging parents' estate plans. This is common and understandable, as you may be in a situation where your parents need your help navigating any changes they may want or need to make. If your family decides to hire the firm, eventually our engagement will be with your parent or parents, and we will have to speak with them, so it is preferable if they can participate in the initial consultation, but we are also happy to speak with you first so you know the options if their participation in the first meeting is not convenient or practical.

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What if I just need the answers to a few simple questions?

We understand that- the truth is, most of these one or two questions turn out to be part of a larger story, and a larger range of options, than you might think. For example, it is one thing to tell you how wills and trusts work generally, but another to explore with you the specific needs and circumstances in your family and what combination of documents best achieves your goals.

Does my spouse need to attend the consultation?

We prefer to have both spouses involved in the consultation, because at the end of the day your estate plan is likely to include documents for both of you, and some shared decisions about the overall plan. But we do understand people are busy, and you may be the "point person" researching options for both of you- we'd rather see you get started on your plan if it doesn't work for both of you to attend.

How quickly can I speak to an attorney if I hire the firm?

The short answer is as quickly as the needs of your case require. Even though the attorneys are not in the consultation itself, we are in daily communication with our consultants, and every morning discuss new cases, assignments, and any imminent deadlines. Usually you will have your first conversation with your assigned attorney within a few business days, but if there is a need to accelerate that process, we absolutely will.

Can I get information about cost before doing a consultation?

This is always a hard question to answer, because the cost to you is going to depend on what exactly you need to achieve your goals with your estate plan. We can say the following:

You will never have to pay for the consultation.
Most of our estate planning matters are done on a flat fee basis, depending on which documents you choose to have prepared. We collect only the first third at the time of engagement, the second payment after you and the attorney have reached agreement on the documents you need and before drafting begins, and the final third on execution of the final documents. If you need to space these payments out differently, we are happy to work with you.
If you retain us on an hourly basis, you can expect that your attorney will check in with you before putting in more than a few hours of work on your matter to make sure you understand the strategy and plan and approve any additional time.