Our Philosophy

The Estate Planning Team

As a  comprehensive estate planning law firm, we work closely with other professional advisors, including Certified Financial Planner™ Professionals, Investment Advisors, Financial Consultants, Insurance Professionals, Certified Public Accountants, and Tax Advisors. We believe the team approach provides our clients with the most sophisticated, comprehensive, and effective estate planning possible. To that end, we encourage our clients to invite their Professional Advisors into the estate planning process. Moreover, once involved, we strive to keep you informed and involved at all stages of the estate planning process.

Our Philosophy For Working With Current and Prospective Clients

Our Relationship

As your estate planning attorney, we strive to serve you as people, not as a file.  By focusing on your family’s hopes, dreams and aspirations, we are able to combine our legal expertise to create plans that serve your family not only today, but well into the future.

The Estate Planning Process

Step One: The Initial Consultation

We offer prospective estate planning clients a complimentary initial consultation for general estate planning. Please note, however, that for clients seeking advice about qualifying for Medicaid benefits, there is a fee for the initial consultation.

Step Two:  The Design Meeting

During this first meeting, an attorney will spend one to two hours with you. After listening to your needs, plans and goals, your attorney will generally make some estate planning recommendations. In some cases they may ask for a follow-up meeting to present a summary and specific recommendations.
After making their recommendations, your attorney will quote a flat fee for design, drafting and implementation of the plans. You then may choose to engage our firm by signing a fee agreement and paying a retainer fee; or you may choose to take some time to reflect before moving ahead.

Step Three: Review and Sign the Documents

Should you choose to engage our firm at this point, a follow-up meeting to sign documents and begin implementation of the plan will be scheduled. This meeting may be quite lengthy, as we will thoroughly explain the planning documents to you, and to their family members if necessary. We will also explain how to fund trusts and provide instructions on how to complete this process.

Step Four: Ongoing Client Care

We do not consider the signing of the documents as just the final part of a legal transaction. In fact, we strive to build lasting relationships with our clients. By enrolling in our firm’s Client Care Program we keep you informed of changes that could affect your planning, maintain a secure storage of your estate planning, legal, and financial records in order to maintain your estate plan to meet your ever changing estate planning goals. We also encourage you to call our office when you have a question concerning any aspect of your estate planning.