New Client

In most circumstances for a single person, we charge by flat fee:  $2,500 for basic Will-based estate planning.   For a couple this flat fee is $3,500.  Either way, the flat fee covers an initial meeting and a signing meeting as well as the preparation of the following documents.

•             Last Will and Testament

•             Financial Durable Power of Attorney

•             Health Care Durable Power of Attorney

•             Health Care Directive

•             Anatomical Gift Statement

•             Custom life insurance and retirement plan sample beneficiary designations

•             Advice regarding the titling of other assets such as real property

Community Property Agreement is also included for a couple if it is advisable for their situation.

In some cases a Revocable Trust-based estate plan may be appropriate.  The flat fee is $3,500 for a single person and $4,500 for a couple due to the additional documents and complexity.  This fee does not include the fees/costs of transferring real properties or accounts to the trust.

In either case, we provide an estate planning binder containing paper and electronic copies of all documents. 

In the rare event that the estate planning needs exceed the scope of either flat fee, such as if a third meeting becomes necessary, or substantial revision to the original plan is requested, or additional documents besides those listed above are needed, we will bill hourly for the excess.  If this were to be the case, we would obtain consent prior to engaging in any extra work and provide an estimate of the extra cost.  Doug’s current hourly rate is $545 and Aaron’s is $395 per hour (subject to yearly increase).

Estate Update

Considering you last met with an attorney, they may suggest updating all of your documents due to significant law changes that have occurred since that time.  Below you will find our fee structure for a full update.  If you and the attorney, however, decide that only minor changes will be made, then they will bill by their current hourly rate.

Generally, an estate planning update consists of two meetings: an initial meeting to discuss your estate planning needs, and a later meeting to sign your revised documents. We will provide you with drafts of all revised documents to review prior to the second meeting.   We charge a flat fee of $2,500 for an individual and $3,500 for a couple for a complete update. This fee covers updating your Wills, Financial Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives, Anatomical Gift Statements, Disposition of Remains Statements, and coordinated beneficiary designations for both of you. If you need assistance with any other documents any other documents or require complicated trust provisions in your Will, additional fees will be discussed.  Doug’s current hourly rate is $545 and Aaron’s current hourly rate is $395.  When everything is completed we will provide you with an updated estate planning binder containing copies of all documents.