Missouri Estate Planning
Our licensed attorneys can help you finally get “estate planning” checked off of your to-do list. Our law firm has several attorneys, all of whom have experience in estate planning, wills, and trusts. Thus, we understand the importance of planning your estate, and sometimes just as importantly, we also understand why people might procrastinate when it comes to wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and estate planning.
Why have you been putting off your estate plan?
Does the process seem complicated and time consuming? Do you find that your eventual demise is not the most exhilarating topic to think or talk about? Do you assume it will be expensive to pay an hourly attorney to handle all of this? In our experience, most people do put off estate planning to some extent, usually for some or all of the above reasons.
Please allow us to respond to the above concerns.
THE ESTATE PLANNING PROCESS
First of all, the estate planning process does not have to be complicated or time consuming. Most in-person estate plans (in which you visit us here at the firm) only require two meetings, unless you desire additional meetings.
That process typically works as follows:
First, we send you an informational packet to review and fill out, and we will ask you to bring it with you to the initial consultation. At the first meeting, we will review the packet, address your concerns, and answer your questions about estate planning (concerning wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, etc). Once you hire our firm to proceed with your estate plan, we will prepare the rough drafts of the necessary agreements and then send you the drafts by email or regular mail, whichever you prefer.
Upon reviewing the drafts, you can either set up a time for your second meeting (the signing session) or call our office with questions, changes, or concerns. If there are multiple concerns, you are also welcome to set up an additional review session meeting. When the documents are in final form and ready to be signed, we will set up a signing session, during which the documents will be witnessed, signed, and notarized as necessary.
So as you can see, the estate planning process does not have to be time consuming, complicated, or confusing. In most cases, it is fairly straightforward. Should you decide to take advantage of having this done by phone, email, or regular mail, the process is very similar, except it does not include in-person meetings; our meetings would be over the phone.
THE TOPIC OF ESTATE PLANNING
As for the subject matter – we understand that it is not fun to talk about death. However, we think it is important to tell you that there are two comments (or some variation thereof) that we commonly hear after completing a signing session:
“It is such a relief to get this done . . . I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am so happy to get this done and over with!”
“That’s it? We’re done? If I had known that it was this easy, I would have gotten this done years ago.”
While not every Missouri estate planning case goes this smoothly, most are pretty straightforward. As for any complicated issues, we can usually spot problems in the first meeting and discuss them with you. There is no rule that cases must be simple; we can help with cases of all sizes and types.
THE COSTS OF ESTATE PLANNING
Finally, as for the cost, most of our estate planning cases are not completed by the hour. Instead, they are accomplished with one reasonable, flat fee. We will typically meet with you for the initial consultation to better understand your goals and what you want to accomplish. If you choose to do this by phone or email, it will work the same way, but we will talk by phone. Once we understand your estate planning goals, we are able to quote you a reasonable, flat fee to handle the entire case. Our licensed Missouri attorneys can often offer a payment plan, and sometimes we can give you a reduced rate in exchange for an upfront payment in full.
CONTACT US TODAY
So as you can see, the process does not have to be intimidating, convoluted, or time consuming. Planning your estate is like exercise: you may not look forward to it, but you sure do feel great when it is done. Plus, since most of our estate planning cases are done on a flat fee, you will know exactly what the services cost before you decide to hire us.
If our method of estate planning sounds like a good fit for your family or if you have additional questions, please call us or email us anytime to speak with one of our Missouri attorneys. What better time is there than today? Why not just take the first step and contact us? We appreciate your time and thank you for visiting our site.
* The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor The Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or specialist designations. Certain cases may be referred, or may involve outside co-counsel arrangements, in which event you would be notified.
