It's impossible for any person without a legal and tax background to effectively plan an estate. By the same token, it's impossible for a professional with a legal and tax background to plan an estate without a deep understanding of a client's goals, needs, and overall family and financial situation.
Too often, inadequate communication prevents clients and estate planning professionals from properly coordinating the clients' desires with the laws that affect them. I strive to ensure that this does not happen with my clients by spending considerable time analyzing the client's personal and financial situation. I also make certain that my clients understand their legal options and are comfortable with the course of action they choose, prior to proceeding with an estate plan.
My clients appreciate the fact that I make every effort to establish a clear plan for the work I will do and then establish an agreement about the fees I will charge. In most cases, I am typically capable of establishing a flat fee arrangement at the conclusion of the initial client consultation. Exceptions to this sometimes arise in situations where a client has an extensive estate planning history that must be reviewed and taken into consideration in the updated or new plan.
My services in this area include: