FAQs

An estate plan is more than just deciding who gets what after you pass away. It’s a comprehensive plan that also addresses incapacity, disability, and guardianship.  It ensures someone can manage your finances, make medical decisions, and care for your children—both short and long-term—if you can’t.

Your plan may include a will, a trust, and other key documents that protect your family and assets.  A complete estate plan, however, also preserves your legacy—through letters, videos, or messages that reflect your values and memories, not just legal paperwork.

If you don’t create an estate plan, the state’s default rules decide what happens to your assets, care, and family. As part of our process, we’ll show you what that looks like—then help you design a comprehensive plan, so your wishes, not the government’s, are followed. 

A will states who receives your assets and who manages that process (your executor or personal representative). It only applies to assets without a joint owner or named beneficiary—for example, it won’t control life insurance or retirement accounts with designated beneficiaries.

A will must go through probate, an entirely public process where the court reviews and approves it before assets are distributed. While a will is an essential part of an estate plan, it’s not a complete solution on its own—it works best when coordinated with your other assets and beneficiary designations. 

A Living Will, sometimes called an Advance Medical Directive, outlines your wishes for life support and medical treatment if you’re terminally ill or permanently unconscious and can’t communicate. It lets you decide in advance what measures should be continued or withdrawn—for example, how long you’d want to remain on life support.

It’s often created alongside a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, which authorizes someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf. By putting these choices in writing, you give your loved ones clarity and peace of mind during a difficult time. 

Probate is the court process that oversees what happens to your assets and who manages them after you pass away—or if you become incapacitated without a plan in place.  A judge appoints someone to handle your finances, pay debts, and distribute property to your heirs.

Because probate is a public court proceeding, it can be very slow, costly, and open to public record—leaving minor children subject to inheritance predators.  Estate planning helps you avoid probate by clearly naming who’s in charge and how your assets should be handled—so your family doesn’t have to rely on the court to fill in the gaps. 

A trust is similar to a will—it states who gets what and who’s in charge—but it avoids the delays and publicity of probate court.

Unlike a will, which becomes a public record and requires court approval before assets can be distributed, a trust remains private. Your chosen trustee can act immediately, without court involvement.

In short, both a will and a trust serve the same purpose, but a trust offers a faster, more private, and more efficient way to manage and transfer your assets.

Not at all. A trust isn’t about net worth—it’s about what kind of process you want your family to go through.

With a will, your estate usually goes through probate, which is public and can take time. A trust allows your family to avoid probate, keeping matters private and efficient.

We don’t decide for you which option is best.  Instead, we evaluate your unique situation so you can decide the approach that best fits you and your family’s needs and values.

The full process typically takes six to twelve weeks, though we can expedite it for an additional cost.

You’ll start with a free educational session to learn the basics, then meet with an attorney to discuss your goals and customize your plan. After that, you’ll review and sign your legal documents, finalizing your estate plan.

Finally, at your legacy meeting, we’ll help you capture your personal stories, values, and messages for your loved ones—often through letters or a legacy video.

Estate planning costs vary widely depending on the attorney and the level of service. While online templates may seem inexpensive, they often lead to confusion and higher costs for your family later.

At our firm, we offer transparent flat-fee pricing—agreed to in advance—so you’ll know exactly what to expect. Our Will Plans start at $2,000 and Trust Plans start at $4,500, and we’ll guide you to determine which is right for you during our planning session.

Beyond legal documents, our plans include a Life & Legacy Interview, where you can record messages, letters, or videos to preserve your stories and values. Because estate planning isn’t just about transferring assets—it’s about passing on who you are.

Congratulations!  You've already begun the process by educating yourself and researching what to do next.  Simply, click HERE to schedule a complimentary 15-minute discovery call today, so we can learn more about your circumstances and explain our process.