Step 1

CREATE A WINNING TEAM

​

Your winning team will include: 

·   Attorney

·   Accountant

·   Trustee

·   Financial Planner

·   Tax Advisor 

·   Insurance Advisor 

·   Banking Professionals

Pre-Conference

Before our Initial Conference, we work with you and/or your referring advisor, so we can understand your financial background, your situation and needs. 

During this part of the Estate Planning process, you will complete our initial intake packet to provide us with basic contact information, a snap shot of your current assets and an idea of your Estate Planning goals and objectives.​

Step 2

DISCOVER THE FACTS

​

We:

• Review existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, etc. 

• Gather asset information​

​​

You:​

• Determine and express your Estate Planning goals 

Initial Conference

We will discuss in detail your background and family, goals and concerns, and any issues identified in your initial intake packet that require further consideration.

At the end of this meeting, a fee range will be quoted based on a preliminary plan design.

Step 3

PLAN DESIGN

​

We:

• Review facts and your goals

• Determine if current needs are being met

• Determine if future needs have been contemplated

​​

You:​

• Express your beneficiary designations 

• Determine your Executor/ Trustee/ Agent appointments

• Decide powers to give and withhold from Agents and specific wishes to include in your documents

Design Meeting

During this meeting, your proposed Estate Plan design will be presented to you. Together, we will create a customized Estate Plan strategy that meets your goals and objectives while addressing your concerns and anxieties. 

​

Step 4

REVIEW THE PLAN

We:

• Prepare documents

• Make suggestions for additional things you might want to include in your documents

​​

You:​

• Review team suggestions 

• Receive clarification of team suggestions 

• Make final edits and revisions as necessary

Review Meeting

We review your Estate Planning Documents with you to ensure that you understand your Estate Plan and that it meets your goals and objectives.

​

We will make sure all changes are implemented to your Estate Plan prior to the Signing Ceremony.

Step 5

EXECUTE THE PLAN

We:

• Finalize documents

• Execute documents at Signing Ceremony​

You:​

• Sign the legal documents to establish your Estate Plan​

Signing Ceremony

At this point, your final Estate Planning documents are finalized and ready for you to sign. 

​

You will sign your documents in front of one of our notaries and two disinterested witnesses. After you sign the finalized documents, your Estate Plan will be in effect and you can celebrate completing this milestone.

Step 6

FUND AND IMPLEMENT THE PLAN

We:

• At Client's request, we can prepare instructions on funding and beneficiary changes

• At Client's request, we can prepare deeds and other documents needed

​​

You:​

• Purchase necessary insurance

• Re-title assets as needed

Once your documents have been executed, we are available to assist you with beneficiary designation changes and other funding issues to ensure your planning is effective and works as designed.

Some Clients request assistance with funding, while others prefer to complete it themselves. We will discuss your wishes at the Signing Ceremony. 

Step 7

ANNUAL REVIEW

​You:​

• Keep your Estate Plan up-to-date with annual reviews to ensure nothing has changed and that your Estate Plan is in compliance with current tax laws

Upon your request, after your Estate Plan has been established, our Attorneys are available to educate your family members, executors, trustees, agents and beneficiaries about your Estate Plan, their roles in the plan, and why the plan is designed as it is.

Note: We take confidentiality very seriously. Subject to certain limitations, nothing about a Client's estate plan will be revealed unless our client specifically requests or authorizes us to release it.