Estate planning is the process of arranging for the management and distribution of your assets in the event of your incapacitation or passing. It’s important because it ensures your wishes are carried out, protects your loved ones from legal complications, and can help minimize taxes and expenses. By planning ahead, you can provide peace of mind and financial security for those you care about. It is also typically the time when you name Guardians for minor children and identify individuals you trust to make financial and health care decisions for you if you are unable to make your own decisions.

At Essential Estate Planning, we’ve designed a streamlined process that typically takes just three weeks—or less—from start to finish. In three simple steps, we gather your information, meet with you to discuss your wishes, and finalize your estate plan with you, ensuring everything is in place for the next 10-20 years or more.

We pride ourselves on offering reasonable and transparent pricing for our estate planning services. Unlike many other attorneys, we don’t believe in overcomplicating the process or charging exorbitant fees. During your initial consultation, we’ll provide a clear estimate based on your specific needs and circumstances.

To provide some context, most firms charge between $3,500 to $5,000 for a Will-Trust-Durable Power of Attorney package. By contrast, roughly 90% of our clients receive their entire estate planning package for $1,750 or less. A remaining 9% of client families pay closer to $2,450 due to having unique assets such as closely-held business interests or investment real estate, or requiring a more complex structure on account of blended family issues or premarital agreements. The final 1% or less of high net worth clients may require more time (and expense), but stand to save quite a bit more with advanced tax and trust planning. These quotes are based on an initial meeting, talking through your decisions and what makes sense for you and your family, drafting documents that meet your need, and a second meeting where we review everything together and you sign in front of any legally required witnesses and notaries. We will certainly provide a specific budget at the initial meeting, and if you are uncomfortable in moving forward, there will be no charge for the initial meeting. Both you and we need to be comfortable in confident moving forward.

Once your estate plan is in place, it’s important to review and update it periodically—especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or significant changes in your financial situation. Generally, we recommend reviewing your plan every 3-5 years to ensure it still reflects your wishes and any changes in the law.