Our Process
Our process is designed to ensure your confidence in our planning process each step of the way. Every decision is reviewed with you multiple times and yet the entire process only takes about 8 weeks, so you know that within a single month after meeting with your Personal Family Lawyer, your family could be totally protected.
It's the perfect combination of efficiency and warmth.
The planning process itself begins with an initial meeting that is an opportunity for you to meet with one of our Personal Family Lawyers™ so that you each can determine whether there is a good fit between you and our firm.
During this initial meeting, your Personal Family Lawyer will walk you through exactly what your loved ones would have to do and where your assets would go if something happened to you.
You will then be able to determine if there was anything about your current plan (or the state's plan for you) that you wouldn't like and you'll get clear on what you would want to happen if something happened to you.
Assuming there is a good fit between you and our firm, your Personal Family Lawyer will help you to choose the planning level and fee that is right for your family (we have three different planning levels to accommodate your needs - our fees begin at $2,000 and they are all inclusive, so there are no surprises) and you and your Personal Family Lawyer will then design a plan that will give you the peace of mind of knowing your family will be taken care of in the event the unthinkable happens.
After the design of your plan is complete, you will return to our office about 4 weeks later to sign your planning documents and your family and assets will be totally protected in the event of your death as of that point.
In most law firms, the relationship ends there. This is where our law firm is very different.
We see signing your estate planning documents as the beginning of our relationship with your family. If your plan is not properly updated over time, your documents become worth no more than the paper they were written on.
We verify that all your asset transfers are moving forward on track whether we are taking the lead or you are taking the lead with our unlimited guidance. We review your asset spreadsheet with you and ensure all of your questions are answered. Of course, if they aren't or they become cloudy later on, we are always available to answer your questions at any time in the future. And, there's no charge for that.
At our third and final meeting during the Planning stage of our relationship, we will guide you to pass on more than just your financial wealth. We believe your financial wealth is only about a quarter of your overall "Family Wealth" which is made up of your far more valuable Intellectual, Spiritual and Human assets – who you are and what is important to you. Most estate plans are only able to transfer your financial wealth onto the next generation. The intangible nature of your much greater wealth has made it difficult to capture and it is most often lost when someone passes. How much do you know about your grandparents values? Their most prized personal possessions? How they felt about you? What they had learned during their lifetime? If you are like most people, you know very little. We have developed a tool that helps you to pass on this intangible wealth right along with your financial wealth.
We see this as only the beginning of our relationship. You may make changes to your planning documents at no charge for up to 90 days after you sign your documents. In addition, we send letters to all of the important people you have named as health care agents, trustees and guardians letting them know just what to do if something happens to you – namely, call us, we're here for your family!
After the Planning phase is complete, the maintenance phase of your plan will begin. At no additional charge, we review your plan at least every three years and keep you informed at least monthly about changes in the law and about other issues that affect your family and your wealth. And, if you participate in one of our Family Wealth VIP Membership programs, you will have an opportunity to review your plan on an annual basis, and we will provide your family with a number of other valuable services.
Finally, we are always here for you and we don't charge you for phone calls, faxes, or emails. We welcome your communications! You'll be amazed at how easy and painless the entire planning process will be for your family.
If this sounds like the kind of relationship you are looking for, please call us at (919)443-3035 and request a $750 certificate for a FREE Family Wealth Planning Session or submit your information below to be contacted about scheduling a Family Wealth Planning Session.