FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q:  How do you determine your fee for legal services?

A:  In most cases our fee is determined on an hourly basis. This is especially true in litigation or in transactional representation where our efforts depend not only upon what best suits the needs of a client but also upon actions take by other parties. Our hourly rates are established by each attorney in the office.

Our fees for estate planning are based upon the documents required to effectuate your plan. We charge a fixed fee for each document, so our clients know what their fee will be at the beginning of the relationship. This approach encourages a detailed discussion of the needs, finances and family situation of our clients so that we will have the type of information required to develop a comprehensive plan for your estate.  We require every client to sign a fee agreement so that the financial obligation to the firm is clear from the outset.

Q:  Can I call or e-mail you with my questions?

A:  Once you have engaged us to represent you, we encourage you to communicate with us about your case. If we are unable to speak with you when you call or if we cannot respond to your e-mail right away, you will always hear back from us promptly.

Q:  What size estates do you typically work with in your wills and trusts services?

A:  Clients seeking our estate planning services may own estates in varying sizes.  Our attorneys have extensive experience in estate planning and have worked with clients with assests of up to 8 to 10 million dollars.

Q:  In planning my estate, why do you need to know about my financial condition?

A:  An estate plan must take into account what you own, how your property is titled and what it is worth. If a plan is to be effective, we need to coordinate the various estate planning tools at our disposal to provide you with an efficient strategy that takes into account the impact of probate costs and federal and state estate taxes on your estate and the burden that your death may have upon the lives of your heirs.

Q:  How long does the estate planning process take?

A:  The estate planning process is a joint effort between the client and our office. Once we receive your signed fee agreement and the required advance payment, we usually will get draft documents in your hands within two weeks. We ask you to review the documents to see if we have presented your desires accurately. We expect you to do this promptly, but we understand that this is not always possible. If you wish we can review the documents in person. The timing is up to you. The faster you can review your documents and make changes, addition and deletions, the faster the process can move forward. Please understand that we never want you to sign a document that you do not understand. Once you are ready to sign them, you will be asked to return to our office so that we may be certain that they are executed in accordance with the law. Special accommodations are available for clients with disabilities.

Q:  What are advance medical directives?

A:  Advance medical directives are programs which provide assistance for people who want to utilize the tools appropriate in their state/province to express their wishes regarding future medical treatment should they become incapacitated and/or to name the individual they would like to make health care decisions on their behalf.