YOU HIRE A LAWYER FOR ADVICE, NOT A DOCUMENTWills & Trusts
All adults need a will, durable power of attorney, medical power of attorney, and a directive to physicians. Parents also need to name a guardian and trustee for their children until the children are over 18.
Estate planning is more than a fill-in-the-blank form. Our years of study and experience help us identify ways to accomplish your goals that you won’t find on the Internet or any do-it-yourself estate planning kit.
All work is done on a flat fee that is assessed during the consultation based on details presented.
Base rate for estate planning services is $3,300 for an individual and a couple is $4,800 for the basic estate plan analysis and documents.
Costs for revocable, special needs, and irrevocable trusts will be discussed during the planning meeting, and will depend on both the size of the estate and the complexity of the work requested.
Probate
Probate is the process of transferring a person’s property upon his or her death. There are many ways to probate an estate, all made simpler by the existence of a will.
We provide assistance with probate in a variety of ways.
If you answer yes to the following:
- The decedent (person who died) died with a will;
- Had no debt at death except perhaps a mortgage;
- Did not use Medicaid (different from Medicare);
- Has clearly identified gifts and beneficiaries.
Then a muniment of title might be right for you.
If you answer yes to the following:
- The decedent (person who died) died without a will;
- Owned less than $75,000 (excluding home);
- Has less debt than property;
- Cooperative family;
- Home (if any) will pass to a spouse.
Then a small estate affidavit might be right for your situation.
If the answer to either of the situations was no, then we will discuss traditional probate processes like obtaining letters testamentary or letters of administration in independent or dependent probate administration.
Probate fees are variable based on a variety of details and the proper procedure that is required. The fixed fee will be determined once we gather the necessary details during the consultation appointment.
Base rates, for example
~Muniment of title starts at $3,700 + court costs and filing fees
~Letters Testamentary starts at $5,700 + costs and filing fees
~Small Estate Affidavit starts at $2,200 + costs and filing fees
~Determination of Heirship plus Administration starts at $11,000 + costs and filing fees
~Affidavits of Heirship starts at $2,200 + costs and recording fees
Rush fees are an increase of 30% and are based on availability of the attorney to accommodate a rush matter.