Wills and Trusts
It is quite shocking that about 90-95% of people die without a will or trust in place. When you die without a will or trust you are:
-letting the government, NOT YOU, decide who gets what;
-having a court decide who raises your children;
-letting your children get their share of the estate at age 18 without any restrictions;
-having your estate pay for unnecessary bonds, court fees and guardian expenses.
You have many options to consider:
-Wills
-Wills with Testamentary Trusts
-Revocable Living Trusts
-Irrevocable Insurance Trusts
-Federal Estate Tax Planning
-Powers of Attorney
-Health Care Directives
For most people, TOO MANY OPTIONS!!!
Too many options lead to confusion.
Confusion leads to you to do NOTHING!
Doing nothing is more expensive and painful for your family than fixing the problem!!!
Is there a better way? There is! It's called:
Mark The Lawyer's Approach
I have found that educating the client is the key for a better understanding of what they should do. My education process:
>>>Takes complex ideas and makes it simple to understand;
>>>Gives you clear options to make an informed decision;
>>>Explains the process and takes away the fear;
>>>Leads you to a custom plan for you and your family;
>>>Makes you finish the plan and quit procrastinating;
>>>Let's you get on that next plane trip without worrying;
>>>Let's you sleep better at night knowing you have protected your family.
By investing 40 minutes with me you will discover:
- Should I do a Will or Trust?
- What are the advantages of a Living Trust?
- What are the disadvantages of a Living Trust?
- What is "Probate" and should I avoid it?
- What is the role & responsibility of a guardian for my kids?
- What is the role & responsibility for my executor?
- Who should oversee the money while my kids are young?
- Who is the best person to raise my kids?
- At what age should my kids get their inheritance?
- How much life insurance should I carry?
- Who should be the beneficiary of my 401K plan?
- Is title to my house done properly?
- Should I have a power of attorney for property?
- What kind of health care directives should I have?
Cost Factor-
The cost of doing nothing will far exceed the cost of proper planning. Your investment in hiring me to handle your plan is more than worth it. I can usually show you how 1 recommendation in your plan will save more money than what you will probably pay me. That's just 1 recommendation. There are many others.
With me you get:
- Someone who will take the time to educate you;
- An attorney with extensive experience;
- A customized plan tailored to your needs not some cookie cutter plan;
- Recommendations on beneficiaries for IRA's or 401k plans;
- Review of your life insurance that you carry;
- Explanation and preparation of Powers of Attorney;
- Explanation and preparation of health care directives;
- An extensive "Estate Binder" for important documents and procedures.
All of this is available at a reasonable, pre-determined flat fee. You won't have to worry about hourly billing or over-billing. When we meet at your free 40 minute consultation, I will tell you exactly how much it will cost for your entire plan. I do many plans for a couple of hundred bucks!!!
The cost of hiring a quality estate planning attorney should never be a barrier in getting your estate in order.
I have seen many attorneys charge many times more than me and deliver far less. I have reviewed countless plans prepared by the "downtown firm" where people paid 3 to 5 thousand and do not understand their plan or what they are supposed to do with it.
A Word of Caution: Be wary of "fill in the blank" forms available over the internet or at the office supply store. They don't educate you. They offer no legal advice. They can't.
If something gets screwed up what is your recourse? NOTHING!
How do you know that you are preparing them properly?
How do you know if the attestation clause is correct?
How do you know if the witnessing is done properly?
In the end, you won't be saving anything and you will get what you pay for.
If you have not done so, I encourage you to get a copy of my free report titled:
5 Common Estate Planning Blunders That Can Cost You and Your Family Big Money!