What is a living trust?

How We Work

“What is a Living Trust? Do I Need a Health Care Proxy?”

My personal one-on-one approach provides answers to all of your questions, and it all starts with a no-obligation consultation to determine what you would like to accomplish.

I help you clearly understand each aspect of your estate plan, what is being established, and why. I also guide you through making your wishes clearly known to your loved ones, and the entire process takes about 8 week’s time until your estate plan is fully functional.

1) Scheduling Your Consultation

  1. When you contact our office, my staff will gather your basic contact information to schedule a meeting date and time. They will ask a few basic questions about your interest in estate planning and your timeframe.
  2. They will describe a general description of fees, but the actual fee estimate will be determined when we meet to review the exact services you will require.
  3. I ask that you fill out a simple form to help gather the necessary information in advance:
    PLEASE FILL OUT THIS CLIENT CONSULTATION FORM

2) Complimentary discussion – Week 1

  1. Our first meeting can be in your home or office if desired.
  2. We’ll discuss your estate planning needs and what you would like to accomplish.
  3. I will make overall recommendations that we can review together, including the tax savings, effects on your surviving spouse and children, and the overall fees.
  4. I ask for your feedback on anything you would like to change, and help you understand each option and its implications.
  5. Then we refine the actual methods to be used and reach agreement on what documents need to be drafted.

3) Document Drafting & Review – Weeks 2 to 4

  1. Drafts of your estate plan documents are prepared and submitted for your review within approximately three weeks of our first meeting.
  2. You review the documents to insure they fulfill your wishes. If you have any changes, additions, or questions, simply call my office during the two weeks between the time you receive the drafts and the document signing meeting.

4) Document Signing Meeting – Week 5

  1. I meet with you to review your documents and answer any questions you might have.
  2. My assistant, who is also a Notary Public, will guide you through the signing process. If we meet in your home or office, a witness must be present when you sign the documents. You will also finalize your health care proxy at this time.
  3. If necessary, change of beneficiary forms for each of your life insurance policies and retirement accounts are completed.

5) Funding Your Estate Plan – Weeks 6 to 7

  1. Funding is the process of transferring title to your assets into the name of your Living Trust. We will help you transfer title to all of your assets. This is a necessary step for avoiding probate and making your estate planning documents effective.
  2. We will prepare the deeds to transfer all your real estate into the name of your trust, along with letters to each of your bank and brokerage accounts, asking them to transfer the accounts into the name of your trust.
  3. In the two weeks following the signing, my office will complete the necessary funding work. Some account institutions will want the ownership change on their own form and will send this form to you at your home. You will need to complete these forms, either with our help or on your own, in order to ensure that the funding of all assets into the name of the trust has been completed.

6) Delivery of Permanent Documents – Week 8

  1. After the signing meeting, your estate planning documents will be copied and presented in a binder, available for you to pick up or they can be sent to you.
  2. Your original documents will be kept in our fireproof safe, and we also retain electronic copies as a backup.

In addition, I will periodically keep you updated on changes in the law. Occasionally I may send a reminder to consider if your financial situation has changed in a way that might affect your plans.

Why wait any longer?

Contact my office today and schedule a conversation – the first step to ensure your wishes will be clearly communicated.