Our Estate Planning Process

When it comes to estate planning, there are a lot of things to think about. Who will inherit your property and assets? What happens if you become incapacitated? These are just some of the questions in reviewing an effective estate plan. Our goal is to get to know you and your family and your goals and needs with your estate plan. We help you through every step of the process.

Here is what you can expect when meeting with us:

Step 1 – Client Intake Organizer

Our process starts with completing our Client Intake Organizer, where we will ask you relevant questions to help us formulate your estate plan and analyze your current situation. This information is confidential and is important to us so we understand your concerns and desires and can provide you with the best legal advice during our initial conference. We will send this to you, or you can complete it online.

Click here to request a meeting and get started with our confidential Client Intake Organizer. While completing the information we ask you to be sure to tell us your most important concerns and desires, and as much detailed family and financial information as possible, so that we can better serve you.

Step 2 – Goals and Design Meeting

In our initial conference, Attorney Glenn Busch will review your goals and concerns that are most important to you and your family. We will ask you detailed questions concerning your concerns and needs.  We will also review any prior documents you have had drated.   The information you provide will form the basis of your estate planning strategy and provide insight into your concerns. We will also review who will be the best party or parties to handle all the responsibilities necessary to achieve your final wishes and instructions.

The design phase will consider the type of assets you own, who owns them, and the relative tax considerations of your holdings in formulating your plan. We will then discuss the design of the will or trust package and determine what best meets your needs, considering your family, financial situation, and goals. At the conclusion of this meeting, we will share a draft design of the plan and make a recommendation which of the plans we offer works best for you.  These plans are flat fee and are reviewed in our meeting.  Once we agree on a plan, we will coordinate our retainer letter with you and send you a link for payment.

Step 3 – Document Preparation and Review

On engagement with our office, we will start work on your estate planning documents. On completion of the drafts, we will share them with you. Once the draft documents are completed, we will send you a summary and flow chart and drafts to review via a secure file. We will also send you a link to book an appointment with us to review of the documents.

Step 4 – Estate Plan Signing Meeting

After your review call, we will send you an invitation to schedule your Estate Plan signing meeting. At the meeting, we will review any final questions you may have and arrange to execute the documents that day. We will provide you with the copies at the meeting and a shared file with copies of your documents.

Step 5 – Family and Professional Coordination Meeting

We will coordinate your estate plan with your advisors if you wish to do so and review it with your family members if you want to involve them in the process.

Step 6 – Asset Organization

Asset organization is an integral part of an estate plan. When you have a revocable trust or trust created under your will, title to your assets must be appropriately coordinated with your estate plan. Your estate planning package offers options for asset transfer assistance, including assistance directing you to how to transfer the assets to your trust(s) or the option of having us coordinate the transfers for you.

Step 7 – Client Maintenance Program

For those clients that elect the revocable trust plan package, your estate plan includes one free year in our client maintenance program, which is a cost-effective way to ensure that your documents are reviewed and in certain cases updated. When you open a new account or acquire a new asset, our team will work with you to ensure that the purchase is correctly titled.