Our Process For Peace of Mind
Our client surveys indicate that the #1 thing we can provide for you at the end of the estate planning process is not just a will, or other estate planning documents, but a Peace of Mind.
Our Partner & Board-Certified Probate & Estate Planning Attorney Paul F. Wright has developed a process over nineteen years of estate planning and probate practice and over twenty-eight years of experience in public accountancy (tax) to guide you through this process. The process has six distinct steps as follows:
Step 1 – Discover
Step 2 – Design
Step 3 – Draft
Step 4 – Date
Step 5 – Deliver
Step 6 – Deploy
Through-out the process you will receive worksheets, additional information and meetings to discuss and execute your documents. We will have a team of experienced estate planning and probate attorneys and legal assistants as your guides. We provide the notary and witnesses for the execution of the documents.
Step 1 – Discover
The process begins with you. The legal world is a mystery full of foreign words, unknown customs and practices – an intimidating place for the uninitiated. Our goal is to take the mystery away – to enlighten you to the possibilities. We want to educate you to give you the power to make informed decisions. We do this by providing direct contact with a lawyer, experienced legal assistants, information and checklist to assist with the process. Estate Planning doesn’t have to be cold, scary or boring. You may even have fun along the way.
Step 2 – Design
Your documents are designed for you. Your estate planning documents should be unique to you, not some form generated by a document service. In fact, we begin your engagement with a meeting. In that meeting you and your lawyer will explore your goals and wishes. We want you to have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. Goals and wishes are more than boilerplate. At the conclusion, we will agree on a scope of work, generally quote a flat fee, enter into an engagement agreement and then our design team begins to work to draft your documents.
Step 3 – Draft
After your meeting, we will take your goals and wishes and craft unique documents for you. We have a team of experienced lawyers and legal assistants who are ready to provide assistance to you and answer questions you may have along the way. We want you to have the ability to ask questions and receive answers. In fact, we generally send you drafts of your documents prior to signing so that you will have an opportunity to review your documents. We even provide a review checklist to assist in the review of your documents.
Step 4 – Date
When your documents are ready to sign, we will set a date. During our signing date we will provide the witnesses, notary and all the documents ready to sign. You will have the opportunity to ask questions. Our attorneys and experienced legal assistants supervise the signing process. At the conclusion of this date you will have valid estate planning documents and the start of peace of mind.
Step 5 – Deliver
After signing the documents, we will provide you with the original documents and send you an electronic set. You will also be provided with instructions regarding safe keeping, how to revise the documents in the future and other items.
Step 6 – Deploy
Once you have an estate plan, we are happy to work collaboratively with your other professionals to make sure your plan is carried out. We will provide you with instructions and checklists that could be both helpful to you and your family, executors and trustees. If a trust is involved in your estate planning, we can provide assistance with placing assets into your trust and coordination of beneficiary designations (“funding”). We can also work with your financial advisor, insurance agent or CPA. In life, we want to be your first call for answers. Our phones are answered twenty-four hours a day and we offer a chat function on www.thewrightlawyers.com. We want you to say – “that’s my lawyer” – We want to be your lawyer for life.