Call today for a consultation with an attorney: 301-760-2000

Estate Planning Workshop
Schedule An Appointment

301-760-2000

Estate Planning Workshop
Schedule An Appointment

Thoughtful Attorneys For Estate Planning & Administration, Probate, Wills, Trusts, And Guardianship

Estate Planning Process

Get Your Estate Plan Prepared By Our Experienced Maryland And DC Estate Planning Lawyers

Estate Planning Process:

Step One – Legacy Planning Consultation

  • Call us at 301-760-2000 to set up an initial consultation. If married, both spouses should attend.
  • Prior to the scheduled appointment, we will email or mail an Introductory Packet containing this Process Outline, an Estate Planning Questionnaire (must be submitted at least 3 days before your consultation so the attorney has time to review it), and an About Us document to familiarize Clients with our firm.

In the consultation, the attorney will:

  • Answer any initial client questions
  • Get to know Client Estate Planning goals and needs
  • Review what estate planning tools would address the client’s goals and needs
  • Recommend a specific Estate Plan that will meet the client’s goals and needs
  • Provide a fee quote based on the recommended plan
  • Answer any follow-up Client questions
  • If Client(s) decide to proceed with the Estate Plan, we will then proceed to:

Step Two – Design Phase

  • The Design Phase can either be done immediately upon the Client’s request to proceed and payment of 50% of the quoted fee, or at a later scheduled consultation over the phone.
  • The fiduciaries will be assigned, distribution plans will be determined, and the details of the plan will be determined.

Step Three – Drafting Phase

  • Attorney drafts the Estate Plan and sends a Summary and draft Estate Plan to the Client(s) for review.
  • Changes from the Client(s) are made to the Estate Plan.

Step Four – Signing Ceremony

  • Attorney reviews the Estate Plan with Client(s), answers any remaining questions about the plan.

Step Five – Funding Phase

  • Assets are funded according to the plan.

Step Six – Membership Phase

  • Annual review of the Estate Plan is conducted and Membership Plan services are provided, if purchased.
  • Membership Plan: Annual review on the anniversary of the plan of fiduciary designations, beneficiaries and their distribution provisions, tax planning, Medicaid planning, and disability planning (Summary sent to Client(s).
  • Any necessary revisions made to fiduciaries and beneficiary designations.
  • Funding review (transfer of newly acquired assets based on the plan).
  • Access to an attorney for Client questions throughout the year.