What Should I Expect at Estate Planning Appointments?
The Estate Planning process typically takes three appointments:
(1) The Intake Appointment – When you schedule your complimentary intake appointment, the attorney will send you a Confidential Family Information Form. You can choose whether to receive this form by mail or email. You will complete this form prior to your Intake Appointment and bring it with you to your appointment. Expect that this form will take some time to complete. The information in the form is important so that your Intake Appointment is as productive as possible and you can discuss which Estate Planning services will best meet your needs. The Intake Appointment is important because it allows you and the attorney to evaluate whether she is the right fit for you as an attorney and you are the right fit for her as a client. Even if either of you decide not to proceed with representation, any information you have shared during the appointment remains strictly confidential. After the appointment, if you both agree to proceed with representation, the attorney will send you a Conflict Waiver Letter (for spouses using the same attorney) and an Engagement Letter and Fee Agreement. Upon receipt of the signed documents and retainer fee, your attorney will begin work on your Estate Planning documents.
(2) The Document Review Appointment – your attorney will carefully review with you all of the documents. This is your opportunity to make changes or ask questions if anything is unclear. This appointment is important because it allows you to review your documents in great detail before the signing appointment and to make any desired changes. After the appointment, your attorney will make any necessary revisions to your documents prior to your Signing Appointment.
(3) The Signing Appointment – You will need to bring two witnesses to your signing appointment. Your witnesses do not need to know the content of your planning documents. Both witnesses should be adults who are not named in your estate planning documents. Your attorney will arrange for a notary to be present for any required notarized signatures. The cost of the notary is payable by you directly to the notary and is not included in your estate planning package. At the end of the appointment, you will go home with all of your estate planning documents.