If you’re unsure about what goes into estate planning, the process might seem a little intimidating. Not only are you dealing with legal paperwork and meetings, but also the emotional weight of making major life decisions for you and your family. 

We don’t want you to just trust the process, we want you to understand the process so that you have clarity and confidence in these important decisions. So we’re making it transparent; here’s what to expect throughout the estate planning process when you work with DuBois Law. 

Is estate planning the right choice?

Let’s start there. Yes, we believe you should have an experienced pro coordinate the best means of protecting your assets and options. However, some cases need additional resources. 

Start with a call. We offer the option of a free 15-minute chat (note: this is not a consultation, but just a quick introduction) to determine if we are your best option. 

If not, we’ll provide resources to get you connected with the right people. If so, then an initial consultation starts the process.

What goes into an estate planning consultation?

Our goal is to streamline the process as much as possible; no one wants the legal process to drag on. From start to finish, the entire process (when done through DuBois Law) should take about one to two months. To be clear, this is not always the norm with other law firms; some can play out for months and months. But we have a proven plan that works consistently, and as long as schedules align for any upcoming meetings, we love to get your assets secured as quickly and efficiently as possible.  

To start, first you’ll provide personal information, including details about your goals, concerns, family information, and insight into your assets, whether you know it’s something you want to protect or aren’t sure if it’s a necessity. 

From there, we’ll describe the details about what we do and which of those services would be recommended for your personalized needs. There is no one-size-fits-all process; we’ll tailor our recommendations to your specific case and offer a variety of solutions. You can usually expect two to four options that we can move forward with. When you’re ready, we’ll schedule the next meeting.

How long does the estate planning process take?

We like to break it down over three meetings.

First Meeting:

At our first meeting, we’ll work together to plan out a strategy, including: 

• Details of the trust and documents
• Who’s involved in the trust
• How and when these individuals are involved

We’ll also cover some of your best support options, offering counseling to see who might be a best option for health care proxy or power of attorney. For example, some people want to default to the eldest child, but perhaps another relative has a lifestyle more suitable to become power of attorney and would be a better option. Some clients come in and know exactly what they want; others are less sure, but either way we’ve got the experience and understanding to help you figure out the best option.

Second Meeting:

At our next meeting, we’ll have all documents ready for review. We’ll take this time to comb through them together, answering any questions you might have. We’ll also discuss all assets going into your trust. At the end of the meeting, you’ll be able to sign off on the documents.

Third Meeting:

At this meeting, we’ll confirm that all assets are covered before the plan officially goes into effect. That means working with any outside resources, such as a financial advisor you might already be working with who can join us on a call to review further asset details.

What happens after an estate plan trust is finalized?

Some clients choose to have ongoing shared accountability with us after the plan is done, such as follow-ups and reviews over the years to ensure all documents stay up to date. Others prefer to just reach out should a change need to be made. These changes might include a new vacation home, bank account, or other financial investment, and by keeping your trust up to date, you can avoid probate in court down the line. Even if you have the best possible plan drafted this year, let’s say you need to use it in 10 years from now; a lot can change and you’ll want to ensure your information stays relevant over time.

Ready for an intro call with an experienced team? Contact us here.