Estate planning should be about much more than the transfer of assets from one generation to the next. You are in the best position to decide how to steward what you have been given. We’re here to share information that will help you along that path. You can’t ask us too many questions, and you’ll never be charged for information. We’ll help you get all your legal ducks in a row.
An Organized Family Stewardship Plan Binder Your binder contains all of your plan’s legal documents. We include a synopsis of your legal documents in plain English (not legalese), a list of important contacts, as well as a place for you to add letters to loved ones.
A Revocable Living Trust Most of our clients select a plan that includes a Revocable Living Trust. With every Trust Plan we also include a Declaration of Trust, a Certification of Trust, a Community or Separate Property Declaration (when appropriate), and an exhibit to write out any gifts of personal property. We can also include additional trust provisions such as a Pet Trust or a Special Needs Trust for a disabled beneficiary.
A Personal Responsibility Plan for Each Spouse These plans include a Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Affairs, an Advance Health Care Directive outlining your wishes and naming your Health Care Agent, HIPAA Authorizations, along with your Last Will and Testament or Pour-Over Will (whichever is applicable), and Burial or Cremation Instructions.
Child Security Plan for Any Minor Children This plan contains your Nomination of Long Term Guardians, Nomination of Emergency Guardians, reproducible Caregiver Authorizations, a Power of Attorney for health care. You’ll also detail any instructions for your child’s education, medical decisions, and religious upbringing.
Asset Transfers and Beneficiary Designations A Trust Plan will also include a schedule of the Trust’s initial assets, an Assignment of Tangible Personal Property, preparation of a Deed to transfer your home to your Trust, and a County Preliminary Change of Ownership Report for the transfer. We will also provide you with instructions for updating beneficiary designations on your life insurance policies and other accounts. Depending on your personal needs, an assignment of Business Interests to the Trust, and Transfer Deeds for additional properties may be necessary.
Our workbook will serve as a guide as you think through the important decisions needed to complete your Family Stewardship Plan.
It all begins with scheduling your Family Stewardship Planning Session. Give us some basic information so we can block off uninterrupted time to focus on you.
In advance of our Family Stewardship Planning Session, you’ll have some homework to do to prepare. You will receive resources to guide you though this preparation process, as well as some questions to think about prior to our planning session.
You’ll meet virtually with one of our attorneys via phone call or video conference to discuss your needs. We’ll talk about your priorities, your family situation, and what legal documents are needed to accomplish your goals.
After we’ve reviewed your information and answered all of your questions, you’ll be able to select the Family Stewardship Planning package that’s right for your family, and your budget.
At this point you get to relax and let us do the work. It is our goal to provide much more than a binder full of legal papers. You need a plan that you fully understand and that will work for your family when you need it most. That’s what we provide.
Once your plan is complete we’ll schedule a time for you to review and sign your documents. This isn’t the end of our relationship, but only the beginning. We will review your plan every 3 years, and are always available to assist you if you need to make any updates or changes.