• Cost Estimate Worksheet

    Please complete this worksheet to review options and fees for your estate plan. Your results will appear when all questions are answered.

  • Section 1: About You

    Please tell us about your marital status and children.

  • Some parents with children from a previous relationship want to set aside assets just for those children. Typically, such assets would include financial accounts, life insurance, or retirement accounts accumulated prior to their current marriage. In addition, some parents simply want to ensure that their own children are financially secure regardless of whether their current or former spouse provides financial support for them. 

    Answer YES to this question if either or both parents want to allocate assets to a separate trust for their own children. Answer NO if all assets will be managed in a single trust for the children of both parents.

  • Section 2: Avoiding Probate

    Most people choose to avoid probate as part of their estate plan. Avoiding probate will result in lower costs and greater convenience for your family, but the initial cost of estate planning is somewhat higher.  Therefore, the question is whether to pay a little more now, or to shift additional costs to your beneficiaries. You may change your answer to this question to see how it affects your cost.

  • Section 3: Real Estate

    Please tell us about real estate that will be included in your estate plan.

  • Section 4: Optional Trusts

    Several types of optional trusts may be added to any estate plan to achieve specific objectives. The questions below pertain to these optional trusts. Please answer each question based on your objectives.

  • A Pet Trust is used to set aside money for the care of your pets, and to appoint a caregiver for them. Your pets will be entrusted to the care of a person that you select, and you may appoint a trustee to manage money set aside for their care. This type of trust should be considered by pet owners who are concerned about how their pets will be cared for when they are no longer able to do so.

  • A Medicaid Trust is specifically designed to accelerate your eligibility for Medicaid benefits in a nursing home setting. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to this type of trust. A Medicaid Trust should only considered by persons who are concerned about paying for long term care in the future (i.e. it cannot be used to qualify for benefits now). The potential cost savings from a Medicaid Trust can be substantial when properly drafted and funded.

  • A Special Needs Trust is used to provide financial support for a person who is receiving government benefits due to a disability. The purpose of a Special Needs Trust is to improve the quality of life for a disabled person without disrupting their eligibility for benefits.

  • An Asset Protection Trust is used to prevent your assets from being seized by judgment creditors following a lawsuit. A trustee is appointed by you to manage the assets held in the trust.  The trust assets may be distributed by the trustee to you or your family. No other trust protects your assets from creditors, and still allows the assets to be returned to you. However, an Asset Protection Trust should only be considered by persons who are at particular risk of personal liability that may not be covered by insurance.

  • A Cottage Trust is typically used to preserve real estate for the use of family members. The trust will control how the property is used and maintained. It may also hold money that you set aside to help offset taxes, insurance or maintainenance. This type of trust will allow your family to enjoy the property for many years without financial hardship.

  • If you want to preserve a home for the use of another person for his or her lifetime, then a Life Estate Trust is the best way to accomplish that goal.  You may instruct the beneficiary and trustee exactly how the property is to be used and maintained, and when the trust will terminate.  You may also add money to the life estate trust to offset some of the costs associated with maintaining the property on a long term basis.

  • Your Estate Planning Cost Estimate

  • Background

    Creating a comprehensive estate plan that fits your needs is based on a variety of factors, including your marital status, age, assets, budget, beneficiaries, and objectives. The types of estate plans suggested by this form are suitable options for you based on the information that you have provided. We may recommend a different type of estate plan after our consultation with you. The options suggested below may not be appropriate for persons with assets worth more than $11 million.

  • Basic Estate Plan

    Cost:  $1,150.00

    Based on your answers, a Basic Estate Plan is appropriate for your situation. This plan includes all of the essential estate planning documents that you need. You will be able to give instructions for distribution of your assets upon death, and appoint persons to handle your affairs upon death or incapacity. A testamentary trust is included trust for under-age beneficiaries, if needed. This plan also includes instructions to implement your estate plan by the persons you appoint to do so.

    A Basic Estate Plan is a comprehensive estate planning solution at an affordable cost.  Probate is required to administer your estate upon death. 

    Learn More About a Basic Estate Plan

  • Basic Estate Plan

    Cost:  $1,350.00

    Based on your answers, a Basic Estate Plan is appropriate for your situation. This plan includes all of the essential estate planning documents for both spouses. You will be able to give instructions for distribution of your assets upon death, and appoint persons to handle your affairs upon death or incapacity. A testamentary trust is included trust for under-age beneficiaries, if needed. This plan also includes instructions to implement your estate plan by the persons you appoint to do so.

    A Basic Estate Plan is a comprehensive estate planning solution at an affordable cost. Probate is required to administer your estate upon death. 

    Learn More About a Basic Estate Plan

  • Basic Estate Plan for Children

    Cost:  $1,750.00

    Based on your answers, a Basic Estate Plan for Children is appropriate for your family. This plan is specifically designed for single parents who want to create a trust to manage property for their children, but at a lower cost than a "Living Trust Plan".

    A Basic Estate Plan for Children includes a last will and testament for general estate planning, and a separate revocable trust for your children. This arrangement allows you to easily designate life insurance and retirement accounts to the trust for your children. Other assets (e.g. real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property) will be directed to the trust in accordance with your last will and testament.

    This plan requires probate to administer the last will and testament in the event of your death. 

    Learn More About a Basic Estate Plan for Children

  • Basic Estate Plan for Children

    Cost:  $1,950.00

    Based on your answers, a Basic Estate Plan for Children is appropriate for your family. This plan is specifically designed for couples who want to create a trust to manage property for their children, but at a lower cost than a "Living Trust Plan".


    A Basic Estate Plan for Children includes a last will and testament for general estate planning, and a separate revocable trust for your children. This arrangement allows you to easily designate life insurance and retirement accounts to the trust for your children. Other assets (e.g. real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property) will be directed to the trust in accordance with your last will and testament.

    This plan requires probate to administer the last will and testament in the event of your death. 

    Learn More About a Basic Estate Plan for Children

  • Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families

    Cost:  $2,450.00

    Based on your answers, a Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families is appropriate for your family. This plan is specifically designed for couples with children from previous relationships who want to provide separate financial support for their own children. This plan is less costly than a "Living Trust Plan for Blended Families" but probate is required for post-death administration of property.


    A Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families includes a last will and testament for general estate planning, and a separate revocable trust for each parents' children. This arrangement allows each parent to easily designate life insurance and retirement accounts to the trust for their own children. Other assets (e.g. real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property) will be directed to the children's trusts in accordance with your last will and testament.

    This plan requires probate to administer the last will and testament upon your death. 

    Learn More About a Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families

  • Estate Plans to Avoid Probate

    One of your objectives is to avoid probate. Since you do not have any minor children, we have two types of estate plans that may be used to distribute your property without probate proceedings. We will help you decide which plan is best for you during our consultation.

     

    (Option 1) Probate Avoidance Plan: $1,750.00

    A Probate Avoidance Plan is designed to distribute all of your property to your beneficiaries without probate. No one is appointed to distribute and manage the property, so this plan is only appropriate for a small number of adult beneficiaries who do not need a trustee to gather your property and distribute it. 

    A Probate Avoidance Plan also includes all of the documents and instructions that your beneficiaries need to obtain your assets upon death. This will help your family to distribute property quickly and conveniently without professional help.

    Learn More About a Probate Avoidance Plan

     

    (Option 2) Living Trust Plan: $2,450.00

    A Living Trust Plan is also designed to distribute property without probate, but a trustee is appointed to distribute your property. This plan is appropriate when you want to appoint a trustee to gather property and distribute it to your beneficiaries.

    A Living Trust Plan includes all of the documents necessary for your trustee to distribute the trust property without professional assistance, which will be more convenient and less costly for your family.

    Learn More About a Living Trust Plan

  • Estate Plans to Avoid Probate

    One of your objectives is to avoid probate. Since you do not have any minor children, we have two types of estate plans that may be used to distribute your property without probate proceedings. We will help you decide which plan is best for you during our consultation.

     

    (Option 1) Probate Avoidance Plan: $1,950.00

    A Probate Avoidance Plan is designed to distribute all of your property to your beneficiaries without probate. No one is appointed to distribute your property, so this plan is only appropriate for a small number of adult beneficiaries who do not need a trustee to manage and distribute property for them. 

    A Probate Avoidance Plan includes all of the documents and instructions that your beneficiaries need to obtain your assets upon death. This will help your family to distribute property quickly and conveniently without professional help.

    Learn More About a Probate Avoidance Plan

     

    (Option 2) Living Trust Plan: $2,750.00

    A Living Trust Plan is also designed to distribute property without probate, but a trustee is appointed to distribute your property. This plan is appropriate when you a have larger number of beneficiaries who may need a trustee to gather property and distribute it for them.

    A Living Trust Plan also includes all of the documents necessary for your trustee to distribute the trust property without professional assistance, which will be more convenient and less costly for your family.

    Learn More About a Living Trust Plan

  • Living Trust Plan

    Cost:  $2,450.00

    Based on your answers, a Living Trust Plan is appropriate for your situation. This type of plan avoids probate proceedings, and provides a complete estate planning solution to manage and distribute property to support your children. 

    A Living Trust Plan includes all of the documents and instructions that your trustee needs to manage and distribute the trust property without professional help, which will be more convenient and less costly for your family. 

    Learn More About a Living Trust Plan

  • Living Trust Plan

    Cost:  $2,750.00

    Based on your answers, a Living Trust Plan is appropriate for your situation. This type of plan avoids probate proceedings, and provides a complete estate planning solution to protect your children. 

    A Living Trust Plan includes all of the documents necessary for your trustee to manage and distribute the trust property without professional assistance, which will be more convenient and less costly for your family.

    Learn More About a Living Trust Plan

  • Living Trust Plan for Blended Families

    Cost:  $3,250.00

    Based on your answers, a Living Trust Plan for Blended Families is appropriate for your family. This plan is specifically designed for couples with children from previous relationships who want to provide separate financial support for their own children. 


    A Living Trust Plan for Blended Families includes three trusts: one trust for your joint marital property, and a separate revocable trust for each spouse's children. This arrangement allows each parent to easily designate their own assets to the trust for their children. Other assets (e.g. real estate, motor vehicles, business assets, and personal property) owned or accumulated by both of you will be directed to the children's trusts in accordance with your instructions.

    This plan includes all of the documents necessary for your trustee to manage and distribute your property without professional assistance, which will result in greater convenience and lower costs for your family.

    Learn More About a Living Trust Plan for Blended Families

  • Additional Deeds for Real Estate

    Our services include drafting and recording a deed to coordinate ownership of your primary home with your estate plan. Since you own more than one parcel of real estate, you may want to incorporate other properties into your estate plan. If so, our fee to draft and record each additional deed is $300.00. This cost does not include the filing fee payable to the register of deeds.

  • Medicaid Trust

    A Medicaid Trust may be added to your estate plan to enhance your eligibility for nursing home benefits. A Medicaid Trust also protects your assets from creditors. 

    Our Medicaid Trust includes all of the documents and instructions needed by you and your trustee to properly administer the trust. The fee for a Medicaid Trust is $2,250.00, in addition to the other fees quoted above.

    Learn More About Medicaid Trusts

  • Pet Trust

    A Pet Trust may be added to your estate plan to appoint a caregiver and trustee for any pets that you own now or in the future. The cost for a pet trust is $450.00, in addition to the other fees quoted above.

    Learn More About Pet Trusts

  • Special Needs Trust

    A Special Needs Trust may be added to your estate plan to provide care and support for a disabled beneficiary without disrupting their eligibility for government assistance. The fee for a special needs trust is $1,250.00, in addition to the other fees quoted above.

    Learn More About Special Needs Trusts

  • Asset Protection Trust

    An Asset Protection Trust is used to protect your assets from judgment creditors in the event that you are sued. These types of trusts are quite complex, and have many advantages and disadvantages to consider. The fee for an Asset Protection Trust is $2,250.00 in addition to the other fees for your estate planning.

    Learn More About Asset Protection Trusts

  • Cottage Trust

    A Cottage Trust is used to preserve a family cottage or other property for your children and beneficiaries. The trust may provide detailed instructions for the use and maintenance of the property. In many cases, money is also added to the trust to help offset upkeep, taxes and insurance for the property. The fee for this type of trust is $1,250.00 in addition to the other fees quoted above.

    Learn More About Cottage Trusts

  • Life Estate Trust

    A Life Estate Trust is designed to allow another person to reside in your home for the remainder of his or her lifetime. This type of trust enables you provide detailed instructions for the use and upkeep of the property while the person is residing there. A Life Estate Trust is a much better solution than a life estate deed because you may provide more detailed instructions regarding the use of the property and appoint a trustee to ensure that your instructions are carried out. The fee for a life estate trust is $1,250.00 in addition to the other fees quoted above. 

    Learn More About Life Estate Trusts

  • Benefits of Using Our Services

  • By using our services, we will help you to:

    • Clearly understand your estate planning options
    • Select the correct estate plan for your situation
    • Reach your estate planning objectives
    • Implement your estate plan under our direction
    • Prevent litigation and disputes among family members
    • Ensure that your property is distributed in the manner that you intend
    • Increase efficiency and convenience of post-death property distribution
    • Reduce or eliminate professional fees for post-death property distribution
    • Protect property from waste or dissipation by young beneficiaries
    • Protect beneficiaries with substance abuse problems
    • Protect beneficiaries with mental or physical limitations

    In most cases, you and your family will save more money than you pay for our services. Your total savings depends upon the type of estate plan that you select.

  • Payment Options

  • We strive to ensure that estate planning is affordable for every family.  Therefore, you may request an installment payment plan for up to 3 months at no charge.  We also accept payment by credit card, which you can use to pay online through a secure client portal.

  • Our Satisfaction Guarantee

  • We are so confident in the value of our services that we offer a full money-back guarantee following the execution of any estate planning document. Therefore, the person who signed the documents may return the original versions to us within 90 days of the date of execution for a full refund of all fees paid, excluding fees for preparation or recording of deeds that have been filed with the register of deeds.

  • Schedule a Consultation

  • Thank you for considering our services.  Please select the button below to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.  You may schedule a phone conference, video conference, or personal meeting.

    There is no cost to discuss our services with an attorney, and you may opt out at any time. 

    Please call our office if you have additional questions.  We look forward to working with you.  

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