INDUSTRY INSIGHT
ESTATE PLANNING
SPONSORED CONTENT
ESTATE
PLANNING
Doesn’t Have to
be Complicated
I
think a lot of folks put off doing their estate planning
because, let’s face it, no one really wants to dwell on their
own mortality. That being said, the other biggest reason for
such procrastination is probably the fear that it is going to be
a complicated and expensive process to pursue. However, the
reality for the vast majority of us it that our estate planning needs
are usually pretty straightforward and can generally be addressed
at a very affordable cost.
I know many people associate hiring a lawyer or a law firm with
spending big bucks and incurring steep hourly billing rates, but
the reality is that most basic estate planning documents are often
provided on a flat fee basis. At the law firm of American Wills &
Estates we’ve been assisting clients in Pittsburgh and throughout
Western Pennsylvania with a full spectrum of estate planning
legal services for over 25 years. We probably provide ninety-five
(95%) percent of our legal services on a flat or set fee basis and we
haven’t changed our prices for many of these services in a number
of years.
Often times when meeting with a client for the first time,
we’ll find that the individual’s estate planning needs can be
addressed by the preparation of a simple Last Will and Testament,
Durable Power of Attorney and a Living Will (sometimes called
an Advanced Directive). We can typically prepare these three
documents for a client in a single office visit and at a total cost of
under $200.00. Likewise, for a married or cohabitating couple this
same type of plan can often be done for a total cost of less than
$400.00.
Obviously, if we get into more sophisticated types estate
planning services involving revocable or irrevocable trusts, special
needs trusts, marital trusts, etc., the overall cost of the plan can
increase. Even then, we still typically provide even those more
advanced types of estate planning services on a flat or set fee
basis.
The bottom line is this, putting an effective estate plan in place
does not have to be a scary or expensive undertaking, but not
having any kind of estate plan in place should scare the heck out
of you. We all work way too hard to simply roll the dice when it
comes to passing on our hard earned legacies to our loved ones.
If you’ve been procrastinating when it comes to addressing your
own estate planning needs, it’s time to stop. Give us a call today
at (412) 381-7370 to schedule your free legal consultation or visit
our law firm online at www.americanwillsandestates.com.
We’ve been addressing our clients estate planning and probate estate
administration needs with competency, compassion and care for over
25 years. Give us a call today.
Lloyd A. Welling, Esq.
Attorney Welling received his law degree from Duquesne
University School of Law in 1992. He started the law firm
of American Wills & Estates in 1997 and has practiced
exclusively in the areas of Probate Estate Administration,
Estate Planning and Real Estate law since that time.
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