Why should you work with Unsworth LaPlante?
- All we do is Estate Planning, Long-Term Care and Medicaid Planning and Elder Law. Estate Planning is complicated, which is why we provide free education to ensure that clients have knowledge about their Estate Planning options.
- Our Estate Plans are always customized. Your Estate Plan will be designed just for you and your family.
- We use set fees. After meeting with you, we will tell you up front what the cost of your Estate Plan will be. There will be no surprises and we do not charge for phone calls, office visits, or e-mails.
- After signing the Estate Planning documents, you have 60 days to make free changes. We do this to take the pressure off you and to ensure that you are comfortable with the decisions you have made.
What to expect when creating your Estate Plan:
We have a five-step process for creating your Estate Plan. We have designed it this way to ensure your plan is customized for you and your Estate Planning needs.
Step 1: Attend a Free Webinar or Watch our Pre-Consultation Video
The first step in designing your Estate Plan is to attend one of our FREE Webinars. We encourage you to attend these Webinars so that you can learn more about what Estate Plan may be best for you and our firm can help. We often hear from our clients that our Webinars are extremely helpful in informing them about the different Estate Plan options available. If you are unable to attend one of our free webinars let us know and we can send you a Pre-Consultation Video.
Step 2: Personal Consultation and Plan Design
As a thank you for attending our Webinar, you will receive a 90-minute Consultation with one of our attorneys. This can be done in-person or via video conference. If, after meeting with one of our attorneys, you decide that we are a good fit and we decide to work together, we will begin to develop your Estate Plan. During the initial consultation, the attorney will discuss with you what your personal Estate Planning and Medicaid Planning needs are. Once we have the necessary information, we will begin to prepare a outline of your Estate Plan for your review.
Step 3: Phone Conference to Review Estate Plan Outline
Your second meeting with the attorney will be a phone conference to review the outline of your Estate Plan. Prior to this meeting you will receive a copy of your Estate Plan Outline for your review. After the phone call, we will make any necessary adjustments or changes to your Estate Plan if needed and begin to finalize your documents.
Step 4: Personalized Signing Video and Signing Appointment
Your third meeting with the attorney will be an in-office appointment for you to sign your Estate Planning documents. Prior to this meeting you will receive your Estate Plan Portfolio and a Personalized Video to walk you through your Estate Plan (video not included for simple Wills). After reviewing your Binder and watching the video you will sign your documents with the Attorney.
Step 5: Trust Funding
If your Estate Plan includes a Revocable or Irrevocable trust. The final step is to begin funding your Trust. Funding is the process of transferring assets into your Trust. Think of your Trust as an empty box or receptacle waiting to receive assets. It offers no protection from Probate until title to your property is in the name of your Trust. The attorney will go over the funding process with you in more detail after the documents have been signed. Included in your binder will also be instructions on how to properly fund your Trust.
Once your trust has been established and fully funded, we recommend checking in with us every few years or if there are major changes within the family or with your assets. We want you to think of working with us as a continuous relationship. We encourage you to call us with any questions you have or anytime you need further Estate Planning or Medicaid planning assistance.
