If I had a quarter for every time I’ve been asked this question, I would be extremely wealthy! What always bugs me about the question is that no one ever asks what’s the value of estate planning. Or, by getting it done right, how much will I save my family in the long run? In the workshops that we host on a regular basis, we often talk about what to be wary of when looking at costs. Yes, there are certain costs associated with having documents drafted, but there are different models that attorneys will use in terms of cost on the back end that will often make the cost much more affordable in the long run versus in the short run.

 

Estate planning documents can range from $200 to several thousand dollars. In certain circumstances, if we are doing high-end planning for individuals with more than approximately 12 million dollars for a single person or approximately 24 million dollars for a couple, the cost can be upwards of $10,000. Obviously, if an individual does not have that type of wealth, they would certainly not do that type of planning and would not need that type of plan. However, each plan that we offer in our office is priced not only based on the document itself but also on the knowledge that goes into the planning and the software that is used to generate the planning, as well as the value to the family. I could go on, giving at least 25 to 50 examples of people who tried to save a few dollars and ended up getting hurt to the tune of hundreds of thousands and in one case, millions of dollars, simply because they wanted to save a few dollars on the front end.

 

Estate planning is very reasonable and is worth every penny. If you attend one of our estate planning workshops, you will learn the prices up front and will then be given an opportunity to receive more education and move forward with the firm.

 

We offer free workshops every week, sign up for one here!