How Much Does a Will Cost?
At Wakefield Law, we get this question a lot. Of course, it makes sense to want to know what you are getting into and to budget accordingly. As you begin thinking about your estate plan, take some time to shop around and find the right attorney for you. While price may be a factor, finding an attorney whose process and philosophy aligns with your goals is essential. Estate planning doesn’t need to be a painful process. In fact, it can be a gratifying, rewarding experience if you choose well.
What to Look for in a Great Estate Planning Attorney
Your estate planning attorney should be the whole package: experienced, affordable, a good communicator, and a great listener. As you start looking for an estate planning attorney, read attorney websites and social media pages carefully. Are they an authority in the estate planning field? Do they seem to understand your values and what is important to you?
Reach out and have an initial phone call with a few attorneys. Do they respond quickly to your request? How is their phone manner? Do they understand your concerns, goals, and intentions? What is their process?
Another great consideration is whether estate planning is the attorney’s specialization or one of a very small number of specialities. This may help you select an attorney who is familiar with all of your estate planning options, rather than an attorney who practices in various other fields.
At Wakefield Law, our goal is to provide estate planning services that prioritize convenience, ease, and accuracy. We strive to ensure that our services are affordable and that you receive top-quality work when you meet with an attorney. We have engineered our client experience process to maximize efficiency and face-to-face time with an attorney.
Remember to ask how estate planning is billed. At Wakefield Law, we use flat-fee billing, rather than hourly rates. The reason? We like our clients to know up-front, from the beginning of our engagement, how much the whole process will cost. This way, our clients are never surprised and feel comfortable reaching out to us with questions and clarifications without the fear of being charged for every communication.
Why We Can’t Give You a Quote Online
We are bargain hunters, and we know you are, too! We also know that it can be incredibly frustrating to try and compare prices online, only to learn that they are nowhere to be found! But, there is a really good reason why we can’t provide prices online or over the phone.
Estate planning is incredibly personal, and we take the mandate seriously to provide individualized, custom-tailored legal services to each client we meet. There is no one-size-fits-all form when it comes to proper estate planning. Each family is different, and each individual’s personal preference is unique to him or her.
We believe that it is impossible to assess the appropriate course of action or amount of time required for any individual’s estate plan until we have met you, discussed your wishes and intentions, and taken a close look at your assets. There are plenty of online, do-it-yourself companies that will charge less than $100 for a Will. We aren’t one of them. Why? Because those DIY documents are often rife with mistakes, errors, and legally unenforceable clauses. Further, they do not provide the oversight of an attorney to ensure all documents are executed properly and that they work alongside each other. At Wakefield Law, we do charge more than those online DIY services, but you can rest easy knowing that you are paying more for an experienced, detail-oriented attorney to review and affirm every part of your comprehensive estate plan. Not to mention, a comprehensive estate plan contains way more than just a Will -- Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives, and other related documents are essential, too!
Let Us Do a Great Job for You and Your Family
You have also probably seen those law firms that quote a flat-rate low price on wills either online or over the phone without ever looking at your assets or assessing your needs. Any attorney that can quote you a price for a Will online or over the phone may not do a thorough job setting up your estate plan.
In our firm, we allot every new client relationship with up to a one hour meeting to review your current assets and family situation. This is more than bare-bones intake. We believe that the only ethical way to serve our clients is to make sure that you get plenty of time with an attorney who has the expertise necessary to make a complete assessment of your estate planning needs. During your meeting, you will meet with an experienced attorney who will take a close look at your assets and review your concerns and goals with you. At the end of the meeting, you will understand your planning options and the costs of each. That is what an attorney is for! We believe in the importance of creating a complete, carefully-tailored estate plan for every one of our clients that protects your loved ones and prevents problems that may occur after you are gone.
If you are ready to safeguard your assets and take care of your loved ones, start by calling our office at 703-771-9740 to schedule an appointment!