My documents aren’t full of legalese and archaic terms. I draft them to be clear and understandable.
I provide electronic copies of your documents, which you can access any time through a secure site.
I keep contact, answer questions, and help with follow-up like changing beneficiary designations.
I talk to clients by phone, text, email, or video—whatever works best for you.
Schedule your appointments and calls from my website—no awkward calling or back-and-forth required.
For clients who don’t live close to River Falls and Hudson, I use technology to meet and work virtually. I do work for families throughout Wisconsin.
Traditional firms still charge for 5-minute phone calls and postage, but I only charge flat fees for my services.
Many firms still only accept paper checks or cash. I accept credit card payments, both in person and online.
When you buy life insurance, you don’t pay for it all at once; you pay month by month. I give you the option to do the same for your estate planning.
The first step is to assess your current situation. What will happen if you or your spouse fall ill or lose mental capacity? Have you named a loved one to make health care decisions for you? Can anyone manage your property and pay your bills for you? What if you or your spouse die?
I can answer these questions for you in a free estate planning consultation. Once you know where you stand, you can make decisions about what you want to change.
Once you know your current situation, you can start taking action. I help by answering your legal questions and recommending a course of action.
As I guide you through the process, you make decisions and I draft the legal documents that will compose your estate plan.
After I’ve answered your questions and drafted your legal documents, it’s time to execute them. We do this in a meeting where we review your documents all at once, I answer any last-minute questions, and then I ensure each document is executed correctly. Then we celebrate!
After you’ve executed your documents, life goes on. It’s not uncommon for additional questions to spring to mind or for you to change your mind about something. I answer these questions and make these minor changes for one year after you’ve executed your documents, at no charge.
Estate planning—it’s not about the money
/in Estate Planning /by BenjaminFew people inherit anything, very few inherit much, and half the average inheritance is spent immediately. That’s what this study from 2012 says. I ran across the study through this New York Times article, which talks about a middle-aged woman who inherited $1 million. The article includes sensible advice for heirs from financial professionals: pay […]
How do I provide for a disabled family member in my estate plan?
/0 Comments/in Estate Planning /by BenjaminIf you have a family member who is disabled, you’ll need to take that into account in your estate planning. It’s a common situation, but it’s important to provide for your disabled beneficiaries in a different way. Why do I need to plan differently for disabled family members? There are two main problems with giving […]
What is a trust, exactly?
/0 Comments/in Estate Planning, Medicaid /by Benjamin“Do I need a trust?” It’s about the most common question I get. Trusts are one of the most complicated, confusing, and misunderstood pieces of estate planning. In this and following articles, I’m going to break them down and make trusts simple. First up: taking a step back to talk about what a trust is. […]
How virtual meetings make estate planning simple
/in Estate Planning /by BenjaminTraditional estate planning is not simple, and a big reason for that is meetings. Traditional meetings are on the lawyer’s terms Traditional estate planning involves three to four meetings (usually), over the course of six to eight weeks. All of these meetings are: In person, At the lawyer’s office, and During business hours. Some people […]
The real reasons you need a will
/in Estate Planning /by BenjaminThe no. 2 reason for not having a will is “I don’t have enough assets to leave to anyone.” But it’s a misconception that estate planning is only about who gets your assets. That’s just one part—and often not the most important.
What “simple estate planning” really means
/in Estate Planning /by BenjaminMost people, when you ask them, want their estate planning to be one thing: simple. Seasoned lawyers will tell you that “simple” really means “cheap.” Don’t bother with people who worry about your fee is their advice. But that advice is, in part, why so many people don’t have an estate plan. When people want […]