The Estate Planning Process
Step #1 - Your Initial Consultation
At EPC, our knowledgeable and experienced estate planning attorney, Cassandra J. Swanson, makes the estate planning process as easy and simple as possible for you. The process begins with a simple conversation. There’s no preparation necessary on your part unless you choose to fill out our client worksheet in preparation for your initial consultation.
We will meet you in the comfort and convenience of your own home or business office, by telephone, virtually, at your financial advisor's office, at our office conveniently located in beautiful Town & Country, Missouri, or at a location that is convenient for you. We understand that life is busy, and it is hard to make the time to get your estate plan in place. At EPC, we will come to you - there is no additional fee!
During your initial consultation, our estate planning attorney will take the time to get to know you, understand the various types of assets in your estate, and your vision for asset distribution upon your passing to your children, loved ones, or your favorite charity.
At the end of your initial consultation, our attorney will help you decide which estate planning package is right for you based on your unique situation, assets, and estate planning goals. Our attorney will explain the pros and cons of adding tax planning to your estate plan, but the decision will be up to you. At the end of your initial consultation, you will know the cost upfront – our pricing is simple and straightforward. There are no surprises and no hidden fees.
If you choose to move forward, you will pay for one-half (1/2) of your estate plan at the end of your initial consultation, and the remainder will be paid at your signing appointment. Additional payment plans are also available.
Call or text us at (314) 626-4500 or email our estate planning attorney, Cass Swanson, at [email protected] to schedule your free initial consultation to get the estate planning process started. We are here to help and look forward to working closely with you every step of the way to ensure that you leave your legacy your way, so that you and your family have peace of mind today!
Step #2 - Estate Planning Document Review With our Attorney
Our estate planning attorney will create a comprehensive, personalized estate plan to reflect your wishes and goals based on the information that you provide during your initial consultation.
A comprehensive estate plan typically includes a Will or a Pour-Over Will and Revocable Living Trust, Healthcare Directive (Living Will), Medical Power of Attorney, HIPAA/FERPA Release, Durable/Financial Power of Attorney, and a Beneficiary Deed or Special Warranty Deed depending on the package that is best suited for your unique situation. We will explain all of these documents, why they are needed, and how they work together to protect you and your loved ones during your initial consultation.
You will receive draft documents within one (1) to two (2) weeks after your initial consultation if you choose to review them. You will also have an opportunity to review your estate planning documents with your attorney before you attend your signing appointment to ensure that you understand your estate plan, all of your questions are answered and that all of the information in your documents, including the names of your beneficiaries and your distribution scheme, are correct and accurate before we print your final documents for your signing appointment.
Step #3 - Your Signing Appointment
Our estate planning attorney will coordinate your signing appointment with you to determine the best date, time, and location that is convenient for you during your initial consultation. Typically, your signing appointment is scheduled one (1) month after the date of your initial consultation.
If you are planning a vacation, have surgery scheduled, or have immediate health concerns, please let our attorney know, and your signing appointment will be scheduled to meet your unique situation. Our attorney is more than happy to accommodate your needs at no additional cost!
Your signing appointment will take less than an hour. EPC will scan and make a copy of your fully executed estate planning documents, and you will keep the originals. An electronic version of your executed documents will be uploaded to your client portal so that you can access your documents at any time, no matter where you are.
Our estate planning attorney, Cass Swanson, looks forward to creating a comprehensive, personalized estate plan just for you! Our fees are fixed, so there are no surprises.
Please note that once you review and approve your estate planning documents at your final review meeting with our attorney, the EPC team will begin printing your documents for your signing appointment with date-specific information. If you want to make changes after your documents have been printed, there is a $250 reprinting fee.