Sydney takes pride in delivering her clients with custom estate plans quickly and efficiently. For a Deed Package or Powers of Attorney, your review/signing meeting is generally held within 7-10 days. For a Will or Trust Package, your review/signing meeting is generally held within 2-3 weeks from the time she has the necessary information.

Sydney will conduct a free 30-minute consultation with you to evaluate your needs first, and give a recommendation as to what kind of estate plan (if any) would be best suited for you. Once you decide on the documents and/or package you would like, you both sign a Representation Agreement that details what all you will receive for a flat-fee price. Pricing is established at the start, so there are no surprise fees or cost increases.

When you sign your Representation Agreement, 50% of the flat-fee is due in order for Sydney to prepare your documents, and the other 50% is due at your review/signing meeting when your documents are finalized.

Alternative payment plans can be arranged upon request; however, final payment is due at the time the documents are signed/completed.

If you have not already done estate planning, Sydney does not require you to bring any documents or statements to your initial meeting. Instead, she recommends you simply consider:

● Who do you wish to benefit if you passed away? Would you want them to receive a specific asset or a share* of your estate?

*Please Note: If you have multiple beneficiaries, it is best to consider distributions in fractions or percentages of your entire estate, and not specific dollar values. If your assets increase or decrease during your lifetime and you have specific $ amounts listed, this may result in unintended consequences.

○ If a beneficiary is unable to receive that asset or their share, where would you want it to go instead?

● Who do you want to be responsible for carrying out the distributions you make?

○ If that person is unable to do so, then who?

● Is there a person or persons you trust to help you if you needed assistance with your financial affairs? Medical decision-making?

○ If they are unavailable, then who?

Not necessarily. Trusts are often more about who you want to benefit and less about you. If your beneficiaries are adults and do not require special terms for their inheritance, a trust may not be necessary. Trusts are great tools for people with minor children, beneficiaries who should not inherit outright, or for long lists of beneficiaries and/or properties, but Sydney does not recommend this unless it is really necessary for you.

Probate is the court process by which the property of a person who has died is distributed. Estate administration after a person's death involves gathering the assets of the estate, paying debts & final expenses, and distributing remaining assets.

And, no. A Last Will and Testament tells the Probate Court where the decedent wanted their asset(s) transferring through the Court to go, and who they nominated to serve as the Personal Representative (executor) of the estate.

Assets that are jointly-owned, have direct pay-on-death beneficiaries designated, or are titled in the name of a trust, are considered non-probate assets and generally transfer directly to the joint owner, beneficiaries, or trust, without need for court documents or filings.

When a person dies with an asset titled solely in their own name, without any transfer designations, that asset often will require transfer through the court process, a.k.a. probate administration.

Estate planning documents are truly a gift to your loved ones. By providing legal instructions and designations for your estate, it reduces confusion, conflict, and costs.

For example, by paying $500 for a deed on the front end, you can save your beneficiaries $5,000+ on the back end, when it comes time to legally transfer your home after death. By paying $500 for Powers of Attorney on the front end, you can save your loved ones from having to go to court to open a guardianship or conservatorship to step in to help you (often costing $2500+ in legal/court fees).

Although costly, estate plans pay for themselves many times over when they are done right, and hiring an attorney to prepare and execute the documents with you ensures they are legally-sound and accurate the first time. There may be “deals” to be had elsewhere, but when handling the deed to your land or your hard-earned assets, we sincerely caution against taking shortcuts.

SKT Estates cares deeply that our clients are set up for success, and wants estate planning to be affordable to all. If proper planning seems unaffordable to you, please utilize our free 30-minute consultation at the very least for some guidance and advice!