Why You Don’t Want an Initial Consultation, But a Life & Legacy Planning Session Instead

A standard first meeting with an estate planning attorney might go like this: you sit down, respond to questions regarding your family and assets, and the attorney informs you about the necessary documents – usually a will, trust, health care directive, and power of attorney – along with their associated costs. This approach can lead to problems, as it suggests that the lawyer you are thinking of hiring may not be equipped to help you make informed decisions that you fully grasp, and lacks a business model that supports you in prioritizing what is important to you, along with pricing your planning accordingly. A one-size-fits-all pricing model (or hourly billing) for a set of documents is a warning sign that you might not be collaborating with the right attorney for your estate planning needs.

In contrast, our Life & Legacy Planning Process and the initial Life & Legacy Planning Session are designed differently. We don’t start with a casual meet and greet type of initial consultation. Instead, it’s a productive meeting specifically aimed at understanding your family dynamics, your assets, and how the law applies to your unique circumstances. This process provides you with decision-making frameworks that empower you to make thoughtful choices for yourself and your loved ones. Most importantly, it guarantees that your planning documents will be effective when your family needs them the most.

In this article, you will learn how the Life & Legacy Planning Process, particularly our first Life & Legacy Planning Session, transforms estate planning from a mere transaction that might give you a false sense of security thinking “we completed our estate planning” into a process of guidance and clarity. This transformation helps you become a more informed parent, a better business leader and financial steward, and/or a more engaged citizen in your community, all while having the confidence that you have done right by yourself and your loved ones.

Clarity, Control, and Confidence in Every Decision

The primary distinction between a standard consultation and the Life & Legacy Planning Session lies in its intent.

In a conventional consultation, the lawyer primarily focuses on informing you of your needs. They will collect some information, suggest a series of documents, and provide a fee estimate. This method often results in significant gaps that may leave your family vulnerable to unnecessary costs, taxes, court issues, and disputes.

You might walk away a few weeks later with a collection of documents, yet without a true understanding of whether your plan will function as you desire – and an increased risk that it could fail the people you cherish most when it’s too late.

In contrast, the aim of the Life & Legacy Planning Session is to educate and empower you, enabling you to make decisions with full awareness. Rather than simply telling you what you need, we will guide you through real potential issues that may arise. For instance, we might pose questions like these:

● Who would step in to care for your children, or if your children are adults, could designating one child to make decisions lead to conflict with your other children?

● How crucial is it for you to keep your family out of the court system?

● Is it essential for you that your affairs remain private if you become incapacitated and after your passing?

● What advice would you want your children to receive from you if you were not present?

● Who would take care of your loved ones and your assets if you were to become incapacitated or pass away today?

● How would your family access your accounts, locate your passwords, or unlock your phone?

These inquiries illuminate the reality your loved ones might encounter. They also empower you to make informed decisions that align with your values, enhance family bonds, and safeguard the individuals you care about the most.

Here’s where the session delves even deeper. Life & Legacy Planning goes beyond merely dividing assets. It encompasses the guidance, wisdom, and personal values you wish to leave behind. In this session, we’ll assist you in contemplating how to capture those intangible assets—your stories, experiences, and life lessons—because for many families, these hold greater significance than financial inheritance. This approach ensures that your plan is not only legally robust but also profoundly personal.

What Happens in the Session

Your Life & Legacy Planning Session is structured to be an engaging, productive meeting rather than a passive discussion. During this time, we’ll explore four essential areas that guarantee your plan transcends mere paperwork:

1. Education on how the law pertains to you.

Many individuals are unaware that without a plan, or with an outdated one, state law—not their wishes—determines the fate of their assets, children, and healthcare. In the session, we’ll guide you through what the law stipulates would occur if you were to pass away or become incapacitated today. This isn’t theoretical; it provides a clear understanding of how your loved ones would be affected. Most clients are often surprised, sometimes even shocked, to discover how different the actual outcome could be from their intentions. However, this awareness lays the groundwork for making informed decisions.

2. A thorough examination of your family dynamics and financial situation.

We’ll go well beyond simply listing bank accounts or properties. Together, we’ll talk about your loved ones, their roles, and their needs. Who would take care of your children? Would they have the necessary resources and support? How would your spouse cope financially without your income? Are there family relationships that might lead to tension or conflict?

Before the session, you will take stock of all your assets to make sure nothing is missed, and we will go over the inventory together. Even if you choose not to plan with us, this inventory will help avoid the frequent issue of lost or forgotten assets, as your loved ones will be aware of what you possess and where to find it.

3. Defining your goals and priorities.

Even though the traditional approach is widespread, estate planning is not a one-size-fits-all solution – since everyone has different priorities. Some individuals aim to secure their spouse, while others want to protect their children’s inheritances from divorce or creditors. Some may prioritize keeping their affairs confidential, while others wish to completely avoid probate court. During the session, you will have the opportunity to discuss what is most important to you. Perhaps your main concern is ensuring your children are raised according to your wishes if something were to happen to you. Or maybe it’s about ensuring your business continues to operate smoothly. Whatever your priorities may be, in your session, you will gain clarity, and if we decide to collaborate, we will create a plan that reflects your values and objectives.

4. Selecting the appropriate plan and path forward.

By the conclusion of the session, you won’t simply hear, “You need a trust and here’s my fee.” Instead, you will be empowered to make your own informed choice about what is best for you and your family. We will present you with the available planning options, explain how each one functions in practice, and you will select the plan and fee that align with your goals and budget. You will leave with a clear understanding of what will be developed, the associated costs, and the timeline for completion.

Bringing It All Together

The Life & Legacy Planning Session goes beyond merely selecting documents; it ensures that your planning is effective when life throws challenges your way. While traditional consultations focus solely on the ‘what’ you need, our session delves into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind each choice. This distinction makes all the difference.

After attending the session, you’ll gain a clear understanding of what will truly happen to your loved ones, the assurance that your decisions align with your values, and the comfort that comes from knowing your plan is robust enough for real-life situations.

Most importantly, your family will receive what they need most: a plan designed with their circumstances in mind, rather than just a collection of documents that might let them down in critical times. This is why taking this initial step is so crucial. It lays the groundwork for a plan that genuinely protects, supports, and honors those you cherish the most.

Your Next Step

If you’ve viewed estate planning as merely a brief meeting followed by a pile of paperwork, you now understand why this method frequently falls short. What your loved ones truly require is a plan that you comprehend and trust—one that embodies your values and simplifies matters rather than complicating them when life shifts.

If you’re prepared to develop a plan that you can rely on when you and your family need it—at a price that suits your financial situation—your next step is to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session. In just two hours, you’ll achieve clarity regarding your decisions, confidence in your plan, and the reassurance that your loved ones will be looked after precisely as you wish.

Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to learn more.

This article is a service of Kristen Wong of Seasons Estate Planning, APC, a Personal Family Lawyer® Firm. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session™, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session™.

The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.