3 Levels of Planning
Estate planning at The Law Office of Jane E. DePalma is not one size fits all. We offer 3 levels of planning to suit your varying needs. From starter plans primarily for families with young children and little in the way of financial wealth to more robust plans for well established families concerned with matters of asset protection, preservation and increased growth, we’ve got you covered.
Generally, our fees range from $1,500 up to $8,000 on the high end for an extensive plan. It’s our opinion that if you are looking for less expensive planning, you may as well read up and do it yourself because you’ll get the same quality of planning online as you will with most lawyers charging fees that are less. However, when thinking about the costs of proper planning, consider what you paid for your living room furniture, most recent vacation, home entertainment system or mattress. Your family is worth so much more. Our plans are focused on ensuring your family has somewhere to turn if and when something happens to you, that your plan will work and you have real security, not the false security that comes with a fill-in-the-blank set of estate planning documents.
Personalized Service
We believe in personalized service for each and every client. Our approach is educational and proactive – we first determine your individual needs, desires and values, and then tailor your plan to best fulfill your dreams.
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We represent families throughout varying stages of life:
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traditional two parent families or single parents wishing to provide for and protect their children and themselves;
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unmarried couples who are either solidifying their relationship through proper planning or dissolving their relationship with the assistance of caring counsel,
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blended families negotiating the challenges of creating new relationships with varying expectations
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high net worth families seeking strategies for minimizing estate and income taxes
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family business owners seeking ways to protect and expand their companies and considering how and when to transition to the next generation of ownership
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estate executors and beneficiaries navigating the court process of probate administration
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family members or trustees carrying out the legacy left behind through a trust administration
We have annual membership programs to ensure your plan continues to work throughout your lifetime, your assets are always owned in the right way and you are able to feel confident calling us with any legal issue without ever worrying about receiving a bill in the mail for hourly fees. Whether you participate in one of our membership programs or not, we keep all of our clients updated about changes in the law and issues that might affect your life.
We often serve the whole family and multiple generations of the same family. From free estate checkups for elderly parents to basic planning documents for young adult children, become part of our client family and feel how much we care about what matters most to you.
Family Plan - Level 1
For the family, couple or individual that doesn't have assets that would need to pass through the probate process but who do want to guarantee that their minor children are protected and well cared for, that the assets they do have go to the people they care most about, that their health care wishes are respected, and that the people they love could access and manage their affairs in the event that they were incapacitated.
What It Includes:
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Will
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Health Care Proxy
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Powers of Attorney
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Kids Protection Plan (for those with minor children)
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Optional post-death trust planning
Trust Plan - Level 2
For the family, couple or individual that wants the peace of mind that their assets will be passed to the people they love in the easiest and most private way available - assets that would have to be transferred through the very lengthy and public probate process, and who want to ensure that their loved ones have access to those assets as quickly as possible. This plan also protects minor children and may include planning for the protection of assets from a beneficiary's future lawsuits, spouses and estate taxes.
What It Includes:
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All of the features of the Family Plan plus...
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Advanced Trust planning to keep loved ones out of court and your affairs private
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Lifetime support to ensure that you and your family always have somewhere to turn
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Unlimited guidance to assit you in handling, on your own, the transferr of all of your assets into the Trust correctly and quickly
Wealth Plan - Level 3
For the family, couple or individual with more diverse estate assets desiring total assurance and peace of mind that those assets are protected and properly titled and transferred into the Trust,with the least amount of effort on their part.
What It Includes:
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All of the features of the Family Plan and the Trust Plan plus...
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All asset transfers and title changes are completely handled by our office
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A complete Family Wealth Inventory prepared for you with all bank, brokerage, insurance and retirement account documents to assist in changing beneficiares and transferring title.
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We do it all for you!
