First, call (858) 271-6244 or email (www.info@denherderlaw.com) our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.

How Does the Process Work?
Our office specializes in estate planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorney), probate, guardianship and conservatorships. Our initial consultation is free of charge, and that is where we take the opportunity to educate you on the various estate planning tools available to you and giveyou our advice on what is best for your situation.

We distinguish ourselves from other estate planning firms in several ways:

- If you have young children, we spend a significant portion of time planning about how you want your children raised if you are not here to raise them (this covers the emotional side of things: how you feel about religion, education, extracurricular activities, ensuring that both sides of your family have access to the children; covering potential future issues such as substance abuse, or ensuring that if when they marry, their inheritance is protected; and this covers the financial side of things: would you pay for a vehicle when they are old enough to drive? High school graduation trip?  Wedding?  Down payment on a home?)

- We encourage you to include your LIFE into the plan...what you have learned, your hopes and dreams for the future of those you love, your religious testimony, the things you wish you had done differently...we encourage you to make this document your living legacy to those you love.

- We have four attorneys in the firm, ensuring that you always have continuity in your planning

- We handle not only the planning, but we take care of you and your family when a loved one dies, helping with all aspects of administration

If you decide to proceed with a complete estate plan (Revocable Living Trust, Financial Powers of Attorney for both of you, Advance Health Care Directives for both of you, Pour-Over Wills for both of you, guardianship provisions if you have young children, and the transfer of your home into the trust), we proceed in three meetings. The first meeting (which can be the same date as our free consultation, or at a different date) is all of the "What Ifs". This is where we walk you through all of the possible scenarios and have you give us your "gut reaction" on each of our questions.Of course you can change your answers any time before we finalize the plan.The second meeting is where we go over the rough draft, make sure you understand it, and fine tune everything.The final meeting is where everything is signed and notarized.  We typically schedule each meeting 2 weeks apart, so your plan should be complete in approximately 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your scheduling.  If there is urgency, we can complete a plan in as little as 24 hours.

What is the Cost?
Our fees range from $400.00 for a simple will, to $3,850.00 for a complete estate plan for a married couple with complex blended family scenarios to be considered. For married couples without complex issues, our complete estate plan ranges from $2,450.00 to $3,850.00 depending on the complexity. For single individuals, our complete estate plan ranges from $1,850.00 to $2,850.00 depending on complexity. We charge one-third (1/3) once you begin the estate planning process, one-third (1/3) at the rough draft meeting, and the balance when we finish (we have other payment plans if necessary). Before you decide that our fees are beyond what you are looking for, we encourage you to come in for a free consultation...to experience why we are different. That way, when you explore other estate planning firms, you will understand the differences between the firms and the services they offer. We are confident that you will have a wonderful experience with our firm!There are four attorneys in our office, and we work as a team. Any one of us would be happy to meet with you!

Questions to Consider:

• Who you want to handle your financial affairs if you cannot (trustee) - I need first and second choice, and their names, addresses and phone number
• Who do you want to raise your minor children (guardian) - I need first and second choice, and their names, addresses and phone number
• Who do you want to inherit everything when you die?  You can list names and percentages, or distribute it all equally, etc.
• Do you want the people who inherit to inherit outright, or do you want the money doled out to them over time?
• What if the person(s) you named above die before you?  Do their kids inherit?  If so, at what ages or stages to do you want them to inherit (for example, the money is held in trust for their health or educational needs, then they get 1/3 of what’s left when they are 25, ½ the remainder at 30 and the balance at 35)
• 6.What if you and your immediate family all die together (no children, no grandchildren left) - then who inherits.  You can list friends, charities, parents, siblings, whatever you want.  If you are married and cannot agree, then ½ can be distributed pursuant to the husband’s wishes, and ½ can be distributed pursuant to the wife’s wishes.  You can give us a list of 40 different people/entities to inherit, all with varying percentages...
• Who do you want to make medical decisions for you if you cannot?  I need first and second choice
• Do you want to donate organs for transplant, science or research?
• Do you want to be buried or cremated?  If buried, where?  If cremated, what do you want done with your ashes?