How long does it take to create an estate plan?

As with most things, the answer to this is: it depends.

First, it depends on what documents you will need and second, depends a lot on the client.

Here’s a brief summary of my process. Remember, every attorney is different, so this is going to vary drastically by attorney. I always start with a complimentary consultation in which we discuss your goals and priorities. Once you decide to retain me, then I have you go through my worksheet of questions that help finalize your plan. This includes questions about guardianship, financial agents (e.g. financial power of attorney), healthcare agents (e.g. healthcare power of attorney), etc. Sometimes people have the responses ready to go, and sometimes this requires a longer discussion. This is generally the variable that can take the longest.

But the other thing to know is that I have to actually draft all the documents we’re talking about. This can take several weeks. I can work with expedited requests sometimes, but that’s not included in my standard flat fee.

If you have a deadline by which you need your estate plan, please communicate that as soon as possible. The sooner I know, the better I can plan.