Estate Planning: Our Process

Schroon Law's Estate Planning Process

Step 1.  Peace of Mind Consult or Webinar: 

This step is designed to help us get to know you better, discuss your goals and objectives, evaluate real-life scenarios, break down the differences between a will and a comprehensive estate plan, answer any questions you might have, and review your options and our packages and fees.  We ask that you complete our Legacy Navigator prior to your consultation so that we can better understand your unique circumstances and better evaluate your options.  You can schedule your Peace of Mind Consult here.

Step 2.  Design Meeting: 

This is where we roll up our sleeves and begin designing your Revocable Living Trust or Will and other estate planning documents.  This is your time to make sure everything is aligned with your vision and preferences.  Remember, nothing is set in stone; we're with you every step of the way.  We will provide you with a summary of what we discussed for you to review before we move forward with drafting your estate plan documents.  We will also schedule your Document Review Meeting and Signing Ceremony at this time.

Step 3.  Document Review Meeting: 

After we design your estate plan together and you approve the summary, we'll get to work on drafting your trust and other estate planning documents with all the care and attention your unique plan deserves.  This process usually takes two to three weeks.  Once everything is ready, we'll email it to you for review (fair warning, it's often about 80 pages!). After you've had a chance to look everything over, we'll meet for the third time at your Document Review Meeting. Together, we'll go over everything in detail and answer any questions you might have so you can feel confident executing your documents.

Step 4.  Signing Ceremony: 

We understand the importance of signing your estate plan. That's why we have our Signing Ceremony. We can provide the two witnesses as required by law and the notary. Once your documents are signed, notarized, and witnessed, they're official!  Congratulations, your family, and assets are now protected. 

Step 5.  Binder Delivery & Trust Funding: 

After your Signing Ceremony, we prepare your Estate Planning Binder that will hold your signed Will or Revocable Living Trust and the related documents.  You can expect your Binder to arrive about 10 days after your Signing Ceremony.  In addition, we will upload your health and financial power of attorney documents to DocuBank.  Now you can start funding your trust, i.e. moving your assets into your Revocable Living Trust!

Step 6.  Annual Notices & Schoon Estate EASE: 

Planning for your future isn’t a one-and-done exercise. Just like your life, your assets, and the law; your estate plan evolves. We're here to help you confidently navigate the journey. Our annual notice ensures that your plan is not forgotten and we're ready to support any changes you may need. Changes will be billed at our then-current rates. Or you can join our five-year client maintenance program, Schroon Estate EASE (Expert Analysis & Strategic Evaluation), which provides periodic reviews of your estate plan with us, ongoing DocuBank membership, and 10% discounts on changes made while you're a member.

 

Estate Planning:

    - Our Process

    - Estate Planning Basics

        - Wills

        - Trusts

 

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Relevant Blog Posts:

     - Introduction to Estate Planning

    - Exploring NY Trusts: A Look at Common Trust Types

    -  Estate Planning Posts

More About Schroon Law's Estate Planning Services

Schroon Estate EASE
(Expert Analysis & Strategic Analysis) 

Schroon Estate EASE (Expert Analysis & Strategic Evaluation), our estate maintenance plan, allows for you to let us take the lead on ensuring that your estate plan stays relevant no matter the changes in the law or your own situation.  Life throws us curve balls - both bad and good - and you want your estate plan to keep up with your life instead of being a memorial to your life 10 years ago.  Our Estate EASE plan runs for 5 year blocks, with an option to auto renew that waives any credit card service fees.  It includes a DocuBank membership for all 5 years (a $175 value per person), a minimum of two detailed reviews of your estate plan (we recommend at least 1 detailed review every 2.5 years plus we are always willing to add more ad hoc reviews if any of those curve balls in life happen), updates on changes in the law that might impact your estate plan, as well as  free calls to answer any questions or concerns you might have about your estate plan whenever they come up.  We also check in with you annually just to make sure there isn't a need for an additional review of your estate plan.  Any major overhauls to your estate plan that you decide on are significantly discounted for clients who have an active Estate EASE plan with us.  Even if you did not initially decide to participate in the Estate Maintenance Plan, if we drafted your documents, you are always welcome to reach out to us to see about joining.  

A common misconception is that estate planning is done only to instruct others for when you die or that it is only for wealthy or elderly people.  Really, estate planning helps everyone — individuals, families, businesses, charities — make a plan for the future.  Individuals can plan in advance who you want to receive the things you own after you die, and name who you want to make decisions for you if you become incapacitated.  Your plan can name a guardian for young children, provide for family members with special needs, minimize taxes and court costs, avoid chaos and discord among beneficiaries, and more.

Dr. Spencer is a member of WealthCounsel, the country’s premier community of estate planning attorneys, which helps her create a personalized estate plan tailored to your needs.  She has access to the expertise and support of estate-planning attorneys from virtually every specialty and jurisdiction, ensuring your plan will be on the cutting edge and designed to implement your plan when it is needed.

Schroon Law PLLC understands the importance of having your advanced medical directives available in emergencies, times when your doctors and loved ones need easy access to these documents.   Our firm ensures access by providing our clients with a complimentary DocuBank membership as part of your estate plan.  An emergency wallet card allows you and medical personnel access to your advanced directives and vital medical information at any time from anywhere in the word, including:  medications list; emergency contact information; allergies & medical conditions; medical history; and list of your doctors. 

DocuBank has a toll-free number (866-362-8226) if you ever need assistance and you can log in to your account online to update your information, view your advance directives, or update your medication list and medical history.  

If you have questions about advance medical directives, please call us at (518) 351-2321 or email us at Info@SchroonLaw.com.  If you have questions about your DocuBank membership, email info@docubank.com or call (866) 362-8226.