Estate Planning Process

As an estate planning lawyer, my goal is to start and complete the estate planning process with you in three to four weeks from the initial consultation.

  • Step 1 INITIAL CONSULTATION
  • Step 2 PLAN DESIGN
  • Step 3 REVIEW MEETING
  • Step 4 SIGNING CEREMONY
Step One: Week 1 – The Initial Consultation Meeting

Prior to any consultation, you will receive confirmation of your meeting date and time, and a simple worksheet to complete and bring with you to your appointment. My planning process starts with a one-hour initial consultation meeting. In this meeting, we work together to determines your wishes, desires, special needs, and concerns, answer your questions, and outline various estate planning options that are available.

If the joint decision is made at the end of the consultation meeting to engage me to prepare your estate plan, then an Engagement Letter is signed, and a deposit of one-half of the agreed upon fee based on the initial level of planning desired is paid.

Depending on the level of estate planning selected, you will either be interviewed for your estate planning choices as part of the Initial Consultation, or you will then receive a folder with additional worksheets for you to complete as your “homework” prior to your next meeting with me, the Plan Design Meeting.

Step Two: Week 2 or Week 3 – The Plan Design Meeting

If a Plan Design is scheduled, you will meet with me and review your homework assignment. This meeting is when we discuss the planning strategy in its entirety and provide you with a summary of the overall plan. The objective of our plan summary is to simplify the discussion concentrating on an overall understanding of what the plan entails. At this point, we want to make sure that you are comfortable that all of your wishes have been addressed including any issues left open from our previous meeting.

Step Three: Week 3 or Week 4 – The Review Meeting

Once your plan is designed, we will schedule a conference where you will review the documents for your estate plan. The review meeting will usually take place about three weeks after your plan is designed. At this meeting we will explain all of the documents and answer any questions that you may have so please allow between 2 and 3 hours for this meeting. At this point, we ensure that everything in your plan meets your desired goals and wishes for your family. The remaining payment of any legal fees is due at the end of the Review Meeting.

At the Review Meeting, we will schedule the Signing Ceremony to take place within one week to allow for any changes that may have arisen during the review.

Step Four: Week 4 or Week 5 – The Signing Ceremony

At this meeting – lasting approximately 30 – 60 minutes – you will come in to sign your estate planning documents. It will be necessary for you to bring a valid, current photo identification card such as a driver’s license, state I.D. card, military ID. card, or passport as proof of your identity.   You will then sign the documents, having them witnessed or notarized as necessary.

We will then scan your signed documents into our client management system and provide you with your original documents in a sturdy, attractive binder.

After the Signing Ceremony 

As part of my Foundational Estate Planning Package, all clients receive a free 3-year subscription to Legal Vault. Legal Vault is an online storage system where you can access all of your legal documents. Further, your medical directive is accessible to any hospitals who may need to print a copy. Lastly, you will receive a wallet card to let others know your documents are stored online and that also names your medical agent in case of an emergency.

Attorney Chris Tymchuck
Contact Us Today

If you are interested in an estate planning consultation, contact us today by filling out a contact form or calling us at (952) 260-2043 with any questions you might have. Feel free to check out our fees page for pricing information.

From within Hennepin County Unique Estate Law represents clients throughout Minnesota, including Minneapolis, Edina, Bloomington, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Wayzata, Maple Grove, St. Paul, and Brooklyn Park.