Questions The Legacy Designer® Will Ask You -

Estate planning attorneys are, by nature, a little nosy.
But for good reason.

To thoughtfully protect your family, your assets, and your wishes, we need a clear understanding of your life, your relationships, and what matters most to you. The good news? You do not need to have everything perfectly organized before we begin.

Here are a few things we’ll likely discuss during the planning process:

  • A general list of your assets and approximate values
    (If you have investment accounts, a recent statement is always helpful.)

  • The people and organizations you would like to include in your planning
    (Children, family members, friends, charities, etc.)

  • Any real estate you own
    (If you can locate a copy of your deed, wonderful. If not, we can usually help.)

  • Who you would trust to make financial decisions on your behalf if needed
    (Your Power of Attorney agent.)

  • Who you would want making healthcare decisions during an emergency or incapacity

  • Who you would want responsible for carrying out your wishes and administering your estate
    (Executors and/or Trustees.)

  • Any existing estate planning documents
    (Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, business documents, prenuptial agreements, etc.)

  • Any specific concerns involving young children, aging parents, business ownership, blended families, long-term care planning, or asset protection

Our role is to guide the conversation, organize the details, and help create a plan that feels thoughtful, manageable, and tailored to your life.

  • Yes. Estate planning is not only about wealth — it is about protecting the people you love, making your wishes clear, and creating a plan for illness, incapacity, guardianship, and life transitions.

  • Depending on your needs, planning may include a will, trust, power of attorney, healthcare directive, HIPAA authorization, guardianship designations, and other supporting legal documents.

  • A will directs how assets are distributed after death and may require probate. A trust can provide ongoing management, privacy, probate avoidance, and additional protection and flexibility during life and after death.

  • Not everyone needs a trust, but many families benefit from trust-based planning for probate avoidance, privacy, asset protection, long-term care planning, and multigenerational planning. We help clients determine what is appropriate based on their goals and circumstances.

  • Without proper planning, loved ones may need court involvement to manage finances or healthcare decisions. Powers of attorney and healthcare directives help create clear legal authority during incapacity.

  • If you pass away without a valid will, state law determines how your assets are distributed — which may not reflect your wishes or your family’s unique dynamics.

  • Estate plans should generally be reviewed after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of children, relocation, business changes, significant asset changes, or changes in tax law.

  • Yes. Trust planning and other legacy enhancement strategies may help protect inherited assets from creditors, lawsuits, divorce, financial immaturity, and other unforeseen challenges.

  • Yes. We proudly serve clients throughout New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts through both in-person and virtual planning options.

    And we understand that life gets busy when you plan with family. Not only do we offer virtual options, we offer pre-recorded sessions so that you can complete planning on your time, with reduced stress.

  • Absolutely. Founder and business planning may include succession planning, buy-sell strategies, continuity planning, asset protection, and coordination between business and personal planning.

  • Long-term care planning helps families prepare for the financial and legal realities of aging, nursing home care, assisted living, and incapacity while helping preserve assets and stability whenever possible.

  • You do not need to arrive perfectly organized. Generally, it is helpful to bring a list of assets, information about family members and decision-makers, any existing estate planning documents, and any questions or concerns you would like to discuss.

  • Every plan is different. Some foundational plans can be completed relatively quickly, while more advanced or customized planning may require additional time and collaboration.

  • Yes. We frequently review and update existing estate plans to ensure they still align with current laws, family dynamics, assets, and long-term goals.

  • Not at all. Much of estate planning focuses on protecting you during life — including incapacity planning, healthcare decision-making, asset management, family protection, and long-term care considerations.

  • Every family and planning situation is unique, so fees vary depending on the complexity of the planning involved, the types of documents prepared, and whether additional legacy enhancement strategies are incorporated.

    As a general starting point, foundational planning typically begins around:

    • $5,000 for individuals

    • $6,000 for couples

    More advanced trust planning, business planning, long-term care planning, or customized legacy strategies may involve additional fees depending on scope and complexity.

    At The Legacy Designer® we believe estate planning is one of the most meaningful investments a family can make — providing clarity, protection, and peace of mind for the future.

    We are happy to discuss appropriate planning options and scope during an initial conversation with our office.

  • Yes. We offer complimentary fifteen-minute introductory consultations designed to help determine whether our office and planning approach may be a good fit for your needs.

    For clients seeking more in-depth guidance, education, and strategic legal life planning discussions, we also offer comprehensive personalized consultations tailored to your specific circumstances, family dynamics, assets, and long-term goals.

    Initial Foundational Planning Consultation

    For individuals or families without an existing estate plan, we offer a detailed planning consultation for an investment of $800.

    Estate Plan Review & Strategy Consultation

    For clients who already have planning documents in place and would like a comprehensive review, analysis, and strategic guidance regarding their existing plan, the consultation investment is $1,000.

    These consultation investments may be credited toward future planning services retained through our office.