How Can Estate Planning Help You Feel Better?
Here, estate planning goes beyond having a set of documents. We equate estate planning to well-being. When life takes an unexpected turn, a thoughtful estate plan achieves clarity and safety for your loved ones, and there’s no better feeling than the relief of knowing that your family is protected.
As we like to say, well-being favors the prepared mind. Proper planning frees you from worrying over life’s what-ifs so you can live boldly in pursuit of what’s next.
Action plans to ensure your children and pets receive proper care
Estate transition strategies that preserve your legacy and values
Peace of mind to live fully with less anxiety and worry
Trusted decision-makers identified to act on your behalf when needed
Clear written directions that eliminate guesswork for your loved ones
New to estate planning?
Learn the essentials of protecting your wishes and your loved ones with our FREE estate planning primer.
Saying I Do
Start your marriage with a shared plan that protects your partner and the life you are building together.
Raising a Family
Assure yourself that your growing family is covered, no matter what life brings.
Experiencing a Fresh Start
Update your plan in light of your relocation to NC, divorce, blended family or retirement for continued peace of mind.
Plan for Your Moments
You deserve to experience the difference having an estate plan makes, whatever phase of life you’re in.
Preparing the College Send-Off
Retain authority to make decisions on you children’s behalf in case of an emergency.
Empty Nesting
Re-evaluate your past choices for current fit now that the kids are all grown up and launched.
Accumulating Assets
Safeguard the wealth you are building for a legacy that can be passed on seamlessly.
Plan Design. Simplified.
Personalize a framework. Implement it. Feel better.
ESSENTIALS FRAMEWORK
Put your wishes in writing with fundamental protections for you and your loved ones.
$1,300
Base Fee
Planning for incapacity
Expressing end-of-life wishes
Protecting minor children (+$450)
Naming your executor
Transferring modest estates
Caring for pets
Will
Power of Attorney
Medical Directives
HIPAA Waiver
Best practice guidance, digitally stored copies, periodic check-ups upon request, and 1 free postmortem fiduciary meeting
PAT
FRAMEWORK
Turn to a Probate Avoidance Trust (PAT) for privacy and to transition your estate smoothly.
$3,050
Base Fee
Enhancing incapacity plan
Minimizing or avoiding probate
Holding non-NC real estate
Transferring unique assets
Maintaining privacy
Sidestepping an estate contest
Everything in Essentials, plus:
Revocable Living Trust
Assignment of Personal Property
Personal Property Memorandum
Trust Funding Instructions
LEGACY
BUILDER
Accommodate more moving parts and wider interests when needed.
$6,000+
Base Fee
Tax minimization
Business interests
Bitcoin/crypto
Blended families
Asset protection
Future-proofing
Everything in PAT, plus:
Customizations based on your circumstances and interests
ESSENTIALS FRAMEWORK
Put your wishes in writing with fundamental protections for you and your loved ones.
$1,950
Base Fee
Planning for incapacity
Expressing end-of-life wishes
Protecting minor children (+$450)
Naming your executor
Transferring modest estates
Caring for pets
Will
Power of Attorney
Medical Directives
HIPAA Waiver
Best practice guidance, digitally stored copies, periodic check-ups upon request, and 1 free postmortem fiduciary meeting
PAT
FRAMEWORK
Turn to a Probate Avoidance Trust (PAT) for privacy and to transition your estate smoothly.
$4,575
Base Fee
Enhancing incapacity plan
Minimizing or avoiding probate
Holding non-NC real estate
Transferring unique assets
Maintaining privacy
Sidestepping an estate contest
Everything in Essentials, plus:
Revocable Living Trust
Assignment of Personal Property
Personal Property Memorandum
Trust Funding Instructions
LEGACY
BUILDER
Accommodate more moving parts and wider interests when needed.
$6,000+
Base Fee
Tax minimization
Business interests
Bitcoin/crypto
Blended families
Asset protection
Future-proofing
Everything in PAT, plus:
Customizations based on your circumstances and interests
Everyday Estate
Planners
A wall of love from some of our kind clients.
“I highly recommend Allen for your estate planning, being patient and thorough with any questions I had. Although it’s often dreaded, the process was very positive. Kudos to his team!”
Murrill S.
“Allen and the team were phenomenal to work with. We had all our questions thoroughly answered and felt like we were truly valued and cared for during the estate planning process. Highly recommend!!!”
Matt M.
“Going through the process of doing a will, trust, POA, etc. is never easy. Allen and his team were patient, knowledgeable, and walked us through every step. I would highly recommend this team!”
Amy N.
“Allen made the process a breeze! From start to finish he was professional, timely, and always happy to answer questions for us.”
Joshua R.
“Allen was fantastic to work with. He provided all the information and steps we needed to take to ensure a smooth process in preparing our documents. With so much to take into consideration, Allen made everything manageable and an easy lift on our side.”
Lauren L.
“We were extremely thankful to have Allen navigate us through the estate planning process. He operated with care, precision and efficiency to help us achieve our family objectives.”
Scott P.
“Loved working with Allen to revamp our estate plan. He’s responsive, courteous, and everything went smoothly. Highly recommend!!”
Craig R.
Wish to skip probate? Our PAT Framework can help.
When someone passes away, their estate is often subject to probate, a court process that can easily take a year (or longer), cost thousands in fees, and make private details public. Our Probate Avoidance Trust offers a better way to spare your loved ones from delays, stress, and extra costs.
Here’s how it works:
01.
Establish Your Trust
Set up and fund a revocable living trust with ownership of assets such as your home, bank accounts, business interests, and taxable investments.
02.
Manage Your Trust
As the trustee, you manage everything in the trust just like you did before, including buying, selling, using, or changing assets however you wish.
03.
Distribute Property
When you pass away, your designated successor trustee distributes your assets according to your wishes, privately and outside of probate.
Turning Difficult Questions into Easier Conversations
When Hannah and her husband first came to us, they thought they were simply after a will. But as their family’s story unfolded, they realized there was more to plan for, and more questions they hadn’t even thought to ask. From choosing who would care for their three children to putting the right legal protections in place, we helped them turn some difficult “what ifs” into a plan they could feel great about.
Are you Estate ReadySM ?
Take our quiz to learn your score and match with one of our services.
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Estate Planning with Allen
“Years ago, my father suffered a stroke. He passed a couple of years later. Looking back, we weren’t as prepared as we could have been, and it made a tough situation tougher. That experience shapes how I show up for my clients today.
As a husband and father, raising two daughters with my wife Hillary, I’ve planned for our family’s future, and I’d love to help you do the same for yours.”
Allen Starrett
Founding Attorney
Common Questions
Here are the most common questions that clients ask us and our quick take on each.
What is estate planning, and why do I need it?
Estate planning is a process for protecting yourself and the people you love by preparing for a potential incapacity or death. A good plan helps avoid probate, minimizes taxes, and offers you and your family control and assurance during life’s twists.
Do I really need an estate plan?
Almost every adult benefits from having a basic estate plan at the very least. A will directs where probate assets go, but a revocable trust can do even more, like helping to avoid probate, protecting your family’s privacy, and making estate transitions as smooth and efficient as possible for your loved ones. Powers of attorney and medical directives ensure decision-making authority over important life matters.
What’s the difference between a will and a revocable trust?
A will can only take effect after you pass, when it is probated. A will identifies the executor of your estate, directs the disposition of probate property, and identifies your desired guardians of minor children. On the other hand, a revocable trust is effective as soon as you set it up, offering a greater degree of control, flexibility, and privacy over one’s lifetime and upon one’s passing. Many families choose trusts for probate avoidance.
How do I know if I need a revocable trust?
If your goals include avoiding probate, protecting your family’s privacy, and making things easier for your loved ones, a revocable trust is a great option. A revocable trust is typically more efficient than a will for transferring real estate, taxable accounts, business interests, personal belongings, and other assets to loved ones at death.
Is estate planning only for the wealthy?
Not at all! Protecting your well-being and the well-being of your family is at the heart of all estate planning, not determining who gets the airplane. Whether your estate is modest or large, estate planning helps to ensure that you and your loved ones are cared for and important decisions aren’t left up to the courts.
How often should I update my estate plan?
While it varies, our experience suggests that most clients can benefit from plan updates every 3-5 years. Yet, our standing advice to clients is to review plans annually and then update as needed. That’s the best approach to maintaining an up-to-date plan that continues to match your circumstances and reflect your wishes.
What happens if I don’t have an estate plan?
Without a plan, important decision-making and estate matters are left to state laws and courts to decide. The results may not match your wishes, may lead to undesirable outcomes, and will certainly invite extra delays, costs, and stress. On the other hand, implementing a written estate plan overrides default laws and court intervention, putting you in control and better ensuring that your wishes are fulfilled.
Can I make changes to my estate plan later?
Absolutely. Life circumstances shift, so keeping your estate plan in alignment through periodic updates is not only possible but smart.
How much does estate planning cost?
The cost of estate planning tracks with complexity yet, ultimately, depends on your specific circumstances and the choices that you make. We offer different options to fit families at different stages of life, and we’ll explain everything up front so there are no surprises. For a sense of starting investment, however, check out our base fees above.
Can I prepare my own estate plan?
You are free to write your own estate plan but that doesn’t mean you should. We have seen countless errors made in DIY documents and the resulting complications that surface at the most inopportune times. As far as probates goes, you’ll be gone, but your loved ones will be left to deal with the consequences. Working with a qualified estate planning attorney is an investment in your peace of mind and assurance for the legacy that you wish to leave.
How do I get started with my estate planning?
Getting started is simple. Visit our Contact page and submit an inquiry. We will send you preliminary info including steps for booking a consultation and accessing our estate planning questionnaire through our online portal. From there, we’ll guide you each step of the way!
A plan for every path.
Here to help you protect what matters most, from first steps to fresh starts.
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