Pleasanton Estate Planning Lawyer
Expert Trust and Estate Planning Attorney Will Bring You Peace of Mind
Choose your Path
Direct Line
(925) 400-7753
Fact: People Want to Prepare Their Wills and Trusts Online
The verdict is in. Consumer demand for creating a California living trust online has exploded.
It makes sense. We research online, shop online, and we heavily connect online through social media.
Therefore, if given the option to address the important task of completing our estate planning online
exists, people are going to jump on it.
But, there is one big problem…
Most Options Out There for Creating Wills and Trusts Online Are Risky
Do-it-yourself (DIY) providers charge low rates for documents that ordinarily would cost much more if produced by an attorney. These websites have raised questions about whether they are engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (LegalZoom alone has already been sued in at least three states for the same).
Don’t Believe Everything You Read
Their marketing is deceiving. For instance, they advertise $69 to prepare a will, when in reality the cost of preparing an estate plan for a married couple increases to several hundred dollars once one includes all the documents both spouses need for a very basic estate plan (including a will or trust, power of attorney, and healthcare documents). The total cost then becomes approximately $300.00 for a married couple.
But DO Believe the Fine Print
What’s worse, there is no guarantee any of these documents will work when the time comes. Take a look at this direct quote from LegalZoom’s terms of use:
“At no time do we review your answers for legal sufficiency, draw legal conclusions, provide legal advice, opinions or recommendations about your legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms, or strategies, or apply the law to the facts of your particular situation. LegalZoom is not a law firm and may not perform services performed by an attorney. LegalZoom, its Services, and its forms or templates are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney.”
The deficiencies in these offerings are so severe, that the American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law designated a special Task Force to evaluate the use of DIY methods in estate planning. It has concluded:
“The greatest danger of preparing one’s estate plan with LegalZoom or other DIY legal providers is that they lull clients into a false sense of security.”
And...
“The average person should proceed with caution in using DIY estate planning as a substitute for a proper, professionally-drafted plan.”
Fortunately, There IS a Better Way
I’ve tried all of the DIY options out there, as well as the very short list of companies that license online estate planning interview software for attorneys to feature on their websites. In my experience, they are either too simplistic, or too complicated, to be of much value.
Therefore, over the process of nearly 7 months, I prepared my own online interview. It is unlike any other available, and can be completed on any device.
This interview includes the same types of questions and explanations that an estate planning attorney would ask you if you were sitting in their office. Much effort has been invested on our part to use plain English to explain the concepts and options presented along the way, and to keep things as simple as possible while still providing a high degree of sophistication.
Your progress can be saved and completed in more than one sitting, if necessary.
You Receive Comprehensive Legal Advice and Guidance (No Fine Print Required)
After you submit your completed interview, you will receive an email to schedule a consultation via phone or web meeting with me to discuss your answers, address any questions you may have, and bring it all together with best-in-class advice and guidance.
California Living Trust Attorney Will Prepare Your Will and Trust Online
Once your consultation is complete, I will personally prepare your California living trust online (or a simple will and related documents, if that is all you need). These are the same complete and comprehensive documents you would receive if you had come to our office and designed your trust and estate plan through traditional means.
You will also receive all of the support you need to fully integrate your assets with your trust and estate plan. This typically involves mailing signed deeds for real estate to the local recorder’s office with the needed forms, and obtaining forms to complete and sign with your bank, investment advisor, and life insurance company.
Sign Documents with Confidence
Once your documents are complete, you will sign them with our detailed guidance and support, and return any property deeds to us for recording.
All for Half the Price of a Traditional Law Firm
The cost of using our program to prepare your California living trust online and/or will, with all the supporting documents you need, is going to save you 40-60% compared to what you would need to spend for similar service through a traditional law office process.
We have invested heavily in the technology that drives this program. Enabling you the freedom to interact with lawyer-prepared technology saves our firm considerable hours to prepare a complete trust and estate plan. The resulting profitability allows us to save you money.
Although you shouldn’t expect the deceivingly cheap, DIY pricing you typically see advertised, the savings are real and substantial. Most importantly however, your documents will work.
Get Started Today
It costs nothing to get started. Your flat price for everything you need will be provided after we review your submitted interview and consult with you to bring it all together.
Subscribe
To Stay Current