Comments on: How much estate planning do you get for $14? http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/ Estate planning, administration, and litigation in California Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:33:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: David Turturici, Attorney http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/comment-page-1/#comment-842 David Turturici, Attorney Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:10:41 +0000 http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/#comment-842 That sounds exactly right to me. That is, it will cost about $1000 to have a simple trust package done by a competenet attorney. I am an attorney in Sacramento, California, specializing in trusts. My law degree is certified in tax. Anyway, I also agree that the "kits" and "legalzoomzoom" type trusts mills are a bad idea. The forms are worthless. For that reason, I posted some free forms on my website at: www.trustquestions.com I did this to show that living trust forms are of no value whatsoever. I've noticed the forms are on several websites of lawyers, bloggers, or just informational sites. Anyone can fill their name in on a free living trust. What is needed is the legal process, because without it the forms are useless. That sounds exactly right to me. That is, it will cost about $1000 to have a simple trust package done by a competenet attorney. I am an attorney in Sacramento, California, specializing in trusts. My law degree is certified in tax.

Anyway, I also agree that the “kits” and “legalzoomzoom” type trusts mills are a bad idea. The forms are worthless. For that reason, I posted some free forms on my website at:

http://www.trustquestions.com

I did this to show that living trust forms are of no value whatsoever. I’ve noticed the forms are on several websites of lawyers, bloggers, or just informational sites. Anyone can fill their name in on a free living trust. What is needed is the legal process, because without it the forms are useless.

]]> By: James Livesay http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/comment-page-1/#comment-287 James Livesay Sun, 31 Dec 2006 01:00:54 +0000 http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/#comment-287 I just wanted to chime in and say that this was an excellent posting-- thanks! I just wanted to chime in and say that this was an excellent posting– thanks!

]]> By: gbroiles http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/comment-page-1/#comment-124 gbroiles Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:09:29 +0000 http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/#comment-124 You can probably find someone to draft a trust for you for $1100. Here in Silicon Valley, I am aware of at least three attorneys who will prepare a living trust for $1000 or less. I do not recommend them, but I am aware that they exist. Having said that, you get what you pay for. I have seen a number of "cheap trusts" where the attorney (or non-attorney preparer) was chosen primarily on the basis of price .. and the results turned out to cost the beneficiaries much, much more than a real estate plan would've been. This may be a reasonable approach - often, after the death of a parent, the kids are now free to sell property and stock to pay for legal work that wasn't affordable during the parent's lifetime. On the other hand, if your children or other heirs will need the funds or the property and won't be able to sell it to pay legal fees, it's probably cheaper to do it right the first time. You can probably find someone to draft a trust for you for $1100. Here in Silicon Valley, I am aware of at least three attorneys who will prepare a living trust for $1000 or less. I do not recommend them, but I am aware that they exist.

Having said that, you get what you pay for. I have seen a number of “cheap trusts” where the attorney (or non-attorney preparer) was chosen primarily on the basis of price .. and the results turned out to cost the beneficiaries much, much more than a real estate plan would’ve been. This may be a reasonable approach – often, after the death of a parent, the kids are now free to sell property and stock to pay for legal work that wasn’t affordable during the parent’s lifetime.

On the other hand, if your children or other heirs will need the funds or the property and won’t be able to sell it to pay legal fees, it’s probably cheaper to do it right the first time.

]]> By: Christine W Griffin http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Christine W Griffin Sun, 03 Dec 2006 03:58:42 +0000 http://estateplanblog.com/index.php/2006/11/29/how-much-estate-planning-do-you-get-for-14/#comment-122 I live in California and have inquired about a living trust from a few estate planning lawyers. I am a widow with a small estate. I habe a house and lot paid for and about 25.000 in the bank. What I am askng is $1100 reasonable fee for a living trust on my small estate. I live in California and have inquired about a living trust from a few estate planning lawyers. I am a widow with a small estate. I habe a house and lot paid for and about 25.000 in the bank. What I am askng is $1100 reasonable fee for a living trust on my small estate.

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