Frequently Asked Questions
What primary services do you offer?
Please visit the Practice Areas page for more detail on the focus of my practice.
How do I schedule an appointment:
You can fill out an intake form here, and I will reach out to you.
You can also schedule a time on my calendar here. If you are an existing client, I will confirm the appointment after I receive it. If you are a new client, I will review your submission, and confirm the appointment if I believe I can assist you.
For estate planning, you can access my estate planning questionnaire by clicking here.
What are the rates of your services?
Rates structures vary by the type of service. My hourly rate is $300.00 per hour, billed in 0.1 hour increments, but in many case types, I am able to present you with a flat fee after our initial consultation. I base my flat fees not only on the time I anticipate spending on the matter, but on my perception of the value of the work product actually delivered to you.
Consultations regarding probate and trust administration, guardianship and conservatorships, and other ongoing legal issues are charged because I am generally providing you with actionable legal advice at the consultation, which provides benefit to you and incurs potential liability for me.
Estate planning consultations regarding preparation of your will, trust, powers of attorney, or other advance directives are generally free of charge, but I will be able to confirm a flat fee for preparation of the documents during that consultation. My standard will package, which includes powers of attorney and a living will, starts at $800 for a single person, and $1,000 to $1200 for a couple, depending on complexity. The addition of trusts to the plan generally increases fees depending on trust type and complexity, but I can usually provide a firm quote after we discuss your situation. I can also quote you for more standalone documents like powers of attorney or deeds.
Though no attorney advice is inexpensive, I think that if you compare both my hourly rates and flat fees with other experienced trust and estate attorneys in the community, I fall at the less expensive side of the spectrum. This is not a reflection of the quality of my legal advice, but rather due to my low overhead in a non-traditional office space and otherwise efficient operations.
Are you licensed and insured? What is your experience?
I have been licensed in Colorado since 2013. I take Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct seriously, and carry legal malpractice insurance.
I have worked solely in the trust and estate realm since I identified it as a primary interest in law school more than ten years ago. I have prepared thousands of estate planning documents and assisted with administration of hundreds of estates and protective proceeding matters. Unique problems inevitably arise in every case, but I have the base experience to guide you down the right path. My affinity for resourceful problem solving brings me to work each day.
Can I draft my own will or other legal document?
You certainly can, and in many cases, you will manage to produce a legally valid document. The most common problems that I see with self-prepared documents are that they do not say what you think they say, and/or they do not cover everything that they should. The result is that your successors will be left to correct any shortcomings, and in many cases, someone like me will be required to assist them in that process, usually at a greater expense than if you would have let me assist you in the first place.