Flat Fees Explained: Estate Planning

My Flat Fees are designed to make it easy for you to work with me in an engaged way (without the meter running) and are designed so that I can get your plan done in an efficient manner (within six months, with a set number of meetings and revisions). I have designed this process over many years to ensure efficient completion of your estate plan and the work to be done in that process is reflected in the Flat Fee.

However, if you need additional phone or zoom meetings, make additional design changes after we have confirmed the design of your plan, want me to send you more than one draft revision, or take longer than six months to complete the plan, we will work together on an hourly basis. I am happy to give you all the time you need to complete the process and feel good about it, but Flat Fee planning doesn’t work for everyone. I will let you know before you incur any additional fees so that you won’t be caught by surprise.

What the Flat Fee includes:

• Initial meeting of 1.5 hours
• Collection and review of information via our questionnaire
• Confirmation of plan design
• Delivery of summary documents
• Document preparation
• Signing meeting of 1.5 hours
• Notarization of documents
• Recording of deeds

What the Flat Fee does not include:

• $500 per deed for properties other than your primary residence
• $250 fee for sending you the binder for remote signing
• $500 file re-open fee if not signed within six months
• Hourly charges for discussions with other professionals (accountants, financial advisors, etc.)
• Hourly charges for review of LLC Agreements, irrevocable trusts, or any other document related to your estate plan, not drafted by my office
• Hourly charges for draft review meetings 
• Hourly charges if you make substantial changes to your plan after confirming the design
• Amendments after signing

Hourly rates: $475/Liza W. Hanks; $200/Susie Granata