How do you know if you're hiring the right Estate Planning Attorney?

Here are some important questions to ask before making your choice:

1. What Is Your Experience in Estate Planning?

   I have worked in drafting estate planning documents for decades. That said, I never wanted to be an Estate Planning attorney. Until my dad's wife stole his inheritance. That lit a fire under me to keep what happened to me from happening to anyone else.

2. What Makes Your Approach Different from Other Estate Planning Attorneys?

   Here's something most estate attorneys won't tell you: AI is already changing what a trust or will should cost. The document-drafting work that used to justify a $2,000–$4,000 price tag can now be done faster and more accurately than ever — which means the old pricing model is on borrowed time.

   Most attorneys, though, still bill you every time you need a change. Got married? That's a new invoice. Bought a house? Another invoice. Want to update a beneficiary? Invoice again. It's a business model built on you coming back — and paying — again and again.

   I built mine the opposite way. I've spent the time perfecting a process that lets me draft your documents once, correctly, and then hand you the ability to make your own updates going forward — no repeat trips to my office, no repeat bills. Because that process is dialed in, I can charge about a fifth of what a typical estate planning attorney charges, without cutting corners on quality or attorney oversight.

   You still get a licensed California attorney behind every document. You just don't have to pay attorney rates every time life changes.

3. How Much Do You Charge?

   Less than $500 for a trust. Less than $300 for a will. That's it upfront — no hidden fees, no surprise add-ons.

   From there, you're enrolled in a small, predictable monthly retainer. As long as you're an active client, that retainer covers updates to your documents whenever life changes — no per-change billing, no invoice every time you call. Get married, move, add a grandchild — just let me know and I'll take care of it as part of what you're already paying.

   Compare that to the traditional model, where every single change means writing another check. With this approach, you pay once upfront, then a small ongoing amount that keeps your documents current for as long as you need them to be.

4. How Accessible Are You With Clients?

   It’s essential that you can easily communicate with your attorney. Ask about their preferred methods of communication (phone, email, in-person meetings) and their typical response time. You want an attorney who is responsive when you need it.

Asking these key questions ensures that you hire an attorney who is not only skilled but also understands you and can provide practical, strategic advice. At Estate Edge, we specialize in offering personalized legal counsel to our clients, helping you ensure that your estate plan is carried out according to your wishes.

Don’t navigate this alone. Contact us today.