Hi, I’m Kaye DeSelms Dent with Dent Coulson Elder Law. I’m here with an Elder Law Minute for you. These videos are designed to educate you about the elder care journey, focusing on what to expect during an initial consultation for estate planning. This journey often begins earlier in life than you might think. We hope you find these insights useful. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call us at Dent Coulson Elder Law.
Today, I’d like to explain what to expect during an initial consultation for estate planning. A viewer recently asked us to describe this process. I believe it will be very useful for anyone considering estate planning. At Dent Coulson Elder Law, we strive to provide prospective clients with meaningful initial consultations. That’s why we set aside ample time for each appointment. We don’t limit our consultations to just 30 minutes. Instead, I typically allocate 90 minutes for each session. This ensures that you receive a thorough and personalized initial consultation for estate planning.
As part of this process, when you contact us, we’ll send you a questionnaire to complete and return before your appointment. This questionnaire asks about your family status, the number of children and grandchildren you have, and your goals. It also inquires about what’s important to you and your financial situation. These details are crucial for us to offer a consultation that addresses your specific needs and concerns. This way, we avoid providing generic advice.
By the end of your initial consultation for estate planning, we can make a personalized recommendation. This recommendation will focus on what you need in terms of estate planning or asset protection. We’ll also discuss which documents would best serve your goals and needs. Additionally, we can provide you with a quote for the associated costs. Many people are concerned about costs, but it’s impossible to give an accurate estimate without first understanding your unique situation.
It’s important to remember that estate planning is not a do-it-yourself project. You won’t leave the initial consultation for estate planning with a simple plan like you might get from a hardware store. Instead, you will leave with a clear understanding of our recommendations. You’ll also learn why these recommendations are tailored to you. Additionally, we’ll give you a quote for our services and answer any questions you may have.
Part of our process involves asking you some tough questions you may not have considered. If you decide to proceed with Dent Coulson Elder Law for your estate planning or asset protection, the next step will be a design meeting with one of our attorneys. In this meeting, you’ll provide answers to those tough questions. These include who will be your executor and who will be your agent under power of attorney. We’ll also discuss how you plan to distribute assets to your children. You can choose to do this directly or through a trust. We’ll also address any special circumstances. For instance, you may have a child with special needs, or you might be concerned about long-term care costs. In these cases, we may need a special trust or other tools.
If you choose to consult with Dent Coulson Elder Law for your estate planning or asset protection needs, we want you to leave the initial consultation for estate planning with clear direction on the next steps. Please give us a call today. Our staff will be happy to schedule your initial consultation for estate planning.
Contact Us for Assistance
Thank you for watching our Elder Law Minute. If you need help with powers of attorney or any other estate planning needs, please call Dent Coulson Elder Law.
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“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”
Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618) 632-7000 (IL) or (314) 567-9292 (MO), or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
