How Much Does a Basic Estate Plan Cost?

An estate plan will determine how your assets and property will be managed and distributed after you are gone. Many people put off creating an estate plan because of concerns about the cost. Estate planning attorney Bill Ager at Ager Law Office understands these concerns and provides free estate planning consultations with upfront information about the cost of an estate plan that will be tailor made for your needs.

Ager Law Office has a flat fee billing structure for most all estate planning services. Flat fee rates, also known as fixed fees, are agreed upon with our clients before beginning work on an estate plan. Flat fees provide a straightforward and transparent approach for estate planning services with mutual expectations that are beneficial for both client and attorney. Our reasonable flat fees also include all client communications and conferences, review and finalization of documents and any legal research that may be needed.

A comprehensive basic estate plan typically includes more than just a will or trust. Consequently, basic estate plans are typically “bundled” plans that include additional documents to ensure all estate planning needs are addressed. However, it is important to recognize that multiple factors can affect the flat fee cost of an estate plan including the complexity of an estate and the distribution plan for its assets and property.

Basic Plan with Will for One Person. Flat fee starting at $950.00 and includes:

• Last Will and Testament.
• Financial Durable Power of Attorney to appoint persons to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.
• Patient Advocate Designation and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care with Advanced Medical Care Directives to appoint persons to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.
• Designation of Funeral Representative.
• Review and Assess Designated Beneficiaries on Financial and Retirement Accounts

Basic Plan with Will for Married Couple. Flat fee starting at $1,300.00 and includes:

• 2 Last Will and Testaments.
• 2 Financial Durable Power of Attorneys to appoint persons to make financial decisions on your behalf if you and/or your spouse are incapacitated.
• 2 Patient Advocate Designations and Durable Power of Attorneys for Health Care with Advanced Medical Care Directives to appoint persons to make health care decisions on your behalf if you and/or your spouse are incapacitated
• 2 Designations of Funeral Representative.
• Review and Assess Designated Beneficiaries on Financial and Retirement Accounts.

Basic Plan with Revocable Living Trust for One Person Flat fee starting at $1,900.00 and includes:

• Revocable Living Trust
• Certificate of Trust Existence and Authority
• Comprehensive Transfer Document for Transfer of Personal Property.
• “Pour Over” Will to distribute any probate assets to the Trust.
• Financial Durable Power of Attorney to appoint persons to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.
• Patient Advocate Designation and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care with Advanced Medical Care Directives to appoint persons to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.
• Funeral Representative Designation.
• Review and Assess Designated Beneficiaries on Financial and Retirement Accounts.

Basic Plan with Joint Revocable Living Trust for Married Couple. Flat fee starting at $2,300.00 and includes;

• Joint Revocable Living Trust.
• Certificate of Trust Existence and Authority
• Comprehensive Transfer Document for Personal Property.
• 2 “Pour Over” Wills to distribute any probate assets to the Trust.
• 2 Financial Durable Power of Attorneys to appoint persons to make financial decisions if one spouse or both are incapacitated.
• 2 Patient Advocate Designations for Health Care with Advanced Medical Care Directives to appoint persons to make health care decisions if one spouse or both are incapacitated.
• 2 Funeral Representative Designations.
• Review and Assess Designated Beneficiaries on Financial and Retirement Accounts.

Enhanced Life Estate Deed, “Lady Bird Deed.” Flat fee starting at $285.00.

An enhanced life estate deed, commonly referred to as a “Lady Bird Deed” is an effective estate planning tool that avoids probate administration for real estate property. It allows your home and other real estate to be automatically conveyed to designated persons, or a Trust, upon your death if the property is still titled in your name. Most importantly, during your lifetime you continue hold complete ownership and control over the property with the power to sell or otherwise convey ownership of the property and to keep any proceeds.

Reasonable Flat fees are also available for the following estate planning services:

• Cottage and Vacation Property Trusts.
• Certificate of Trust Existence and Authority.
• Testamentary Trusts, established within a Will.
• Financial Power of Attorney under the Uniform Power of Attorney Act effective at signing or disability.
• Patient Advocate Designation and Power of Attorney for Health Care.
• Reviewing and Amending Estate Planning Documents.

Schedule a Free No Obligation Consultation with an Estate Planning Attorney

Attorney Bill Ager helps individuals and families with all aspects of estate planning. From his Ann Arbor office, Bill Ager serves clients throughout Washtenaw County. To schedule a free no obligation consultation for a straightforward and transparent cost of an estate plan tailored to your needs, or for updating your existing plan, call (734) 649-0784, send an email to bill@agerlawoffice.com or use the online contact form on this website.