+(231) 714-4501Trusted Elder Law Services in Grand Traverse and Surrounding Counties
Medicaid, Long-Term Care, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Patient Advocate Designations, Guardianships, Conservatorships, and Probate.
Client service is what we live for. We understand that your family is the most important thing in the world to you. We remain small and leverage technology to ensure your needs are carefully attended to for the long haul.
Understanding Fees
Know how you'll be charged
We generally charge flat fees on estate planning matters, mixed fees on Medicaid matters, and on an hourly basis for other matters. You will receive an engagement letter than clearly lays out the fees we charge so you can budget for your legal expenses.
How we get paid
We try to make payment for services as easy as possible. Multiple payment options are available, including online payments. For matters that are mixed fee or hourly, a retainer will be held in a trust account.
Getting your estate plan done.
Schedule a consult.
Draft your plan
Sign and fund.
Our process is designed to fit into your busy life. We employ online meetings, phone calls, and advanced case management solutions to make interacting with our team a breeze.
Step 1 - Schedule Your Planning Session
You can schedule a time and place for your Planning Session by clicking "Schedule a Consultation" on our website. We can conduct the Planning Session on a Microsoft Teams meeting, over the phone, or in person at a location of your choosing.
After scheduling your Planning Session, you will be sent a Questionnaire. The Questionnaire asks for information that we need to develop a plan that meets your goals. You will also tentatively pick individuals to perform roles within your estate plan (e.g. agents under financial power of attorney, patient advocate, trustees). You should try to complete the form before our meeting, but feel free to leave things blank if you don't know what to put.
During the Planning Session, we will help you to evaluate whether the individuals you listed on the Questionnaire are good fits for those jobs.
Step 2 - Attend Planning Session
- Family
- Fears
- Finances
- Needs
- Goals
Step 3 - Fee Agreement and Payment
We will send you our engagement agreement that can be electronically signed from your phone or computer.
We will also ask for payment for services. We make it easy for you to pay, with multiple options, including online payment.
Step 4 - Draft and Review
After the Planning Session is completed, we generally try to get your estate plan documents drafted within 10 business days. The Medicaid process takes longer, but we typically want you to return required documents to us within 10 business days so we can efficiently work on the application process. For estate planning clients, we will send you drafts of everything for you to review. For Medicaid clients, we will provide you updates as we make progress on your file.
You must review your estate planning documents very carefully to ensure that the correct people are named in your document and that your property is divided in accordance with your wishes. Please send us any edits and questions at least 5 business days prior to your signing appointment.
Step 5 - Sign and Fund
You can choose an in-person signing appointment or have your documents mailed to you with signing instructions. If you are going to sign them on your own, you can also schedule a video call so an attorney can help you through the process.
If you have a trust, your documents will include a letter that instructs you on funding your trust.
Afer you sign, we will scan your executed documents. If you find that you have any additional questions, including questions on funding, you will be able to schedule a final Microsoft Teams meeting or phone call with an attorney. You will also have 60 days from your signing date to have us make minor changes to your documents.