What to Expect When Working With an Estate Planning Attorney

Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family, preserve your assets, and ensure your wishes are carried out. However, many Missouri residents hesitate to begin the process because they are unsure what it will cost, how long it will take, or what working with an estate planning attorney actually involves.

At Schleiffarth Law Firm LLC, we believe that creating an estate plan should be straightforward, transparent, and stress-free. With flat-fee pricing, free initial consultations, and personalized guidance, the firm works to make estate planning accessible and manageable for individuals and families.

How Long Does It Take to Create an Estate Plan?

For most clients, the estate planning process takes a few weeks.

At Schleiffarth Law Firm, the process generally follows four steps.

Step 1: Free Initial Consultation and Planning

The process begins with a conversation about your family, assets, goals, and concerns. We explain the available planning options and recommend approaches suited to your unique circumstances.

Step 2: Document Preparation

Once you decide how to proceed, we gather the necessary information and Estate Planning Attorney Jim Schleiffarth prepares draft documents, which may include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.

Step 3: Review and Revisions

Next, clients receive drafts and have the opportunity to review them carefully.

Questions and changes can be discussed in person, over the phone, through email, or during a Zoom meeting.

These conversations and revisions during the initial planning process are included in the agreed-upon flat fee. No new fees.

Step 4: Signing and Finalizing Documents

Once the documents are finalized, clients typically would need to return to the office to sign them.

In most cases witnesses and notarization will be required, which we provide within our office. The signing appointment often takes approximately 20 minutes, although additional time is availabltypically takes about 20 minutes, though we can provide additional time ife when needed.

After signing, the firm completes applicable follow-up work, such as recording real estate deeds.

In the end, clients receive an organized binder containing their original documents, a USB drive with electronic PDF copies, and instructions for any remaining steps.

For trust-based plans, we also provide guidance on transferring applicable assets into the trust.

Do Estate Planning Documents Expire?

A common question is whether a will or trust needs to be renewed every few years.

Generally, properly executed estate planning documents do not have an automatic expiration date.

However, significant life changes may make updates necessary. Examples include marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, changes in family relationships, acquiring new assets, or wanting to designate different individuals to handle financial or healthcare decisions.

Schleiffarth Law Firm offers free consultations for existing clients who want to review their estate planning documents, even years after their plan was created.

If new documents or formal amendments are necessary, additional fees may apply. The firm strives to keep those fees reasonable, especially when updating an existing plan.