Tier One: The Foundation Plan — $1,999
Plan Description
The Foundation Plan is designed for individuals and couples who do not require a trust,
have relatively straightforward asset structures, do not own significant real property they
wish to keep out of probate through a trust vehicle, and whose primary need is
documented authority for financial and health care decisions, along with a valid
testamentary disposition of assets. This plan does not include trust creation. It is well
suited for younger adults, single individuals without minor children, or clients who
already have a trust in place and need ancillary documents only.
Included Documents and Services
- Last Will and Testament — A California-compliant testamentary will naming an executor, distributing assets, and nominating a guardian for minor children where applicable. Drafted to coordinate with any existing beneficiary designations and transfer-on-death instruments.
- Durable Financial Power of Attorney — A durable power of attorney granting authority over financial affairs pursuant to California Probate Code section 4401 et seq., effective immediately or upon incapacity as directed by the client.
- Advance Health Care Directive — A combined health care proxy and living will pursuant to California Probate Code section 4701 et seq., naming an agent for health care decisions and documenting end-of-life care preferences.
- HIPAA Authorization — A signed and executed HIPAA authorization permitting the named health care agent and designated family members to access protected health information.
- Beneficiary Designation Review and Guidance — Attorney review of existing beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and financial accounts, with written guidance on coordination with the will and any transfer-on-death instruments.
- Transfer-on-Death Deed for One California Real Property (Where Appropriate) — Preparation, execution, and county recording of a revocable transfer-on-death deed pursuant to California Probate Code section 5614 where the client owns one California residential property and a trust is not warranted.
- Initial Client Intake and Consultation (Up to 30 Minutes) — Staff-conducted intake, followed by a documented attorney review of intake materials and brief telephone or video consultation to confirm plan scope and finalize instructions.
- Document Execution Coordination — Coordination of in-office or mobile notarization and witness signing of all documents requiring attestation.
- Digital Backup — Secure digital copies of the fully executed estate plan packet provided to client.
Scope Clarifications and Exclusions
The following items are outside the scope of all three plans and would be billed at our
hourly rate:
- Irrevocable trusts — (Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, Generation-Skipping Trusts, and Dynasty Trusts) are not included in any tier and are available as separate engagements.
- Tax planning and federal estate tax analysis — are not included in Tiers One or Two. Tier Three includes coordination to avoid inadvertent tax issues but does not include advanced tax minimization strategies or preparation of gift tax returns.
- Buy-sell agreements and business valuation — are not included in Tier Three. The Business Assignment Documents in Tier Three presuppose that an existing buy-sell agreement or operating agreement is in place; if one does not exist or must be created, a separate engagement is required.
- Out-of-state real property deeds — are not included in any tier and require a separate engagement coordinated with local counsel in the applicable state.
- Probate or trust administration — arising after the client’s death or incapacity is governed by the firm’s separate probate and trust administration fee structure.
- Amendments beyond the one included — in Tiers Two and Three are billed at the firm’s then-current hourly rate for attorney and paralegal time, following a scope estimate and client authorization.
- Complete trust restatements — triggered by major life changes (divorce, death of a named beneficiary, significant asset changes) are treated as new engagements at a reduced returning-client rate to be determined by the attorney.
Tier Two: The Family Trust Plan — $3,999
Plan Description
The Family Trust Plan is the firm's core offering, designed for California homeowners,
parents with minor children, individuals and married couples seeking to avoid probate,
and clients who require a structured plan for management of assets during incapacity
and a private transfer of assets at death. This plan includes creation of a revocable
living trust, the full suite of ancillary planning documents, transfer of one California real
property into the trust, and trust funding guidance.
This tier also includes one one-hour attorney consultation and one document
amendment within 24 months of execution at no additional charge, recognizing that
client circumstances frequently change within the first two years after plan creation.
Included Documents and Services
- Revocable Living Trust — A fully customized California revocable living trust (also known as a family trust or inter vivos trust), naming the client(s) as initial trustee(s), designating successor trustees, and providing detailed instructions for asset management during incapacity and distribution at death. The trust is drafted with staged inheritance provisions and contingency planning for minor beneficiaries.
- Certification of Trust — A California Probate Code section 18100.5 certification of trust for presentation to financial institutions, title companies, and other third parties.
- Pour-Over Will — A pour-over will directing any assets not titled in the trust at the time of death into the trust estate.
- Durable Financial Power of Attorney — As described in Tier One.
- Advance Health Care Directive — As described in Tier One.
- HIPAA Authorization — As described in Tier One.
- Assignment of Personal Property to Trust — A formal assignment of tangible personal property to the trust.
- Schedule of Assets and Gift List — A schedule identifying initial trust assets and a separate personal property gift memorandum for direction of specific tangible items.
- Trust Transfer Deed for One California Real Property — Preparation, execution, and county recording of a grant deed transferring the client’s primary California residence or designated real property into the trust, inclusive of the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.
- Guardianship Nominations — Nomination of temporary and permanent guardians for minor children within the pour-over will and the trust instrument.
- Beneficiary Designation Review and Guidance — As described in Tier One.
- Trust Funding Guidance and Follow-Up Support — Written instructions and a follow-up paralegal call to assist the client with transferring non-real property assets (financial accounts, vehicles, investment accounts) into the trust or coordinating beneficiary designation updates.
- One-Hour Attorney Consultation (Within 24 Months) — A reserved one-hour consultation with the attorney, available at any time within 24 months of execution, for questions about plan administration, asset changes, or estate planning developments.
- One Document Amendment (Within 24 Months) — One standard amendment to the trust or any ancillary document within 24 months of execution, covering routine changes such as trustee or beneficiary substitutions or corrections, provided the amendment does not require a complete restatement or structural redrafting.
- Execution Coordination and Notarization — In-office or mobile notarization and coordination of all document execution.
- Estate Planning Portfolio Binder and Digital Backup — Indexed and organized physical portfolio binder and secure digital copies of all executed documents.
Scope Clarifications and Exclusions
The following items are outside the scope of all three plans and would be billed at our
hourly rate:
- Irrevocable trusts — (Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, Generation-Skipping Trusts, and Dynasty Trusts) are not included in any tier and are available as separate engagements.
- Tax planning and federal estate tax analysis — are not included in Tiers One or Two. Tier Three includes coordination to avoid inadvertent tax issues but does not include advanced tax minimization strategies or preparation of gift tax returns.
- Buy-sell agreements and business valuation — are not included in Tier Three. The Business Assignment Documents in Tier Three presuppose that an existing buy-sell agreement or operating agreement is in place; if one does not exist or must be created, a separate engagement is required.
- Out-of-state real property deeds — are not included in any tier and require a separate engagement coordinated with local counsel in the applicable state.
- Probate or trust administration — arising after the client’s death or incapacity is governed by the firm’s separate probate and trust administration fee structure.
- Amendments beyond the one included — in Tiers Two and Three are billed at the firm’s then-current hourly rate for attorney and paralegal time, following a scope estimate and client authorization.
- Complete trust restatements — triggered by major life changes (divorce, death of a named beneficiary, significant asset changes) are treated as new engagements at a reduced returning-client rate to be determined by the attorney.
Tier Three: The Legacy and Business Plan — $5,999
Plan Description
The Legacy and Business Plan is the firm's premium offering, designed for high-net-
worth individuals, business owners, clients with complex asset structures, clients who
own multiple real properties, and clients whose estate plan must coordinate with
business succession obligations. This plan delivers a comprehensive trust packet,
incorporates business interests into the trust structure, and includes all documents
necessary to provide a legally sound and operationally functional estate plan for a
business owner or high-net-worth client.
Business owners require materially more sophisticated trust drafting than standard
clients. A revocable living trust for a business owner must contain detailed operational
authority provisions, including the power to continue business operations, sign on
operating accounts, execute contracts, hire employees, and serve in managerial or
officer roles, because generic trust language granting the trustee authority to "hold or
manage business interests" is frequently insufficient for financial institutions and co-
owners. Transfer of LLC membership interests, corporate shares, or partnership
interests into a trust requires a review and, in many cases, amendment of the operating
agreement, shareholder agreement, or partnership agreement to confirm that the
transfer is a permitted transfer and does not trigger right-of-first-refusal, forced buyout,
or voting rights stripping provisions. California Corporations Code section 17705.02
requires that admission of a transferee as a member of an LLC typically requires
consent under the operating agreement.
Included Documents and Services
Core Trust Documents
- Revocable Living Trust with Advanced Provisions and Business Owner Drafting — A fully customized revocable living trust with detailed operational authority for business continuation, clear successor trustee signing authority language, coordination with operating agreements or shareholder agreements, and structured inheritance provisions including lifetime trust options for beneficiaries with divorce or creditor protection needs.
- Certification of Trust — As described in Tier Two.
- Pour-Over Will — As described in Tier Two.
- Guardianship Nominations — As described in Tier Two.
- Schedule of Assets and Gift Lists — As described in Tier Two.
Incapacity and Health Care Documents
- Durable Financial Power of Attorney — As described in Tier One, with any enhanced business-related financial authorities incorporated.
- Advance Health Care Directive — As described in Tier One.
- HIPAA Authorization — As described in Tier One.
Real Property Documents
- Trust Transfer Deeds for Up to Two California Real Properties — Preparation, execution, and county recording of grant deeds transferring up to two California real properties into the trust, inclusive of Preliminary Change of Ownership Reports and applicable SB-2 compliance. Additional properties may be transferred at a separately disclosed per-deed fee.
Business Inclusion Documents
- Assignment of Business Interests to Trust — Formal assignment of the client’s LLC membership interest(s), corporate shares, or partnership interest(s) into the trust, following review of the applicable governing documents (operating agreement, shareholder agreement, partnership agreement, or bylaws) to confirm that the transfer is a permitted transfer under the applicable agreement and California law.
- Amendment to Operating Agreement or Consent Resolution (Where Required) — Where the governing document requires consent of other members, managers, or directors to permit transfer of an ownership interest to a revocable trust, the firm will prepare the appropriate consent resolution or operating agreement amendment for execution by all required parties.
- Certification of Trust for Business Use — A business-specific certification of trust, tailored for presentation to the company’s bank, payroll provider, and other financial institutions, confirming successor trustee authority over business operations.
- Assignment of Tangible Business Personal Property — Assignment of tangible personal property used in the business (equipment, inventory, licenses where transferable) to the trust.
Supporting Documents for High-Net-Worth Planning
- Community Property Agreement (Married Clients) — A community property agreement characterizing or confirming the community property nature of designated assets, used in conjunction with the trust for tax basis planning purposes.
- Personal Property Memorandum — A detailed memorandum for distribution of tangible personal property, separately updatable without trust amendment.
- Nomination of Trustee for Incapacity (Disability Panel Provision) — Enhanced incapacity provisions naming a disability panel to confirm incapacity before triggering successor trustee authority, reducing risk of elder financial abuse.
Post-Execution Services Included
- Beneficiary Designation Review and Guidance — Attorney-level review of all retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and financial accounts for coordination with the trust.
- Trust Funding Guidance and Coordination — Comprehensive written instructions and paralegal follow-up support for transferring all non-real property assets into the trust or updating beneficiary designations to coordinate with the trust structure.
- One-Hour Attorney Consultation (Within 24 Months) — A reserved one-hour consultation available at any time within 24 months of execution.
- One Document Amendment (Within 24 Months) — One standard amendment to any document in the packet within 24 months of execution, subject to the same scope limitations as described in Tier Two.
- Estate Planning Portfolio Binder and Digital Backup — Indexed and organized physical portfolio binder and secure digital copies of all executed documents.
Scope Clarifications and Exclusions
The following items are outside the scope of all three plans and would be billed at our
hourly rate:
- Irrevocable trusts — (Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, Generation-Skipping Trusts, and Dynasty Trusts) are not included in any tier and are available as separate engagements.
- Tax planning and federal estate tax analysis — are not included in Tiers One or Two. Tier Three includes coordination to avoid inadvertent tax issues but does not include advanced tax minimization strategies or preparation of gift tax returns.
- Buy-sell agreements and business valuation — are not included in Tier Three. The Business Assignment Documents in Tier Three presuppose that an existing buy-sell agreement or operating agreement is in place; if one does not exist or must be created, a separate engagement is required.
- Out-of-state real property deeds — are not included in any tier and require a separate engagement coordinated with local counsel in the applicable state.
- Probate or trust administration — arising after the client’s death or incapacity is governed by the firm’s separate probate and trust administration fee structure.
- Amendments beyond the one included — in Tiers Two and Three are billed at the firm’s then-current hourly rate for attorney and paralegal time, following a scope estimate and client authorization.
- Complete trust restatements — triggered by major life changes (divorce, death of a named beneficiary, significant asset changes) are treated as new engagements at a reduced returning-client rate to be determined by the attorney.