Congratulations on taking this important step in creating or updating your estate plan! This section is intended to explain the estate planning process. We hope to have the opportunity to assist you with your estate plan.

At our initial meeting, we will learn more about you and your family. We will listen to your objectives and desires which may go beyond simply the distribution of your estate in the event of your death. You may wish for your plan to help instill family values, encourage college education, or protect the assets or legacy that you leave from lawsuits, divorce and creditors. We will also obtain and gather information from you regarding your assets and investments.

During this initial meeting, we are acting very much like a doctor who obtains information, ascertains your needs, and provides a recommendation or diagnosis. Please complete a Trust Questionnaire and bring the completed form with you to the meeting. This information is needed to make sure that you get the most value out of your initial meeting. The questionnaire also provides the information that we need to provide recommendations to you regarding your plan.

At the end of this meeting, we will quote a fixed fee for the design and implementation of your estate plan. We will also agree on a date to sign your estate planning documents at the conclusion of the meeting. We will provide initial drafts of your estate planning documents for you to review within approximately three (3) weeks after receiving your initial estate planning information packet, which will be given to you at your initial meeting. Any changes that may be needed to these drafts are included in the initial flat fee. We are also able to discuss any questions by phone and, if necessary, in a separate meeting without any additional charge.

The signing meeting typically takes approximately one (1) hour on average. This is the time needed for the actual signing of your documents. We should meet or speak by telephone before the signing to discuss and resolve any questions or proposed changes that you may have. You will leave this meeting with the original estate planning documents. Your owner's manual will follow a few weeks later after we receive any recorded deeds or other transfer documents from the appropriate governmental entity or financial institution.

Once again, congratulations on this important step. Thank you for the opportunity to assist you with your estate plan. We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

THE GORALKA LAW FIRM,
a professional corporation
John M. Goralka, J.D., LL.M.


By:
John M. Goralka, J.D., LL.M.
Certified Specialist, Taxation Law
Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law