Why a Legacy Planning Session Gives You More Than a Standard Consultation

A standard initial consultation with an estate planning lawyer often looks like this: you meet briefly, answer questions about your family and assets, and the lawyer tells you which documents you “need” — usually a will, trust, healthcare directive, and power of attorney — along with a price.

This approach is transactional and risky. It often means the lawyer is focused on document production, not on helping you make well-counseled decisions that reflect your values and goals. One-size-fits-all pricing or hourly billing for basic documents is a red flag that your planning may not be tailored to your family’s needs.

The Legacy Planning Session: A Better Way to Protect What Matters Most

Our Legacy Planning Session takes a completely different approach. Instead of a quick consultation, it’s a working meeting designed to help you:

• Understand your unique family dynamics and assets

• See how the law applies specifically to your situation

• Receive practical, personalized guidance

• Make decisions that truly protect your loved ones

  
  

By the end of the session, you’ll know you’ve made informed, empowered choices that will stand the test of time—ensuring your plan works when your family needs it most.

Clarity, Control, and Confidence in Every Decision

The biggest difference between a typical consultation and a Legacy Planning Session is purpose.

Traditional Consultation

• Focuses on telling you what documents you need

• Offers little education about the law or your options

• Often leaves gaps that can lead to unnecessary taxes, court involvement, or family conflict

  
  

Legacy Planning Session

• Focuses on education and empowerment

• Helps you make decisions with your eyes open

• Builds confidence that your plan will work in real life

  
  

Questions That Open Your Eyes

During your session, we’ll explore real-life situations and decisions that reveal how your plan would actually work. You’ll consider questions such as:

• Who would step forward to take care of your children (or support your adult children)?

• Could naming one child as decision-maker create conflict with others?

• How important is it to you to keep your family out of court?

• Do you want your affairs to remain private if you become incapacitated or pass away?

• How would your family find your accounts, passwords, or essential information?

  
  

These questions help you see the gaps in a “basic” plan and create one that truly reflects your priorities.

What Happens During Your Legacy Planning Session

Your Legacy Planning Session is a hands-on, two-hour meeting designed to educate, empower, and organize your estate plan around your goals. We’ll cover four core areas:

1. Education About How the Law Applies to You

Most people don’t realize that without a proper plan—or with an outdated one—state law controls what happens to your assets, children, and healthcare decisions.You’ll see exactly what would happen if something were to occur today, and that insight becomes the foundation for wise decision-making.

2. Comprehensive Review of Family and Finances

We’ll go beyond listing assets. Together we’ll review:

• Family relationships and potential decision-makers

• Resources your loved ones will need if you’re gone

• Financial and emotional factors that could affect your plan

  
  

You’ll also complete an asset inventory, ensuring nothing is forgotten. Even if you don’t continue with planning afterward, your loved ones will benefit from this organization.

3. Clarifying Your Goals and Priorities

Estate planning is never one-size-fits-all. We’ll discuss your biggest concerns—whether it’s:

• Providing for your spouse

• Protecting your children’s inheritance from divorce or creditors

• Keeping your affairs private

• Avoiding probate court

  
  

This step ensures your plan reflects your values, goals, and legacy.

4. Choosing the Right Plan and Path Forward

By the end of the session, you’ll:

• Understand the planning options available

• See how each works in real life

• Choose the plan and fee that fits your goals and budget

  
  

You’ll leave knowing exactly what will be created, when it will be completed, and what it will cost—no surprises.

Bringing It All Together

A Legacy Planning Session isn’t about filling out forms or signing papers—it’s about creating a plan that works when life happens.

Traditional consultations stop at “what you need.”Our approach gives you the why and how behind every decision.

You’ll leave with:

• Clarity about what would really happen to your loved ones

• Confidence that your choices reflect your values

• Peace of mind knowing your plan will protect those you care about most

  
  

That’s the difference between a set of documents and a Legacy Plan that truly works.

Your Next Step

If you’ve thought of estate planning as just a few documents, now you know why that approach often fails.Your loved ones deserve a plan you understand, trust, and believe in.

Book a free 15-minute discovery call to explore how a Legacy Planning Session protects your whole family.