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Have you been meaning to get around to estate planning, but you just can’t find the time?

One of the reasons we hear most often from people putting off planning is that they don’t have enough time. They aren’t saying they don’t have time for a one hour meeting with an attorney. What they mean is they don’t have time for all the stuff that comes before meeting with an estate planning lawyer. There is a myth that you have to have your affairs “in order” and your life totally settled before you complete the estate planning process. We’ve been in this business for a long time, and it’s not clear where this misperception came from. It wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t so damaging — people end up waiting until it is too late to create an estate plan because of a misguided belief that you have to have it all together before you start.

Paying by the Hour is Long Gone

Most likely, this belief is a remnant of an era when all attorneys charged an hourly rate to provide estate planning services. Sure, if you were being charged by the minute to draft paperwork, locate assets, and talk through decisions, it might make sense to do as much as you can on your own before ever walking through the door. But, at Brian M. Douglas & Associates, we waved goodbye to the billable hour for estate planning long ago. Instead, we charge one flat rate to complete your entire estate plan, no matter how disordered your affairs may seem.

Let an Expert Guide Your Effort

What would it actually look like for you to finally “get it all in order?” If you had plenty of free time on your hands, would you even know where to start? What if you wasted all that time getting things straightened out, only to find out that organization wasn’t necessary or should have been presented a different way? It would be pretty disheartening, right?

What if, instead, you meet with an expert who helps you get clarity around what you need to prepare for your estate plan? What if you had an attorney overseeing and supporting your effort to maximize efficiency? The fact of the matter is, that’s a big part of what an estate planning attorney does: in addition to helping you clarify your estate planning goals, advising you about your options, and preparing the necessary documents, a good attorney should help you prioritize, get organized, and focus.

Estate Planning Doesn’t Have to Happen All at Once

Even under the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney, creating a plan is still a process. But, does that mean it all has to be done at once? Of course not! Our compassionate attorneys are experienced in prioritizing the most important estate planning steps and tailoring the process to work for you. Don’t have more than an hour a week to spend on estate planning? No problem! This process can be personalized to suit your lifestyle, no matter what.

Ready to see if estate planning can fit into your busy schedule? Give Brian M. Douglas & Associates a call at (770) 933-9009. We are here to help!