Idaho Law Blog
By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney
Having assisted numerous clients with their Idaho estate planning needs, I’ve come to learn that not every individual needs exactly the same thing. Everyone is unique. The relationships, the property, the money, the assets, and the motives and goals of each person are based upon their personalities, needs, and desires. Because of this each person should have an estate plan that is as unique as they are. In other words, using cookie cutter estate planning forms, or giving each client the exact same estate plan will likely not meet their needs. It’s for this reason that we encourage each client to work with us to create their own individualized estate plan.
I’ve learned that the biggest problem in getting estate planning done for most people is that they simply do not know where to start. We certainly don’t expect our clients to understand estate planning the same way we do. It’s for this reason, that we provide our clients with our Estate Planning Questionnaire to help them get started.
Our Estate Planning Questionnaire is a PDF document on our website that a person can download and then type into directly from their computer. It is broken down into 7 easy steps that are simple to go through and to provide information on. Some of the steps include blank lines asking you to fill in information such as names and addresses for yourself or your children or loved ones. Other steps in the Estate Planning Questionnaire ask you specific questions where you can provide yes or no answers that will help guide you to the estate planning options that will meet your specific needs.
Many of our clients have told us that the Estate Planning Questionnaire really was simple. They also tell us that it made providing information and moving forward with getting their estate planning done very simple.
Once we have the Estate Planning Questionnaire filled out for a client, we then provide them with a free 30-minute consultation to go over their information. While we do this, we provide easy to understand descriptions of the estate planning options that exist for each client that will help fit their needs. For example, if we have parents of young children meet with us, we talk with them about the importance of naming Guardians in their last will and testament for their young children in the event both parents were to unexpectedly passed away. We also talk to them about the need of creating a way to provide for their children financially until their children become responsible adults.
As another example, we talk with most individuals about the importance of having a durable power of attorney, as well as a living will and a power of attorney for health care. We explain how these documents can protect them while they are alive. We also talked to them about how these documents can save them and their family from additional expenses of having to do a guardianship hearing, and how these documents can eliminate potential family fights or disagreements concerning who should care for you or your children.
At the end of the free 30-minute consultation, once we have a better idea of what it is our clients may need as part of their estate planning, we also provide to our clients the flat feet prices that we would charge to help them complete their estate planning. By providing this information, our clients have everything they need to think about to make decisions about what they would like to have in their Estate Planning, and whether they would like us to help them get it done.
If you have never done estate planning before, and you need an Idaho state plan, or if you are looking to update your Idaho state plan, we encourage you to download and look over our Estate Planning Questionnaire. By using our Estate Planning Questionnaire, we have helped numerous clients determine what their estate planning needs are and how to best meet them. We are confident that we can help you too.
ENLIST AN IDAHO ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU
Our team of Idaho lawyers can help you with any of your estate planning or probate needs. Whether you are seeking to create or review an estate plan for yourself or would like to help a loved one, we are available to discuss your options and answer your questions at an initial free 30-minute consultation. Call us toll free at 877-232-6101 or 208-232-6101 for a consultation. You can also email Lane V. Erickson directly at lane@racineolson.com or stop by our office at 201 East Center Street, Pocatello, Idaho 83201. We will answer your questions and help you solve your Idaho Estate Planning problems.