Flat Fee Estate Planning

Unlike most lawyers, we offer set rates for particular jobs - we call these "flat fees." Choosing a flat fee means you know from the beginning how much your work will cost you. When it comes to estate planning this just makes sense - most Vermonters need a will or a simple trust document, not ongoing tax planning and complex financial instruments. So most Vermonters don't want a lawyer sending bills for work they didn't plan on for work they didn't want done!

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In many cases, your entire estate plan and documents will cost less than a thousand dollars. 

 

Our estate planning packages have two parts. First, you will have an initial consultation for a $285 flat fee, due when you schedule the appointment. (We accept check and credit card payments.) This is a one-hour meeting with your estate planning lawyer, Erin Gallivan. During that meeting, attorney Gallivan will go over your financial picture, and your goals. Together we will put together a plan for the most efficient and helpful documents to put your family - and you - at ease. After that meeting, you will choose the second part of the package which will be a flat fee for the documents you need.

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You will have a little homework to do before the meeting. We will ask you to complete a Flat Fee Estate Planning Form and Flat Fee Estate Planning Worksheet and email them back before the initial consultation. That will help us both get the most out of the meeting and get this job out of the way so you can get on to the other important things in your life.

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During the initial consultation, Attorney Erin Gallivan will explain the basics of estate planning, discuss your particular situation, and advise you on whether one of the flat fee packages makes sense for you. Erin may decide that your situation is too complicated and not appropriate for the flat fee service, and for these situations we will continue to offer estate planning services at our typical hourly rates. If you decide one of the flat fee packages is appropriate, an additional up-front flat fee will be due depending on which package you choose. Each package includes the preparation of the documents, review of the documents, and then a meeting at our office to execute the documents with required witnesses and notary public.