An estate planning consultation is your first real step toward protecting your family and assets—but walking in unprepared wastes time and money. Attorneys typically charge $200–$400 per hour for initial consultations, and most sessions last 60–90 minutes, so showing up organized means you're paying for strategy, not explanations. Here's exactly what to bring and what questions actually matter.
Gather Your Financial Documents
Before you sit down, compile a complete picture of what you own. Pull together:
- Recent bank statements (checking, savings, investment accounts)
- Property deeds or real estate records
- Retirement account statements (401k, IRA, brokerage accounts)
- Life insurance policies with current death benefit amounts
- Business ownership documents (if applicable)
- Debt records (mortgages, loans, credit card balances)
- Titles to vehicles or other titled property
Don't worry about organizing these perfectly—attorneys expect messiness—but having them in one place saves billable hours. If you can't locate something, a note saying "checking with bank" is fine. What matters is demonstrating you're serious about the process.
List Your Family and Beneficiary Intentions
Write down everyone you want to include in your estate:
- Full names and ages of spouse, children, and grandchildren
- Names of anyone with special needs or substance abuse history (these require different trust structures)
- Any estranged family members you're intentionally excluding
- Charitable organizations you want to support
Include a rough estimate of what each person should inherit. You don't need exact percentages—saying "kids equally, wife gets the house" is enough. If you want your daughter to inherit your business but your son to get investments, write that down. Attorneys need to know your actual intentions, not guess at them.
Understand Your Current Estate Structure
Many people don't realize what they already have in place. Gather:
- Existing wills or trusts (from any previous attorney)
- Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance
- Deeds that list "transfer on death" or specify joint ownership
- Any power of attorney documents
These documents often conflict with what people think they've set up. One of the attorney's main jobs is untangling these contradictions, so bring what you have, even if you're unsure whether it's current.
Prepare Your Current Life Situation
Write a short summary of your circumstances:
- Employment status (self-employed, W-2 employee, retired)
- Marital history (first marriage, remarried, divorced)
- Home state and any property in other states (this affects tax strategy and where probate happens)
- Rough net worth range ($500K–$1M, $2M–$5M, etc.)
State probate courts and tax laws vary dramatically. If you own property in Florida and live in California, or you're in a second marriage with blended children, your attorney needs to know upfront.
Questions Worth Asking
Go beyond "How much will this cost?" Here's what separates good advice from generic templates:
Ask about your specific tax situation. For estates over $13.61 million (2024 federal threshold), ask: "What strategies reduce federal estate taxes for my net worth level?" Trusts, gifting strategies, and charitable remainder trusts all have different tax outcomes.
Clarify the probate process in your state. Ask: "If I die without a trust, how long would probate take and what would it cost?" This isn't hypothetical—it shows you whether a trust actually saves money in your specific location.
Understand ongoing costs. Ask: "After you draft these documents, what's involved in keeping them current?" Some attorneys charge for annual reviews; others charge per update. Some charge flat fees ($2,000–$5,000 for a basic will-and-trust package), others hourly.
Ask about incapacity planning. "What happens if I become unable to manage my finances before I die?" Most people focus on death but ignore disability. Powers of attorney and healthcare directives deserve the same attention.
What to Expect Going Forward
A typical estate plan takes 2–4 weeks to draft after your consultation. You'll review documents, request revisions (minor tweaks are usually included), then sign everything—ideally in front of the attorney and a notary. Total cost for a standard will and revocable living trust ranges from $2,000 to $8,000 depending on complexity.
If your situation involves a second marriage, a family business, or assets in multiple states, expect higher fees and longer timelines—sometimes 6–8 weeks.
Looking for a qualified estate planning attorney? Mercoly helps you compare and find trusted estate planning providers in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I use an online legal service or hire a local attorney? Online services work fine for straightforward situations (single person, simple assets), but anything involving real estate, a business, minor children, or blended families needs local counsel who knows your state's specific laws and can advise on taxes.
Q: How often should I update my estate plan? Review it every 3–5 years or after major life events (marriage, divorce, inheritance, significant asset change, or new children). Minor updates cost $200–$500; major revisions run closer to half the original cost.
Q: What's the difference between a will and a trust? A will goes through probate court after death (public, slower, expensive); a trust avoids probate entirely (private, faster, better for most people with meaningful assets).
Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation with an estate planning attorney who understands your specific situation.