Estate Planning

No one likes to think about it - yet estate planning is arguably the one legal service we all need, no matter what our circumstances might be. South Carolina statutes provide a plan for distribution of assets.

If any of the following have happened in your life in the last few years ...

A new baby
Marriage
Started a business
Acquired or sold assets
Entered into a committed unmarried relationship
In fact, any significant change in life circumstances

.. you need to do some planning. Why? Consider this: as most state legislatures have, the South Carolina General Assembly enacted a set of laws that provide a pattern of distribution of property that belongs to someone who dies without a will. This pattern is called the intestacy -and it represents the legislature's "best guess" as to what the "average" person would want to do with his or her property after death. If your wishes deviate in the slightest from that scheme - too bad, because without a will, it will govern the distribution of all your probate property (i.e., all property that isn't otherwise disposed of, for instance by joint ownership with right of survivorship, or through designations such as life insurance beneficiary appointments).

Planning for your future and your family's well-being doesn't need to be grim, or difficult. In my practice, I have designed a process that minimizes the client's discomfort and makes the process as easy as possible for the client to complete. After contacting me, you will receive in the mail a questionnaire which you will browse and begin to fill out at your convenience. There's no pressure to finish the entire document, because I will help you do that during our first meeting. The questionnaire is merely designed to help you get started thinking about the important questions that will guide the process for us.

After you've completed as much of the questionnaire as you desire, I will come to your home, or wherever you feel most comfortable, and help you finalize your responses to the questionnaire, as well as set some goals for your individualized estate plan. Over the course of the next few weeks (possibly even a shorter period of time, depending on the complexity of your particular needs), I draft your plan's documents. We then exchange comments and draft documents either through email or U.S. mail. Only when you are completely thrilled with your plan will we schedule an appointment to sign the documents.

After the documents are signed and properly witnessed (a process which I will set up and coordinate with the least amount of disruption to your life as possible), you will receive in the mail a handsome binder containing originals and a copy of all your critical estate planning documents. Afterwards, I will periodically contact you to remind you to review your estate plan and keep it updated to keep pace with changes in both your life's circumstances and the law.

Fee Schedule for Estate Planning Services

I am so confident that this process works that I do something very few attorneys will do: I will tell you right now exactly how much it costs! The following schedule of fees reflects the range of fees that I charge for estate planning clients; adjustments may be made for additional or "out of scope" work requested by the client. The flat rate quoted will depend on several factors, including without limitation the nature and extent of property owned, the need for tax planning, and the estimated value of the estate.

Type of Services Flat Rate Range

Single - will only	$200 - 1,000
Single - complete plan	$350 - 1,150
Married couple - wills only	$375 - 2,500
Married couple - complete plans	$525 - 2,600
Unmarried committed couple - wills only	$375 - 2,500
Unmarried committed couple - complete plans	$1,200 - 3,500*

* A note about services provided for unmarried committed couples: Because the law considers unmarried couples to be the legal equivalent of strangers, the planning process is much more complex for such couples, especially when children are part of the household. The complete plan for such couples may include additional documents not necessary for married couples, such as parenting agreements, authorizations for visitation, and more complex powers of attorney. Additionally, these documents are subject to challenge by displaced family members, and as such require a great deal of care and foresight in drafting. Thus, my rates for providing these necessary services are a bit higher than for married couples. I will, however, waive my usual fee for such a couple for an additional half-hour consultation in order to discuss the need for these documents, to enable the couple to decide what degree of planning may be appropriate for them.

DISCLAIMER: This website and its contents are meant as a general discussion of certain legal issues and not as a statement of fact, of legal advice, or as a legal opinion. No attorney-client relationship is formed by your visiting this site, clicking on its links, utilizing the resources provided herein, or otherwise, and no such relationship exists until a signed retainer agreement has been delivered to the Law Office of Sheryl Sisk Schelin with the appropriate fee. You should not rely on or act upon any information contained herein or on any other website without first seeking the services of a competent attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. Sheryl Sisk Schelin practices law only in the State of South Carolina, and is not authorized to render legal services in any other jurisdiction.

The Law Office of Sheryl Sisk Schelin is a debt relief agency under the laws of the United States, including the Bankruptcy Code, and assists its clients by helping them to file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, among other solutions, and as appropriate to their individual needs.