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An Overview of Our Services
by Robert E. Alderman, Jr.
We believe that estate planning should never be approached as a robotic, assembly line function! Every individual, every couple and every family has some unique circumstances or personal goals, dreams, fears and concerns that must be understood and then addressed if the estate plan they obtain is going to truly be their plan and not someone else’s!
Estate planning is an Ongoing Process
It is also our opinion that estate planning is an ongoing process, not a single event.
Very seldom does a client’s family and financial situation remain the same year after year. Just as one’s physical well-being requires medical and dental checkups periodically, estate planning should be reviewed and reevaluated as time passes or circumstances change. When attorney and client meet for the first time on estate planning issues, that should be just the beginning of a long term relationship between them.
For successful estate planning, it is crucial, both short and long term, that all assets held by a client be properly transferred to and held in the client’s living trust. If that is not done with assets existing when the trust is first created as well as with assets later acquired, the entire plan will be useless.
Three Roles: Teacher, Counselor and Attorney
To address each of these vital aspects of estate planning, there are three roles we strive to provide to each of our clients - those of teacher, counselor and attorney.
To Educate and Inform
As a teacher, we attempt to educate and inform all clients of what they and their families are up against in the probate process, estate taxes, Murphy’s law when they rely on joint tenancy property ownership, previous or subsequent marriages in their family, procrastination on their planning, life insurance distributions to a spouse or children, State law distribution patterns, etc., etc. It is only through at least a little education that an intelligent decision can be made on any subject.
Counseling - Where the True Professional Earns his Fee
Unfortunately, education or knowledge is not sufficient on its own. A second step for good estate planning is where the true professional earns his or her fee. That second step is counseling - the process of examining and diagnosing each client’s real needs and desires and how they can be fulfilled. Counseling (when done properly) is a "tough love" or "Dutch uncle" exchange. Hard and sometimes personal questions must be asked and answered. There has to be a confidential sharing and openness between attorney and client in order that the right treatment can be prescribed and a beneficial, long-term relationship developed.
The Attorney Phase: Precise drafting of Estate Planning
The documents provided in the attorney phase of estate planning are similar to surgery a doctor might perform or prescription given to the patient as well as postoperative care and follow-up as necessary to assure no complications arise. The attorney phase of estate planning is the precise drafting of a variety of estate planning documents in a manner that not only fulfills the personal needs and desires of every client, but also satisfies the legal complexities of probate and the IRS. The postoperative attorney phase includes: follow-up assistance for transferring assets to the client’s trust, availability to answer questions or provide reassurances, and willingness to give additional guidance after the estate plan is drafted. This phase can be just as crucial as the drafting and can sometimes be the difference between an estate plan that works and one that doesn’t! In the medical field, surgery can be successfully performed, only for the patient to die afterward from complications away from the doctor or hospital. The same is true with clients and estate planning - if there is no long term relationship or follow-up services.
The Difference is our Teacher - Counselor - Attorney approach to Estate Planning
Sometimes when asked what’s unique about our office and the kind of loving trust estate planning we provide, we simply say, "It’s what we know, what we do, and what you get!" But, really, the difference is our teacher-counselor-attorney approach to estate planning. It is that approach that enables us to guide clients in making intelligent estate planning decisions for themselves and their families; to personalize every client’s plan according to their needs, fears, dreams, concerns and aspirations; to develop a relationship of trust and confidence with them, and to support them both short and long term in every phase of their estate planning process.
It is because of the concept we have and the approach we apply to estate planning that we are able to make a commitment to our clients to provide to each of them estate planning services and products that exceed in real value that which they can obtain anywhere else!
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Robert E. Alderman, Jr. conducts lively and informative seminars about Loving Trust Estate Planning throughout the California counties of Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside. See the Seminar Class List. For information about attending a seminar in your area, Call 800/953-4252 or complete the information form.
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