| Alan R. Horvath, Attorney at Law |
| Does a Estate Plan Have to Be Expensive? |
| Phone: 209 754-5291 Fax: 209 754-5293 |
| ahorvathlaw@sbcglobal.net |
I sometimes hear the concern "Why is a trust so expensive?". There are many factors involved in this perceived
expense, and I would like to review at least the most import ones.
First, you need an estate plan, and a trust is only one part of that. You need to understand that when you ask an
attorney for a trust, he is going to provide an estate plan. Not because he is trying to over sell you, but because
he has a responsibility to represent your best interests.
That responsibility is the second factor. When you hire an attorney to create an estate plan, you are not paying for
words, but for legal advice, and for someone who has the legal responsibility to see that you get complete and
appropriate advise.
Beyond that, you need to consider the costs of doing business. Each law firm must cover its own overhead, and a
firm with lower overhead is going to be able to charge lower rates. It is up to you to decide whether higher
overhead translates into more experienced lawyers or not.
Finally, if you accept the overhead argument, you should realize that it is possible to reduce overhead by operating
in a rural environment and seeing clients by phone. If that works for you, it can reduce expenses.
expense, and I would like to review at least the most import ones.
First, you need an estate plan, and a trust is only one part of that. You need to understand that when you ask an
attorney for a trust, he is going to provide an estate plan. Not because he is trying to over sell you, but because
he has a responsibility to represent your best interests.
That responsibility is the second factor. When you hire an attorney to create an estate plan, you are not paying for
words, but for legal advice, and for someone who has the legal responsibility to see that you get complete and
appropriate advise.
Beyond that, you need to consider the costs of doing business. Each law firm must cover its own overhead, and a
firm with lower overhead is going to be able to charge lower rates. It is up to you to decide whether higher
overhead translates into more experienced lawyers or not.
Finally, if you accept the overhead argument, you should realize that it is possible to reduce overhead by operating
in a rural environment and seeing clients by phone. If that works for you, it can reduce expenses.
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P.O. Box 81
596 Mountain Ranch Rd.
San Andreas, CA 95249
596 Mountain Ranch Rd.
San Andreas, CA 95249