ESTATE PLANNING FEE SCHEDULE
In order to maintain a logical, consistent, and fair pricing system, most services we provide use a fixed fee arrangement. In other words, you will usually know the project cost before any drafting work begins. Reduced fees may be available if you need to update an estate plan prepared by another estate planning lawyer within the past 10 years.
Note: The initial meeting is subject to a $250 consultation fee, which will be collected after the meeting. If you proceed to retain Mr. Bouman for additional legal services, the $250 is treated as credit.
Essentials (choose 1):
1- Contract-based Estate Plan, including Powers of Attorney & "Back-up" Will
2- Traditional Will-based Estate Plan, including Powers of Attorney
3- Living Trust-based Estate Plan, including All Supporting Documents
Premium add-ons (optional):
A- Inheritance Provisions for Spouse (if applicable, choose 1)
B- Inheritance Provisions for Non-Spouse Beneficiaries
C- Irrevocable Home Equity Protection Trust (HEPT)
D- Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT)
E- Beneficiary Deed
F- Powers of Attorney and Living Will Declaration (a la carte)
How to Calculate the Total Fee:
My fee quote will combine one of the essential base fee amounts plus any premium options you choose. For example, a common fee amount for a married couple is $5,600 ($3,600 living trust essentials + $1,600 inheritance protection + $400 SECURE Act compliance). But a simple will-based estate plan with outright distribution is $2,000.
Why We Offer Fixed Fees:
I use fixed fee arrangements whenever possible because hourly billing doesn’t put the focus on what you really want - a “solution” to your problem, or a “vehicle” to help you realize a goal or objective. Whenever possible the price should reflect the value of the work, not the amount of time employed to finish it. However, there are some situations when an hourly billing rate makes better sense and for those situations my rate is usually $450/hour.
Do you simply want to update an estate plan prepared by another law firm?
If you wish to update an estate plan prepared by another estate planning lawyer within the past 10 years, then your project may be eligible for a reduced fixed fee. However, the regular fixed fee schedule is usually used when making any substantive changes to the structure or design of an estate plan prepared by someone else.
Fee schedule updates:
This fixed fee schedule was published on December 30, 2024. The next adjustment is planned for January 1, 2026.
Payment methods:
Although payment by check or cash is always preferred, we also accept debit cards and credit cards (including American Express). Payment plans are available through a program called Pay Later sponsored by Affirm.
Sample forms:
Fee Agreement
Engagement Letter
Read my personal note about fees:
Personal note
Note: The initial meeting is subject to a $250 consultation fee, which will be collected after the meeting. If you proceed to retain Mr. Bouman for additional legal services, the $250 is treated as credit.
Essentials (choose 1):
1- Contract-based Estate Plan, including Powers of Attorney & "Back-up" Will
- $1,400 for individual or $2,000 for married couple
- This approach relies solely on beneficiary designations.
2- Traditional Will-based Estate Plan, including Powers of Attorney
- $1,400 for individual or $2,000 for married couple
- This approach relies on a traditional will for transfer of probate assets.
3- Living Trust-based Estate Plan, including All Supporting Documents
- $3,000 for individual or $3,600 for married couple
- This approach relies on a fully funded revocable trust to avoid probate.
Premium add-ons (optional):
A- Inheritance Provisions for Spouse (if applicable, choose 1)
- Outright to spouse; no estate tax mitigation. $0 (included)
- Outright to spouse, and Add Portability election for estate tax mitigation. $400
- Integrate restricted trust for spouse to protect deceased spouse’s share; no estate tax mitigation. $800
- Integrate restricted trust for spouse to protect deceased spouse’s share, and Add Clayton election formula for estate tax mitigation. $1,200
B- Inheritance Provisions for Non-Spouse Beneficiaries
- Outright to named beneficiaries (unless under age 21 or incapacitated); Assumes no concern for restriction or protection of inheritance. $0 (included)
- Integrate a common trust for young children until the youngest child attains a specified age, then allocated into separate shares for then-living children. $250
- Integrate inheritance protection planning for one or more beneficiaries. This option will protect inheritance from future threats (lawsuits, divorce, debt collections); and/or restrict inheritance in response to an identifiable clear and present danger (spendthrift habits, special needs, susceptibility to undue influence, need to maintain beneficiary’s qualification for government-sponsored health benefits or supplemental income benefits); recommended when value of non-retirement assets exceeds $100,000 per beneficiary; highly recommended if exceeds $250,000 per beneficiary. $1,600
- Integrate “SECURE Act compliant” trust provisions to delay, restrict, or protect inherited retirement accounts; recommended when value of retirement accounts exceeds $100,000 per beneficiary; highly recommended if exceeds $250,000 per beneficiary. $400
C- Irrevocable Home Equity Protection Trust (HEPT)
- An irrevocable Home Equity Protection Trust is designed to shield your home equity from future and unknown creditors. If your primary residence is high in value, and you have accumulated substantial home equity, then your home may become a prime target when someone accuses you of wrongdoing (whether legitimate or fraudulent). Arizona law protects up to $425,200 of home equity in a primary residence automatically (the “homestead exemption”), but homeowners with more home equity than provided by the homestead exemption should consider retitling their primary residence into a HEPT. The irrevocable trust works to protect your home equity because you no longer own the home but instead retain an exclusive right to occupy the home without restriction. A HEPT can provide you with additional peace of mind because you will know that no one can force you to move out of your home. $4,500
D- Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT)
- An irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is designed to exclude your primary residence from being counted as an available resource for Medicaid eligibility purposes. In Arizona, the technique works if you retitle your home into a MAPT at least five years prior to applying for long term care benefits administered by the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) also known as Medicaid. The home is excluded from your countable resource ledger, effectively preventing ALTCS from placing a lien on your home and attempting to recover money from the sale of your home after your death. The trust must be irrevocable with no possible way for you to directly access the trust assets. However, you may retain an exclusive right to occupy your primary residence without restriction and, if desired, receive income payments from other investable assets you might contribute to the trust. $4,500
E- Beneficiary Deed
- For those who choose a contract-based estate plan, a beneficiary deed can be used to transfer a residence upon your death to a named beneficiary without being subject to court-supervised probate. Also requires payment of a $35 recording fee. $250
F- Powers of Attorney and Living Will Declaration (a la carte)
- This option is for those who need Arizona powers of attorney and nothing more. In the event of your extended incapacity, a financial durable power of attorney permits someone to act as your agent when dealing with your property and financial affairs. A health care power of attorney permits someone to make health care decisions for you if medical professionals determine you are unable to make your own decisions. A living will declaration is an optional document that usually directs your health care agent to decline the use of life-sustaining medical procedures in the event you sustain severe brain damage or become terminally ill and unable to give informed consent to medical procedures. $600 (individual) or $800 (married)
How to Calculate the Total Fee:
My fee quote will combine one of the essential base fee amounts plus any premium options you choose. For example, a common fee amount for a married couple is $5,600 ($3,600 living trust essentials + $1,600 inheritance protection + $400 SECURE Act compliance). But a simple will-based estate plan with outright distribution is $2,000.
Why We Offer Fixed Fees:
I use fixed fee arrangements whenever possible because hourly billing doesn’t put the focus on what you really want - a “solution” to your problem, or a “vehicle” to help you realize a goal or objective. Whenever possible the price should reflect the value of the work, not the amount of time employed to finish it. However, there are some situations when an hourly billing rate makes better sense and for those situations my rate is usually $450/hour.
Do you simply want to update an estate plan prepared by another law firm?
If you wish to update an estate plan prepared by another estate planning lawyer within the past 10 years, then your project may be eligible for a reduced fixed fee. However, the regular fixed fee schedule is usually used when making any substantive changes to the structure or design of an estate plan prepared by someone else.
Fee schedule updates:
This fixed fee schedule was published on December 30, 2024. The next adjustment is planned for January 1, 2026.
Payment methods:
Although payment by check or cash is always preferred, we also accept debit cards and credit cards (including American Express). Payment plans are available through a program called Pay Later sponsored by Affirm.
Sample forms:
Fee Agreement
Engagement Letter
Read my personal note about fees:
Personal note