Who I Help: The Cautious

My clients are inherently cautious but that doesn't mean I run the tab.

You’ve got an estate plan (Good on you, you’re ahead of 70% of people!) but you want to modify it. You don’t fully remember what’s all in your estate plan. The binder is a bit non-descript and it’s in legalese anyway. You don’t know if what you have is in effect or still valid.

You reach out to an attorney thinking you need more than you do. We have our consult and you ask for a few services, so we set a price so that you’re not ambushed on cost. The engagement letter is signed and we’re ready to go.

Since some things were up in the air and I prioritize being an honest broker, I ask you for the estate plan so I can dig into it – I have to know if we’re modifying something or creating something new. Next thing you know, I find out that you don’t need half of what you thought you did.

To me, this means that it’s time for dialogue. Sure, I could produce documents and carry on but if the bar is lower and less likely to upset what you’ve already worked (and paid) to have in place, who am I to come in and rip it apart. This is when I reconnect with my clients and we walk through what’s needed, what’s fair in light of my time spent reviewing, and we adjust the engagement letter (And yes, even the fees to be charged) in a way that reflects what’s right and fair.

Part of being a good neighbor and a trusted attorney is not actively trying to take more than the work warrants. I’d be a hypocrite to do anything else. It improves nothing and nobody to overstate what you need or what’s missing. When you’ve done the right thing you deserve to have that acknowledged.

Schedule a consult if you’re looking for an attorney who is willing to come back to the table when there’s an error in your favor. At the end of the day, your attorney is your advocate and advisor. An advisor that won’t come back to you and say “You’re better than you thought you were” isn’t an advisor you should trust.