Fees

Because it is our usual practice to quote a fixed fee, our clients
somtimes ask us to explain the basis for that fee. With more
than 22 years of experience, we believe that everything we
create in this practice is built upon what we have learned from
our work with previous clients. The trust, will and other
documents we are creating for you is not our product: our
experience and expertise are what you are paying for. The
documents we draft are merely the most tangible part of the
entire service we provide.

When possible we quote you a flat fee for our work for several
reasons. First, it allows you to avoid being surprised by a bill at
the end of a project. Second, it allows you the freedom to call us
at any time with questions, which you might not do if you were
being billed hourly. Third, it allows you to feel comfortable
setting meetings, contacting us on the phone, reviewing drafts,
even multiple drafts, without being charged every time we make
a change.

We use fixed fees to provide you comfort in planning. For
simplicity, the fees are structured around the documents we
prepare. But, the fee charged is not just for document
preparation. That is just the tangible result of our legal
knowledge and skill applied to your specific situation. The fixed
fees include all the time you need with your attorney to discuss
your needs, ask questions, and decide on the appropriate
planning tools for you. Please keep in mind that we believe you
are not purchasing documents from us, but very focused legal
advice and expertise.

An old story illustrates our perspective. A man was having trouble with his sink draining
properly. After many attempts to make the repairs himself, in frustration he called a
plumber to make the repairs. The plumber listened carefully to the customer's situation,
pulled out a hammer, leaned under the sink and hit a pipe with the hammer. The drain
immediately began flowing again. The plumber then stated to the customer that the fee
would be $500. The customer scoffed at the cost and demanded that the plumber
produce an itemized bill. The plumber agreed. The bill listed the following items: "Hitting
pipe with hammer: $1. Knowing where to hit: $499."

John Ruskin once made an important statement about payment for services: "It's unwise
to pay too much, but it's also unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a
little money, that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because
the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common
law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot; it can't be done. If you
deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do
that, you will have enough to pay for something better."

Most people are looking for three things in purchasing a service such as ours: excellent
quality, excellent personal service, and the lowest possible fee. Unfortunately, all three
are never present at the same time, and one must be sacrificed.