Some people are good planners.  Some people are good at procrastinating, or worrying, or otherwise avoiding things that we all know are the right things to do. And that leads me to the subject for this blog:  how long does it take to create an estate plan?

When you are ready to begin working with your attorney on an estate plan, it could be that you simply want to take care of this important matter and you are not on a particular schedule.  Or, as is the case with some of my clients, perhaps you have a big trip coming up, or a medical procedure taking place soon, or another life event on the horizon, and you want to ensure your papers and directives are up to date.

A fair estimate­­ – and this is only for the purpose of discussion – is that it can take approximately six to eight weeks to create a well-thought-out estate plan.  Sometimes it can take much longer.  There are always variables.  These can include the complexity of the document itself, what additional documentation is required, or the extent of research that may be necessary. It is important to remember that the accuracy of the documents is what matters most.  It should never be about the speed at which they are completed.  Creating an estate plan that properly, accurately, and legally reflects your specific needs is the primary goal.  Of course, when time is an issue, we will do everything possible to expedite matters in order to meet your deadline.

Of course, the more “lead time” you can give any estate planner (including me!), the more comfortable the process will be for all involved.  In an ideal world, one would embark upon an estate planning initiative with an open-ended timeline.  But whatever scheduling issues you have, I hope you won’t let them discourage you from moving forward with a new or updated estate plan.  When you’re ready to proceed, or have questions or concerns, please call me to set up a consultation.

I can be reached at 818.956.9200.  

Glendale Location

616 E. Glenoaks Boulevard, Suite 203

Glendale, CA 91207

Sherman Oaks Location

15303 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 900

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403