About · Getting Started

Getting started.

Most people put off estate planning because they don't know how it works, how much it costs, or whether it's the right time. We built the first step to remove all three. It's a 15-minute call, it's free, and there's no paperwork — just a conversation.

What happens next

From this page to a signed plan,
step by step.

The path from here to a plan that actually works for your family has four steps. The first is free. The rest are quoted in writing, with flat fees, before you commit. There's never a clock running on a phone call.

Below is what each step looks like — what we do, what you do, how long it takes, and what it costs. If anything is unclear after reading this, that's exactly what the 15-minute discovery call is for.

Most clients are signed and funded within 6–8 weeks of the Life and Legacy Planning Session®.

The four steps

From first call to signed plan.

Below is the full path — what happens, in what order, with what time and cost. Most clients are signed and funded within 6–8 weeks of the Life and Legacy Planning Session®.
01

Discovery call

A 15-minute conversation — by phone or Zoom. You tell us a little about your family and what's prompting you to look at this now. We tell you, honestly, whether we're the right fit.

15 minutes Free No paperwork
02

Life and Legacy Planning Session®

A two-hour deep planning session — in person or virtual. We map your family, your assets, and what you actually want, and design your plan options from there. You'll leave with clarity, whether or not you engage us.

Two hours Paid session · quoted in writing Three plan options at the end
03

Design, sign & fund

You pick the plan that fits. We draft, you review, we sign — and then we re-title assets and update beneficiaries so the plan actually works. We hand off summaries to your family.

4–6 weeks typical Flat fee · agreed in writing Funding & handoff included
04

Three-year review

We call you back every three years. Laws change. Families grow. Assets move. The plan keeps up — and it's included in your original engagement, with no additional fee.

Every 3 years Included in original fee Document updates included
John at his desk, ready for a discovery call.
The first 15 minutes

What to expect on the discovery call.

No paperwork. No pressure. No sales pitch. The discovery call is a 15-minute, two-way conversation about whether working together makes sense. Here's roughly how it goes:

What we'll cover

  • What's prompting you to look at this now
  • Who's in your family
  • What kinds of assets are in the picture
  • What you've done before, if anything
  • Whether we serve your jurisdiction
  • Whether we have a conflict of interest
  • How our process works at a high level
  • What the next step would look like
Free
The discovery call is the only free conversation we offer — but it's a real one. We don't gate it, and we don't bill you for it. If we don't think we can help, we'll tell you and suggest someone who can.

Common questions before the call.

Do I really need an estate plan if I'm young / single / not wealthy?

The short answer: almost certainly, yes. The longer answer: estate planning isn't about wealth. It's about decision-making authority — who decides what happens if you can't speak for yourself, who handles your affairs if you're incapacitated, who raises your children if you have them, who you'd want to inherit even modest things. Default rules made by the state usually don't produce the outcome you'd choose. A young, single, or modest-asset client almost always benefits from at least a Foundation-tier plan.

Is the 15-minute discovery call really free?

Yes. No catches, no upsell pressure, and no clock running. The discovery call is the one part of working with us that costs nothing — because we believe you should be able to evaluate whether we're the right fit before any money changes hands. Every other engagement, including the two-hour Life and Legacy Planning Session® that comes next, is a paid service with a written fee.

What's the difference between a discovery call and a Life and Legacy Planning Session®?

The discovery call is 15 minutes, free, and is about fit — are we the right firm for your situation, and is this the right time. No plan is designed at the discovery call.

The Life and Legacy Planning Session® is a two-hour paid session — the deep planning conversation where we actually design your plan. You leave with three plan options, side-by-side, with flat fees in writing. The session fee is quoted in the discovery call so there are no surprises.

Do you work with people outside Virginia?

Our primary jurisdiction is Virginia (and the D.C. region). We may be able to help if you're licensed-jurisdictional, or in coordination with local counsel for certain matters. We'll tell you honestly on the discovery call whether we can help — and if not, we can usually point you to a Personal Family Lawyer® in your jurisdiction.

What does the full plan typically cost?

Estate-planning fees are flat — quoted in writing, in full, at the end of your Life and Legacy Planning Session®, before any drafting begins. You'll see three plan options side-by-side — the Family Plan, the Trust Plan, and the Wealth Plan — and you pick the one that fits. There are no surprises and no hidden hourly footnotes.

For probate, guardianship, and business work, fees vary with scope — always quoted in writing before engagement.

Will you pressure me to engage on the discovery call?

No. The discovery call is genuinely informational. If we don't think we're the right fit — or if you don't, after we talk — we'll part ways with a handshake and (if helpful) a referral. There's no obligation, no hold-the-time-now urgency, and no consequences for thinking it over.

"
John was great to work with! He was extremely responsive, knowledgeable and walked us through every piece of the process. Highly recommend.
— Mike M. · ★★★★★ on Google
Ready to take the first step?

Book your 15-minute discovery call.

Book a discovery call → 571·56·TRUST571·568·7878
Free discovery call · 15 minutes · By appointment