Attention: Estate-Planning Procrastinators!

Do you want to get your affairs in order, but don’t know where to start?

Put your mind at ease with a living-trust-based estate plan

Dear reader,

You need an estate plan—and you’ve known this for a while.

Maybe it’s been a year, or five years, or ten years. Or maybe it’s been decades.

But you keep putting it off . . .

You want to get organized, to get your affairs in order.

And you don’t want to leave a mess for your loved ones to clean up.

Yet . . . you’ve let yourself get distracted time and again.

You’re an estate-planning procrastinator.

If you’re ready to make a change, then this is the letter for you.

The cost of doing nothing: a Big, Expensive Mess

Without a properly designed estate plan, you and your loved ones will be subject to California’s conservatorship and probate laws. That means:

• Public court proceedings. Did you know that every probate contains a publicly accessible document laying out the exact value of your estate and detailing who gets what?
• Wasted money ($$$). Probating a $1 million estate in Los Angeles County can cost upwards of $50,000 in fees and court costs.
• Delay, delay, delay. These proceedings can take 2 or 3 years to fully resolve.
• A stranger in charge. If things get nasty, a judge might order a neutral third party to manage your estate, your ongoing financial affairs, or even your healthcare decisions!

Question: How can I avoid this Big, Expensive Mess?

Answer: By setting up a comprehensive, living-trust based estate plan.

My clients rest easy at night

They know that, if they become incapacitated or pass away, there’s a plan in place to keep their loved ones out of court and out of conflict.

• No probate
• No conservatorship
• No public court documents
• No outrageous fees and court costs
• No unnecessary delays

Streamlined, organized, and orderly estate administration

With their comprehensive estate plans in place, my clients have set their loved ones up for a streamlined, organized, and orderly estate administration.

A recent client told me that her “mind was at ease” the moment she signed her estate planning documents.

Are you ready to make a change?

This peace of mind can be yours, but you need to take action. And there’s no time like the present.

If your ready to get your affairs in order, keep reading . . .

What’s Included in my Flat-Fee Comprehensive Estate Plan

I offer a flat-free comprehensive estate plan that include the following documents:

• Revocable living trust. Keeps your estate out of probate upon your passing. (Also keep trust assets out of conservatorship if you become incapacitated.)
• Pour-over will. Ensures that any of your property that’s accidentally left out of the trust is still distributed to your chosen beneficiaries according to your exact wishes.
• Durable power-of-attorney. Enables a financial agent to manage your personal financial assets if you become incapacitated.
• Advance healthcare directive. Names a healthcare agent to make medical and end-of-life decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to.
• Guardianship nominations. If you have minor children, this document states who will raise them if you’re unable to.

But that’s not all . . .

Trust-funding documents

I also include the following documents to ensure that your assets are properly transferred into your trust.

• Deeds for up to two residential homes located in California
• Transfer documents for small businesses (S-Corp, LLCs, etc.)
• Transfer documents for investments (LLCs, LPs, etc.)

Unlimited communication

Got a question about your trust? Or need a bit of help getting a beneficiary designation filled out? I’ve got you covered:
You’re entitled to free communications (calls/emails) about your estate plan for life.
Get your questions answered without worrying about receiving a surprise bill in the mail.

Complimentary trust reviews

Life changes, and so do estate tax laws. Your estate plan should be periodically reviewed to ensure that it always reflects your wishes.

That’s why I offer complimentary trust reviews every three years.

How it works

Here’s the three-step process that each of my clients goes through.

Step 1 – Planning consultation

In our first meeting, we’ll design your estate plan. We can meet at my office in Manhattan Beach or via a Zoom videoconference. From there, I’ll prepare the documents and we’ll ensure that they meet your exact wishes.

Step 2 – Document signing

Once your documents are finalized, you’ll sign them before a notary public, either at your home or at my office.

Step 3 – Trust funding

We’ll work together to ensure that all your assets are properly dealt with so that your plan works as designed.

How long does it take?

Most of my clients get through this process in 4 to 6 weeks, depending on their scheduling availability.

What my client say

Here are some reviews that clients have left for me online:

• “Robert was extremely helpful, patient and professional while assisting us with our family estate plan. The process was extremely smooth and effortless overall. I would Highly recommend Robert to any of my friends and family!” — Edward B.
• “We found a lot of value in going through what we initially believed to be an overwhelming, but very necessary process with Robert and have peace of mind that we have a good plan in place. He made the whole process very easy” — Lisa K.
• “He has a great “bed-side” manor, if you will. Great to have someone who genuinely cares about his clients. He is very personable and took an interest in getting to know my wife. Feel like we could be friends” — Gilbert D.

What does it cost?

Unlike other attorneys, I don’t hem and haw when someone asks what my services cost. And I certainly don’t make you come into my office for a “free” consultation so I can use pressure tactics to force you to sign up.

Price Transparency

I strongly believe in price transparency, I want you to know exactly what you’re going to pay, and exactly what you’re going to get.
I stand by my pricing and believe that you’ll receive incredible value from my services.

Pricing for Estate-Planning Packages

With my comprehensive estate planning package, you’ll rest easy at night knowing that your affairs are in order, your loved ones are protected, and your hard-earned money won’t go to waste.

• $5,000 for a single client
• $6,000 for a couple (married or domestic partners)

Add-ons:
If you own more than two pieces of real property in California, own out-of-state property, own commercial property, or have complex investment and/or business holdings, there may be additional fees. We’ll discuss your situation, scope out the work, and agree upon a fee before any work is done.

Get started today! Schedule your planning consultation

You’ve wanted to get organized for a long time, but you haven’t.

It’s time to decide:

Are you doing to keep procrastinating and leave a mess for your loved ones to clean up?

Or are you going to get your affairs in order, keep your loved ones out of court, and protect your legacy?

Put your mind at ease by setting up a comprehensive estate plan.

The first step is to schedule your planning consultation.

I require a $300 deposit to schedule your consultation, which is applied to the price of your package.

This meeting usually takes 75 to 90 minutes, but I block out two hours to ensure that we have enough time to finish.

Click the button below to get started. You’ll be taking to a booking page where you can book directly into my calendar. Just pick the date and time that works best for you (and your significant other), and follow the prompts.

Or click this link to go to my scheduling page.

Need some more convincing?

Here are some details from a real-life conservatorship case. This person did not have a comprehensive estate plan.

After many years of living alone, he developed severe dementia and required a court-appointed conservator to manage his finances, his living situation, and his healthcare.

The costs outlined below are just the first two years of conservatorship!

• $20,000 for petitioner’s attorney fees
• $12,000 (and counting) for court-appointed counsel’s fees
• $20,000+ for conservator’s attorney fees
• $175/hr in conservator’s fees for the rest of the his life
• $60,000+ estimated probate fees and costs upon this person’s death

That’s well over $100,000 in fees and costs that could have been avoided with a comprehensive estate plan.

Click this link to schedule your planning consultation.

Still not ready?

I understand that choosing an attorney for your estate plan is a big decision.

Maybe you want to sleep on it, or maybe you need to discuss it with your significant other.

Or maybe you’ve just got a few more questions.

No problem. But don’t lose your momentum. Keep moving forward.

Let’s chat: schedule a 15-min call

I’d love the opportunity to chat with about your planning goals and how I can help you achieve the peace of mind that you deserve.

Click the button below to schedule a no-obligation 15-min phone call.

Or you can use this link to schedule your 15-minute phone call.

Final Thoughts

You’re standing at the crossroads.

To the left is the same road you’ve been traveling.

To the right is the road that fewer people choose.

Choosing the right road makes all the difference for you–and for your loved ones.

I’m hoping that you’ll choose the right road.

Robert Theofanis
Attorney-at-law
1230 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 300
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
robert@theo-ltd.com | (310) 426-8870