Process and Pricing

At the Law Offices of Renee L. Spieckermann we understand that planning end of life processes can be daunting. We also recognize that many people opt out of this important planning due to concerns about associated costs. For these reasons, we choose to be transparent with our services and our pricing. We want you to be confident in the investment that you are making for yourself and your loved ones.

Below you can find investment pricing for trust packages, will packages, trust administration, probate and individual services. Our principal attorney, Renee L Spieckermann, has over ten years of experience in the trusts and estates field, in addition to a LL.M. in tax (Master of Laws in taxes).

One of our main goals is to help you plan comprehensively so that you and your loved ones can avoid the steep prices and fees of probate, will contests, and additional taxes. Please CONTACT US with any additional questions.

Trust Packages

Trust packages are ideal for individuals and married couples who own California real estate property, over $184,500 in assets, or have more detailed wishes for how assets should be administered and delivered post death. For more information on trusts, please visit THIS page.

The investment price shown below reflects the price for the base services listed for the package. Any additional deeds (and accompanying PCOR) or Assignments of Interest for Entity Share Ownership will be $450 each, and any additional documents will be charged at our hourly rate of $450/hour.

Individual Trust Package

One Revocable Living Trust

One Pour-Over Will

One Schedule of Assets

One Durable Power of Attorney (Financial)

One Advanced Health Care Directive (Health)

One HIPAA Authorization

Assignment of Property to Trust

Deed and Preliminary Change of Ownership Report to transfer one property

Assignment of Interest for up to one Entity Share Ownership

Personal Property Memorandum

One Final Disposition Instruction

Guardianship Nomination Form (if client has any minor children)

One Certification of Trust

Individual Trust Packages start at $3,000

Our services for trust packages involve multiple stages: Intake/analysis, drafting and document prep, and delivery and execution. Because of this, rather than charging one lump sum, we charge in two installments; the first half is due at, or before, our first meeting (which can be via zoom or in person with masks and distancing) and the second half (along with any additional charges that were accrued) is due upon the trust’s signing. The expected timeline for most trust packages is 6-8 weeks but is dependent on additional services added and client response times.

Unique Circumstances Trusts

There are situations when a basic trust does not adequately address your needs. Founding attorney, Renee Spieckermann, has experience in specialized trusts, and holds her LLM in taxation. She can guide you through the best practices for unique circumstances and educate you on the tax implications of the various planning tools.

Some of these unique circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• If you have a child with special needs, you may need a special needs trust.

• If you have a large amount of money in retirement accounts, you may need a specialized retirement trust.

• If you need an income stream, but plan on giving a large portion of your liquid estate to charity, you may be interested in a charitable remainder trust.

• If you need to lower your taxable estate in some way by getting appreciating property out of your estate, you may need an advanced trust.

When included in a basic trust package, unique circumstance trusts start at an additional $1,500. When purchased individually, special needs trusts start at $3,000.

Will Packages

Will packages are ideal for individuals and couples who do not own California real estate property, do not have more than $184,500 in assets, and have simple wishes regarding who should receive their assets (with none of them being children).

While it is possible to create a standalone will, this is not our general recommendation. The additional documents included in the will packages are extremely important for financial and medical protection in the event that you become incapacitated, and unable to make decisions yourself. For more information on wills, please visit THIS page.

The investment price shown below reflects the price for the base services listed for the package. Any additional documents will be charged at our hourly rate of $450/hour.

Individual Will Package

One Last Will

One Advanced Healthcare Directive (Health)

One Durable Power of Attorney (Financial)

One HIPAA Authorization

One Guardianship Nomination Form (if client has any minor children)

One Final Disposition Instruction

Individual Will Packages start at $2,000

Our services for will packages involve multiple stages: Intake/analysis, drafting and document prep, and delivery and execution. Because of this, rather than charging one lump sum, we charge in two installments; the first half is due at, or before, our first meeting (which can be via zoom or in person with masks and distancing) and the second half (along with any additional charges that were accrued) is due upon the will’s signing. The expected timeline for most will packages is 4-6 weeks but is dependent on additional services added and client response times.

Probate

Probate is required when someone dies who had more than $184,500 in assets and only had a will, or no will at all. In these circumstances Probate is the court process that has to occur in order to transfer the assets that were owned by the decedent in their sole name. To prevent your loved ones from having to pay high fees and go through the stress of Probate we always recommend establishing a trust.

The amount of time a Probate case takes to complete depends on the how long the court takes to process it. Usually the entire Probate process takes between eight months and a year and a half. During this time we will update you frequently on where the case stands and what the next steps are. For more information about Probate, visit HERE.

Probate costs involve court and filing fees which are generally $2,000-$4,000, in addition to Probate fees (e.g., attorney’s fees and executor’s fees) which are set by California’s Probate Code §10810. Probate fees are calculated on the fair market value of the total estate and do not include debt. The fees are paid at the end of probate process.

Statutory probate fees under Cal. Prob. Code §10810 are as follows:

• 4% of the first $100,000 of the estate

• 3% of the next $100,000

• 2% of the next $800,000

• 1% of the next $9,000,000

• 0.5% of the next $15,000,000

Trust Administration

Trust Administration involves any work related to the management of assets that exist within a Trust. This generally takes place after the creator of the Trust becomes incapacitated or dies. Tasks involve taking inventory and appraisal, marshalling trust assets, and managing and distributing assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries. For more information about Trust Administration click HERE.

Trust Administration work is $450/hour.

Standalone Services and Documents

• Living Will: Standalone Wills that are not part of a Will Package or Trust Package are $600 per individual with the original and one copy provided.

• Modification/Revision of Trust: Modifications or revisions to trusts created by Renee Speickermann are $400 per hour. Modifications or revisions to trusts completed by outside firms are $450 per hour.

• Transfer Deed: Each of our trust packages includes the preparation of deed(s) & Preliminary Change in Ownership form(s) (PCOR) necessary to transfer one property to the trust. Any additional deeds and accompanying PCORs are $450 per real property. This fee includes preparing and submitting the deed, client pays the applicable county recording fees.

• Certification of Trust: $450

• Powers of Attorney Documents: To learn more about Powers of Attorney click HERE.

  • Advanced Health Care Directive: $300

  • HIPPA Authorization: $150

  • Financial Power of Attorney: $450

• Spousal Petition: The court proceeding to transfer property to the deceased spouse to the remaining living spouse. A Spousal Petition is $450/hour which includes court related costs.

• Heggstad Petition: The court petition to transfer individual assets that were forgotten or not included in a trust. This petition is filed in an attempt to avoid a full probate proceeding. A Heggstad Petition is $450/hour which includes court related costs.