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Our Economy Plan
We offer an economy service for those clients who have very simple estate planning needs. The service includes a simple will, durable general power of attorney and health care power of attorney, all for a fee of $375, per person or $650 for a married couple. Our Economy Plan can not be combined with any other offers or discounts offered by us, including but not limited to our free initial consultation for up to one hour of time, which is designed for more complex estate planning.
To qualify for Our Economy Plan, you must download, print, sign and return to us the information listed below. The information that you need depends upon whether you are married or single. For those who are married, the economy program requires that we represent both spouses, unless there is a conflict of interests that prevents us from doing so.
For a single individual, the information consists of a Client Information Sheet and an Asset Summary Sheet. For a married couple the information consists of a Client Information Sheet, a Joint Asset Summary Sheet and a Conflict of Interest Memorandum for Married Clients Being Represented Jointly. The information is in PDF format and there is a link below. Each of the documents must be printed, filled out, signed and returned along with a printed and signed copy of this information on our Economy Plan.
Once you return the information to us along with a check for the services, we will schedule a time to come in and sign your documents. Also, if we are unclear as to any answers to questions or other information provided, we will also call to discuss them with you.
Please keep in mind that the economy package may not be appropriate for everyone, especially those with substantial or complex assets and/or children from previous marriages. The basic parameters are as follows:
- You are a permanent resident of Beaufort or Jasper County, South Carolina.
- You have at least one child and all children are age 21 or more.
- If you are married, your spouse is also a permanent resident of Beaufort or Jasper County, South Carolina.
- You and your spouse are both United States Citizens.
- You (and your spouse, if married) have less than $1,000,000 in assets. This includes not only probate assets, but also non-probate assets. Non-probate assets are not normally subject to the terms of your will by virtue of the manner in which they are owned and/or were acquired. Non-probate assets include, but are not necessarily limited to, property owned as joint tenants with right of survivorship, tenants by the entirety and assets payable to a named beneficiary other than your estate by beneficiary designation. This includes assets such as life insurance, pension, IRAs, 401(k) plans, annuities, other pension or annuity like assets and payable on death (POD) accounts, and transfer on death (TOD) accounts.
- If you are not married, you want to leave all of your probate assets by your will to your children who survive you and if a child does not survive you, then to that child?s issue.
- If you are married, you want to leave all of your probate assets by your will to your spouse and then to your children who survive you and if a child does not survive you, then to that child?s issue.
- If you are not married, you want your personal representative under your Will, the agent under your Durable General Power of Attorney and your Health Care Power of Attorney to be one or more of your children in succession. Unless you tell us otherwise in writing, the order of service by your children will be the same order that you list your children on the information that you need to download, fill out and return.
- If you are married, you want your spouse to be your personal representative under your Will, agent under your Durable General Power of Attorney and your Health Care Power of Attorney. If your spouse is unable to serve, then you want it to be one or more of your children in succession. Unless you tell us otherwise in writing, the order of service by your children will be the same order that you list your children on the information that you need to download, fill out and return.
- You do not suffer from any current disabilities that may substantially impact your ability to take care of yourself either now or in the future.
- You have no minor or disabled beneficiaries.
- You acknowledge that this is not a comprehensive estate plan and will not avoid probate or estate taxes, if there are any; nor will it necessarily prevent or substantially mitigate the need for a guardianship or conservatorship, if you become incapacitated; although, it may do so.
- You acknowledge that the work is not designed to protect your assets from your creditors, i.e., you are not engaging in asset protection planning.
- Filling out the information in preliminary to our work. The client-lawyer relationship is not established until The Law Office of Michael J. Howell, P.A. also agrees to represent you and receives payment called for herein.
- You must pay for the fees for the economy services, at the time that you sign this document and return it along with the other requested information.
- If payment is received and The Law Office of Michael J. Howell, P.A does not agree to represent you, then the amount paid will be promptly refunded.
- Fees are considered earned at the time that we finish the documents and the time to sign them has been scheduled.
- If more than one meeting is needed, then there will be an additional charge of $150 per meeting, which must be paid prior to the beginning of the meeting.
- Telephone conferences are at our normal hourly rates that are posted on our website.
- We will schedule a mutually convenient time for you to come in and sign the documents at the time that you return the requested information along with a check for the fees.
- You are responsible for keeping all original documents in a safe place.
- We do not retain any original documents. We keep scanned PDF copies of all information that we consider relevant and this information is considered our file and our property, but will not be shared with any third party except as specifically authorized by you or as is implied necessary to carry out our representation.
- Copies of information from our files are at our normal hourly rates.
I/We have read the terms and conditions of the Economy Plan, including the downloaded documents, have filled them out to the best of my/our knowledge and ability and agree to the above terms and conditions. I/We also represent that I/we fall within the parameters listed above and that The Law Office of Michael J. Howell may rely upon the accuracy of all information provide by me/us. I/WE understand and acknowledge that if the information and my/our representations are not correct, then the Economy Plan may not be suitable for my/our situation. I/We further affirm that all requested information is being provided with this signed agreement.
If the Economy Plan is for a married couple, then we have both signed below.
_____________________________________
(Name)
_____________________________________
(Street Address)
_____________________________________
(City)
South Carolina, _______________________
(Zip Code)
Date:________________________________
_____________________________________
(Name)
_____________________________________
(Street Address)
_____________________________________
(City)
South Carolina, _______________________
(Zip Code)
Date:________________________________
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