FEES

All services include an initial consultation with Shawna as well as any follow-up e-mails or phone calls during the document drafting phase.            

Trust Packages

In addition to a Revocable Living Trust, this package also includes a Trust Certification, Declaration of Trust Ownership of Personal Property, two Pour-Over Wills with Guardianship Nominations for minor children (as appropriate), the drafting and recording of one deed to transfer one property to your trust, Preliminary Change of Ownership Report, Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit, two Advance Health Care Directives with a HIPAA/CMIA Release, and two Durable Powers of Attorney for Property Management neatly organized in a single Estate Planning Binder.  All notary and, if appropriate, filing fees, are included.  You will also receive a complete copy (thumb drive) of all of your Trust Package documents. A $500 retainer is required before Shawna begins work on a Trust Package and the pricing is as follows:

  • $1,700 For a single person;

  • $2,300 For a married couple;

  • $2,800 For a married couple where one or both spouses are not U.S. Citizens and/or a Special Needs Trust, an Irrevocable Inter Vivos Trust, or an Assignment of your Business Interest is required, all of which require additional planning and consideration.

Will Packages

In addition to a Will, this package also includes a Testamentary Trust, Guardianship Nominations for minor children (as appropriate), a detailed Letter of Instruction to the Executor, an Advance Health Care Directive with a HIPAA/CMIA Release, and Durable Power of Attorney for Property Management, all of which are neatly organized in a single Estate Planning Binder.  All notary fees and a complete copy (on a thumb drive) of your Will Package documents is included.  A $500 retainer is required before Shawna begins work on a Will Package and the pricing is as follows:

  • $1,000 For a single unmarried person with no children;

  • $1,200 For a single person with children;

  • $1,800 For a couple who have no children;

  • $2,000 For a couple with children.

A La Carte documents

The below services do not include notary fees.  Any service not listed below is billed at Shawna's hourly rate of $250.00.

  • $300 One Advance Health Care Directive & HIPAA/CMIA Release

  • $300 One Durable Power of Attorney

  • $500 Drafting and Recording of 1 (one) Deed to Real Property

  • $500 Drafting and Recording of 1 (one) Specialty Deed

  • $400 One Will, no nomination of guardian for minor children*

  • $600 One Amended and Restated Trust, existing client

  • $600 One Will, nomination of guardian for minor children*

  • $600 Review of existing estate planning documents & written recommendation for action

  • $800 One Living Trust*

  • $800 One Amended and Restated Trust*, new client

*Additional charge of $500 per item will be added if these documents also require any one of the following: Special Needs Trust, Assignment of a Business Interest, Bypass Trust Provisions such as an A-B Trust, or special tax and planning consideration because a client is not a U.S. Citizen.  

 probate Fees

In addition to any fees payable to the Court, Shawna also charges the statutory attorney fees commensurate with the those listed in the California Probate Code.  The fees are based on the fair market value of all assets in the estate without taking any liabilities or debts into account.  The fee schedule is:

  • 4% of the first $ 100,000

  • 3% of the next $ 100,000

  • 2% of the next $ 800,000

  • 1% on the next $ 9,000,000

  • .5% on the next $ 15,000,000

Trust Administration Fees

Shawna is available to hire on either a flat-fee or hourly basis for assistance with Trust Administration. Her hourly fee is $250, plus all costs and filing fees for Trust Administration.

Her flat fee depends on her level of involvement, but begins at $1,500. This level of involvement includes Shawna sending out the legally required notices to up to four beneficiaries/heirs as well as sending notices to the Social Security Administration, the California Medi-Cal Recovery Unit, the county tax assessor, and the county recorder as appropriate. She will prepare two §13100 affidavits, if needed, prepare and record the Affidavit of Death of Trustee for one property, and obtain the necessary IRS tax ID number for the trust, as appropriate. This includes up to 4 months of access to Shawna to answer your questions on any part of the administration that you do not understand. This level of involvement is usually sufficient when one original trustee dies, but the second trustee is still living and no disbursements are required from the Trust.

Shawna’s flat fee for the next level of involvement is $2,900 and is appropriate when both original trustees have died, disbursements need to be made, and no conflict is anticipated. In addition to the services listed above, Shawna will also prepare a trust settlement proposal for all beneficiaries, help prepare an informal accounting for the beneficiaries, and prepare a formal trust settlement agreement with a release of liability for the trustee when the settlement concludes. This includes 8 months of access to Shawna to answer your questions and help you with any parts of the administration that you don’t understand.

For services where conflict and/or litigation is occurring or is anticipated, Shawna’s fee will be commensurate with the California Probate Code in addition to costs and fees.

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