Last week, I spoke with a potential client about my Life & Legacy Planning process. After I explained how it works, she said, “This all sounds great, but my friend told me she got a trust for half the price somewhere else.”
I hear this often – and I get it. Nobody wants to pay more than they have to, especially for legal services. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of helping families: when it comes to estate planning, the cheapest option usually ends up costing the most.
Let me explain.
Why Cheap Plans Aren’t the Same Thing
If you’re only looking for documents – a will, a trust, or powers of attorney – you can absolutely find those for less. In fact, you can download forms online for under $100 or even generate them for free with AI.
But here’s the problem: you’re not comparing the same service.
It’s like hiring the cheapest roofer to patch a leak. At first, it looks fine. But when the next storm hits, the roof fails. Suddenly, you’re not just fixing a leak – you’re tearing out walls, replacing insulation, and paying many times more than it would have cost to do it right the first time.
Estate planning is the same, except the “storm” comes when you become incapacitated or die – and by then, it’s too late to fix. What looked like a savings can leave your loved ones with court battles, stress, and financial loss.
What a Cheap Plan Really Gives You
When you buy a bargain estate plan, here’s what you usually end up with:
- Generic documents. Basic templates filled in with your name and heirs, but not customized for your family dynamics, assets, or unique concerns.
- No follow-through on your assets. Your plan may say where things should go, but it doesn’t ensure your accounts, deeds, and beneficiary designations actually match those wishes. That disconnect can cause your plan to fail.
- Little to no protection for minor children. A simple will may name a guardian, but it won’t prevent your children from being placed in state care – even temporarily – or ensure your chosen guardians have financial resources ready.
- No real understanding of your options. Many people leave a lawyer’s office with documents they don’t fully understand, trusting everything was handled. Often, it wasn’t.
- A one-time transaction. Once you sign the papers, that’s it. No updates, no reviews, no adjustments as your life, assets, and family change. A static plan won’t work when the time comes.
- No support for your loved ones. After you’re gone, your family is left to figure things out alone – navigating courts, financial institutions, and legal procedures without help.
- Nothing beyond the money. Cheap plans don’t capture what matters most – your values, your stories, and your guidance. Those are the things your loved ones will truly long for.
What Life & Legacy Planning Provides Instead
My process is different because it’s not just about documents – it’s about creating a plan that actually works when your loved ones need it.
With a Life & Legacy Plan, you get:
- A customized plan designed around your family dynamics and goals.
- Asset coordination – so your accounts, deeds, and beneficiaries all align with your plan.
- Protection for minor children or loved ones with special needs.
- Education about your choices, so you understand exactly what you’re putting in place.
- Ongoing reviews and updates, because life and laws change.
- Support for your family when the time comes – so they’re not left guessing or battling courts.
- A legacy that goes beyond money, including ways to share your stories, values, and personal messages.
Why This Matters Now
Sometimes people tell me, “I’ll just start with a cheap plan and upgrade later.” The problem is, we aren’t guaranteed a later. If something happens before you “upgrade,” your family could be left with a failed plan.
Estate planning isn’t about having a stack of papers – it’s about protecting the people you love. And unlike a roof you can repair, your family only gets one chance to use the plan you leave behind.
A good plan isn’t just for sunny days – it’s built to handle the storms.
Your Next Step
If you’ve been comparing prices, I encourage you to compare outcomes instead. Ask yourself:
- “What does this cost today?”
- and more importantly,
- “What could it cost my loved ones later if it fails?”
Peace of mind and false security are not the same thing. With a Life & Legacy Plan, you don’t just get documents – you get the confidence of knowing your family will be cared for in the way you intend.
At Cheever Law, we don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death for yourself and the people you love, starting with a valuable and educational Life & Legacy Planning Session. This will allow you to get more financially organized and make the best choices for the people you love. If you have already completed your estate plan, we will review that plan at your Life & Legacy Planning Session to ensure that it will work the way you intend and address any holes or gaps that may be present if circumstances have changed since you executed your plan.
To learn more about our one-of-a-kind systems and services, contact us or schedule a no-obligation 15-minute introductory phone call today.