Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve been referred to a specific attorney, we’re happy to try to schedule you with that attorney. Otherwise, your needs will be the primary factor in determining who you work with. Heather and Laura both handle Estate Planning, special needs and guardianship consultations. Both attorneys also have some sub-specialties. Heather and Laura both handle elder law and settlement consultation matters while Laura primarily handles probate matters.

Many people want to know who should attend the consult, and, in general, who needs to be involved in their process. The answer is, it depends! For most special needs planning matters, we will need to meet with the person doing the planning for their loved one with special needs. For elder law matters, the answer is a bit more complicated. Children who are planning for their parents can schedule a consultation, but we usually need to see a signed financial or durable power of attorney or also have parents present. When you schedule your appointment, feel free to ask who should be present for your consultation.

Our consultations are not just a “get to know” you meeting (though we do enjoy meeting new clients and connecting with old ones!). Prior to your consultation, we will send intake forms. During the consultation, we’ll use the information from your intake form along with information we gather from you to make specific recommendations to your case. You’ll leave your consultation with substantive information about your case and, when needed, action steps for moving forward.

Because we provide substantive information and tailored planning during the initial consultation, we do not provide free consultations. In many cases, the cost of the consultation is credited towards the cost of work to be done. At the end of your consult, the attorney will make recommendations and, if further work is necessary, the attorney will quote a cost.

We’d love to be! Luckily, most estate planning work does not require annual visits. Instead, you should be reviewing your documents on your own annually to be sure your plan still works and the people you designate are still good choices. Every 5-10 years, usually after big life events or changes, you should schedule an appointment to discuss updating your documents. We typically charge on an hourly rate to make changes to documents. In the interim, because laws and regulations do change, to stay informed, you can sign up for our newsletter and attend educational events. The attorneys at Nadler Biernath are frequently speaking in the community, and those events can found at our events page.