How it works
Five steps to a signed plan
- 01
Step 1: A short call
Marta asks who the plan is for, what language you'd like and where you'd like to meet.
- 02
Step 2: The consultation
Ninety minutes with your lawyer, at the office or at home. You get a written plan and a written fee.
- 03
Step 3: Drafts to read at home
We mail or email the drafts with a plain summary in English or Spanish. Mark them up; we'll answer every note.
- 04
Step 4: The signing
About an hour, with a notary and witnesses arranged by us. At the office, at home or at the hospital.
- 05
Step 5: Afterward
We record the deed, send letters to your banks and check in every few years, or sooner if life changes.
Before you come
Bring these to the first meeting
A list of what you own
The house, accounts, retirement plans, life insurance. Rough numbers are fine.
The deed to your home
Or the property tax bill, which shows how title is held.
Any old wills or trusts
Even ones from another state or another country.
Names and phone numbers
Your children, and anyone you'd like to put in charge.
Your questions
Write them down at the kitchen table. That's where the good ones come up.
A family member, if you like
Welcome at the first meeting. For part of it, we'll speak with you alone.
Fees, timing and where we meet
How do you charge?
Planning work is a fixed fee that we quote in writing after the consultation, so you know the whole cost before you decide. Estate and trust administration is quoted in writing too, depending on the estate.
What does the consultation cost?
Marta will tell you when you call. If you hire us, the consultation is credited toward your fee.
How long does a plan take?
Usually three to five weeks from the consultation to the signing. When someone is in the hospital, we can do it in days.
Do you really come to the house?
Yes, anywhere in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, and to hospitals and care homes any day of the week.
Ten minutes on the phone is step one
A short call, in English or in Spanish. Marta will find a time and a place that work for you.