My objective is to provide personalized, service-oriented, experienced legal counsel to residents of Chester County, Pennsylvania, particularly the Exton area. This is the same kind of service that I provided for 26 years to residents of the North Shore of Chicago. The focus of my law practice was Estate Planning (Wills, Living Trusts, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney for Health Care and Property, Prenuptial Agreements, Domestic Contracts, and related documents.)
The most frequently asked question by clients is "Do I need an Estate Plan?" My professional opinion is "yes, everyone should implement some form of plan to pass along assets to those they want to receive them, in the simplest and most cost-effective manner possible."
In my 31 years of estate planning work, I have found that most people are uneasy about putting an estate plan into action for themselves, even though they know it is important. So why do people procrastinate when it comes to estate planning? Most people think of estate planning as a complex, expensive process that forces them to deal with issues they would rather not think about. I have found that by asking a fairly simple set of questions, fears are abated and people quickly get down to implementing an estate plan.
In the Forms Section you will find a questionnaire to help you get started on your Estate Plan. It assists you in determining the people you want to perform certain functions and how you want your Estate distributed. The notes under each entry space may trigger your thinking. There is space at the end to jot down any comments that were not covered by the questions.
You can print it, fill it out and mail it to me at Suite 200, 102 Pickering Way, Exton PA 19341, fax it to me at 610 280-0126, or you can bring it with you when we meet in my office. In addition, your comments on the form can be used as the basis for an advance telephone conversation.
All of these approaches will save you time as we work together to create your Estate Plan.
I am available for home visits, to interview prospective clients, if an office visit is not practical because of age or health condition, or time availability. Documents can also be signed and witnessed at home. The only requirement for signing at home is to have two suitable witnesses, typically neighbors or friends. What happens if there’s a last minute change to be made? Easy. I customarily bring my laptop and portable printer which lets me make corrections and print replacement pages quickly. Depending on where the client lives, it may be necessary to add a surcharge to the fee for a home visit. This can be discussed in advance so you know what’s involved.
Thanks to my experience and the use of tailored document forms which I have developed myself, I believe you will find that an estate plan is quite affordable. To get an idea of cost ranges, visit theFees Sectionof this site. Payment terms can be arranged because I don’t want anyone to hold off protecting their families because of the cost.
When we have agreed upon the documents needed, we can discuss the time frame. You can tell me yours; I’ll advise you my time commitments. Typically I can have drafts prepared within a week to email or mail to you for review. Then we could discuss the documents on the phone or through email, clear up any misunderstandings, clarify any provisions, make other changes, and be ready for final review and signing and witnessing. That part of the process is generally up to you. I hesitate to tell you that I have, in emergency situations, prepared and finalized a set of documents the same day! But that can put a burden on both of us. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, please contact me sooner than the day before your flight!
I will be pleased to work with you in this important matter.
Charles R. Goerth
The Law Office of Charles R. Goerth P.C.
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