FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Based on whether you need estate planning (preparation of documents such as Wills) or estate administration (probate) I charge a reasonable flat fee rather than an hourly fee. I will quickly provide you with a free skype or phone consultation and a retainer that outlines how we have agreed to work together. Only one half of the legal fee is due contemporaneously when you sign a retainer; the other half is due once the project ends. Discounts may be given on a case by case basis.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I always provide a free telephone consultation for prospective clients, follow that with an estate planning questionnaire and then provide tailored estate planning documents and/or petitions to the client via a shared folder. Next, I consult with the client and answer all his questions patiently. Lastly, I finalize any documents required and arrange to meet for the document signing ceremony which I provide for free and can arrange to meet the client at a place of his or her choosing. When this ceremony ends, I provide these documents to the client, along with providing ancillary instructions on how to keep them operative and current.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Tons. After graduating from Yale University with a B.A. in literature, I worked as a paralegal at a major law firm in New York and then traveled to Japan where I lived and worked while earning my M.A. in Japanese literature. Once I returned to the States, I worked again as a paralegal with a view towards entering law school, where my focus area was trusts & estates planning. Once I graduated from law school and after being admitted to the NY bar, I worked for domestic and international law firms before opening my law office in January of last year.