FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I have flat fees for many of my files. I want to make sure that my clients know what to expect and ask as many questions as are necessary for the client to be comfortable.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
When I get a new will client, I send a factfinder and asset list. This gets the client thinking about the decisions that they will have to make to prepare the best Will for him/her. We need to know who the client trusts with their money and their children. We also need to know if there are any special situations. For example, there may be a child with special needs or who is a spendthrift. We can draft the will to protect these children. Once I have this information, I like to talk to the client to make sure that we have reviewed everything. Thereafter, I prepare a draft will and email it to the client to review. The client can make changes or ask more questions. I prepare Wills on a flat fee so that my clients feel comfortable asking many many questions. I want them to understand what we did and why they we did it. Similarly with a real estate client, we have factfinder's and instruction memos to keep the client apprised of the process and what to expect next. I want the clients to be involved in the process and to feel comfortable asking questions and understanding the process.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BA from NYU and I majored in politics and minored in sociology and took many psychology courses. My JD is from New York Law School and I took extra courses in trust and estate work and in , tax law. I have practiced for 30 years and I find that so much of my work relates back what I learned in sociology and psychology. I hate to admit it, but my mother was right – "people are people". When you understand a person you can create the perfect plan. Of course I stay abreast of changes in the law by taking many continuing legal education courses over my career.