Planning for What Matters Most
Most people who reach out to us about estate planning already know they should have a trust. What they’re less sure about is what it actually covers, how it works, and whether now is really the right time to get it done. That vagueness is exactly what keeps estate planning on the to-do list for years — not a lack of concern, but a lack of a clear picture. We think it’s our job to change that.
At Great Oaks, we take the time to walk through every document with you — what it does, why it’s there, and what happens if it’s missing. Our clients leave the signing table understanding their plan, not just having signed one. And when something changes — a new property, a grandchild, a shift in family circumstances — we’re still accessible. Estate planning isn’t a transaction for us; it’s an ongoing part of how we serve the families we work with.
Our Estate Planning Services
We offer two levels of estate planning — each built around a complete set of documents, with the difference being the depth of guidance and ongoing support you receive.
A comprehensive estate plan with personal guidance to make sure your plan actually works in practice — not just on paper.
- Revocable Living Trust — avoids probate and provides for the management of your assets during your lifetime and after
- Pour-Over Will — captures any assets not transferred to your trust and directs them into the trust at death
- Durable Power of Attorney for Finances — appoints someone you trust to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated
- Advance Healthcare Directive — names your healthcare decision-maker, documents your wishes for medical treatment, and includes HIPAA authorization
- Disposition of Final Remains — records your wishes for burial, cremation, or other arrangements
- Deed Transfers — we prepare and record all deeds needed to transfer your real property into the trust
- Personalized Funding Consultation — a dedicated session where we review every account and asset you own and walk you through exactly how to retitle or re-designate each one
- Custom Funding Guide — a written, account-by-account reference specific to your situation to use as a checklist for completing the funding process
- Plain-Language Plan Summary — a one-page overview of your estate plan in everyday language, so a family member could pick it up and immediately understand what you have and where to find it
- 12-Month Check-In — we follow up one year after signing to review any life changes, confirm your funding is complete, and answer any new questions
- Professional Estate Plan Binder — your complete plan organized in a high-quality leather binder with labeled, tabbed sections and your plan summary on top
Everything in the Complete Plan, plus additional guidance and tools to make sure your family is truly prepared — not just legally, but practically.
Everything in the Complete Plan, plus:- Family Meeting — we sit down with you and your adult children, successor trustee, or other key family members to walk through your plan together, answer their questions, and make sure the people who will carry out your wishes understand what to do (available in person or by video)
- Detailed Asset Inventory — a comprehensive summary of all your accounts, policies, and property, organized so your family can locate everything when it matters
- Letter of Instructions Template — a guided template for the important practical details your legal documents don't cover: where to find the safe deposit key, who your insurance agent is, how to handle your accounts
- Two Years of Update Coverage — if you sell a home, welcome a grandchild, or experience another significant life change within two years of signing, we will amend or restate your trust at no additional charge
- Priority Scheduling — direct access to your attorney and priority appointment scheduling for any questions or concerns during the coverage period
Already Have a Plan? Need Just One Document?
Our estate planning packages are designed to give most clients everything they need in one place. But we also help clients who already have a plan — done here or elsewhere — and need targeted assistance. Standalone services include:
- Individual documents — a will, power of attorney, or advance healthcare directive on its own
- Trust amendments & restatements — updating an existing trust to reflect life changes or correct outdated provisions
- Deed transfers into trust — preparing and recording deeds to fund real property into your existing trust
- Advance healthcare directive — standalone end-of-life planning document, including healthcare agent designation and HIPAA authorization
If you’re not sure whether you need a full plan or just a specific document, we can help you figure that out during a free consultation.
Who Should Have an Estate Plan?
Estate planning isn’t reserved for the wealthy or the elderly — it’s for anyone who has people they care about or assets they’ve worked to build. If any of the following apply to you, a plan is worth taking seriously now rather than later:
- You own a home — real property passes through probate without a trust, which is a lengthy and public court process your family can avoid entirely with proper planning.
- You have minor children — a trust lets you name guardians and control how and when your children receive assets, rather than leaving those decisions to a court.
- You have retirement accounts, life insurance, or financial accounts — beneficiary designations on these assets can override your will; coordinating them with your overall plan matters.
- You have specific wishes about your medical care — an advance healthcare directive ensures those wishes are documented and legally binding, and names someone to speak for you if you can’t.
What to Expect Working With Us
Estate planning at Great Oaks follows a clear, unhurried process. We start with a free initial consultation to understand your family situation, assets, and goals — no pressure, just a conversation. From there, we draft your documents and walk you through a complete review before anything is signed. At your signing appointment, we go through each document again so you understand exactly what you’re executing and why. Once your plan is in place, we help you through the funding process — the often-overlooked step of actually transferring your assets into the trust. And we stay available after the fact, because a plan that’s never updated isn’t really a plan.