Recommendation for lawyer (will, trust, estate)

[Anonymous]

I just paid $1,500 for will, trust and powers of attorney in Northern VA. The trust is very simple. I was asked to consolidate my funds for ease, and I didn't want to. Lawyer said it will cost more to list everything separately. Not sure if that's standard. Probably won't get listed on trust, just stated as pour over in will.

[Anonymous]

Some aspects to consider in planning:

- With young children be sure to include guardianship and perhaps levels of guardianship. When our children were young we had at least two. Then once your oldest child reaches 18, you may want to consider guardianship with that person named+ and adult relative if younger siblings until youngest is of age. It would help relieve any tension a young adult might have in taking on siblings and in decision-making, especially if one had special needs as was our case. We did this until our two older daughters were in early 30s - education completed, careers well underway, married and with young children of their own.

- Be sure to ask anyone who you list in any capacity ahead of time!! Again two levels for each position is good because you may not keep your instruments up-to-date and life can happen to others such as illness, death, changes in their family circumstances etc.

- Also good to have all legal and financial information for an emergency in a central location so that folks can access it in an emergency situation.