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Can I Change or Update My Estate Plan?

Your estate plan is complete once you sign it, but it isn’t set in stone. As your life changes, there may be times when your plan should change too. A marriage, divorce, death, new grandchild, change in finances, new home, or even a shift in your own wishes can be a reason to take another look. You might also have questions along the way about things like getting your house or other assets properly titled. The good news is that you’re not locked into your estate plan. As long as you have the capacity to do so, your estate planning documents can usually be changed, amended, or revoked entirely. I’m always available to former clients to talk and help you figure out whether anything actually needs to be adjusted in your documents. I don’t charge you just for checking in with me. If you call because you’re wondering whether something in your life warrants a change, we’ll talk about it. If a modification is needed, I’ll tell you what needs to be done and give you a fixed fee before I ...
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How I Make Your Estate Plan Easy to Understand

  Understanding your estate plan is just as important as signing it. A lot of information is packed in there, and months or years later, it can be difficult to remember the details. That’s why each one of my clients receives a written summary and a simple diagram showing how the documents work together. I started creating these summaries and diagrams because I wanted clients to have something they could easily refer back to, and if they choose, share with their children, successor trustees/executors, or other interested parties. Whether you’re just reminding yourself what’s in your estate plan, or you decide to gather your family to explain your wishes, the summary and diagram make everything clearer. Instead of trying to walk everyone through pages of legal language, you’ll have an easy-to-follow overview. It’s much simpler to review a one-page diagram than to hand your kids a 25-page trust. I hope these tools can help make those family discussions easier and leave everyone ...
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Why I Believe in Transparent, Fixed-Fee Pricing

  At Kirk Estate Planning, transparent, fixed-fee pricing is more than a billing method. It’s part of my commitment to making estate planning straightforward and stress-free. While many law firms choose not to publish their fees, I believe in the opposite approach. Knowing the cost upfront often helps clients prepare and feel more comfortable moving through the process. I certainly appreciate knowing what to expect when I’m making an important financial decision, and I think my clients do too. With a fixed fee, you’ll know the cost before we begin, so there are no surprises. Estate planning also involves important questions and deserves thoughtful conversations.   Those conversations shouldn’t be cut short because you’re worried that every question is adding to an hourly bill, and I don’t want to be watching the clock instead of focusing on you. If taking some extra time to answer one more question gives you confidence in your estate plan, then that is time well spent. Whe...
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