Services
While The Knapp Law Firm LLC is best known for its Partners in Trust TM estate planning process, we are interested in building a relationship based upon any one or more of the seven practice areas listed below.
Estate Planning
Common Sense and Uncommon Results in Estate PlanningTM
Common sense requires that we give prospective clients several options including "simple wills," while explaining that uncommon results are achieved only by following an ongoing planning process. The Knapp Law Firm does offer traditional or transactional “let’s write a Will” planning. However, we recommend that you consider the several options afforded by our Partners in TrustTM process, developed over the past decade based on a study of 18,000 estate plans. The process itself is constantly refined based on our ongoing affiliation with estate planning colleagues who have more than 30,000 years of collective experience.
1. Counselling Choices Consultation™
We begin promptly with a private, two- to three-hour personalized Consultation. We touch upon retirement plans, Medicaid, Long Term Care, incapacity, insurance, asset protection, bloodline protection, and insurance, capital gain and estate taxes. Mr. Knapp will review your Confidential Information Form, answer all of your questions, and recommend how to proceed. A fee of $500 is due at the Consultation. This fee is credited in full toward any estate planning work you retain The Knapp Law Firm for within thirty days of the Consultation.
2. Discovery & Design Dialogue™
Upon reviewing and signing a retainer agreement, you will begin to work with Mr. Knapp to co-create your Partners in TrustTMestate plan. After approximately three hours, we will each have a copy of a multi-page design template that we have co-created on our electric writing Panaboard. This will give you a clear understanding of your plan.
The Panaboard diagram also enables Mr. Knapp to begin drafting your plan. We are usually able to accommodate clients who seek to combine the Consultation and Design in one day.
3. Signing & Security SessionTM
We can usually prepare your plan for review and Signing within one week of your complete answers to our Design questions. With your consent, we will proceed to discuss any concerns for your financial security, with the participation of your trusted financial advisor, or one of your choosing.
4. Wealth & Wisdom WalkTM
We guide you and prepare deeds, beneficiary designations, and all necessary documents to ensure that your plan controls all of your accounts and assets. We also provide you with an ongoing service that enables your Living Will and health care documents to be faxed to any hospital emergency room in the world in seconds.
We also give all Partners in TrustTM clients a personalized copy of the Get Organized! A to Z BinderTM we have created to organize all of your important documents at your fingertips. Over 500 items are indexed, explained and immediately available to you or your successors in an emergency.
Speaking of successor generations, we will also offer to promptly help you with your Personal Legacy DeclarationTM, Family Legacy VideoTM, The Ultimate Gift ExperienceTM, ethical will, and/or letters to loved ones, to enable you to pass along your wisdom with your wealth.
5. Trustee Training TalkTM
You control how much information you share with your trusted helpers or successors. Many clients promptly invite these people to an upcoming small group program where we explain the various roles and expectations, and answer questions without revealing any client confidences.
6. Partners Update ProgramTM
You update us on your family and finances, and we update you on the law and taxes. We monitor your trust funding and respond to all questions, and you have ready access to us, to our educational programs, and to our physical and online libraries. We can implement any change that you want, or we prompt, generally on one day’s notice, as soon as you are available to sign the updated plan. Thus your plan stays current, to meet your expectations and minimize costs upon incapacity or untimely death.
Elder Law & Medicaid Planning
More and more, our friends and clients ask us to assist their parents or elderly loved ones with appropriate planning to provide long-term health care and keep the family’s assets within the family. Depending on the client's mobility, sense of urgency, and interest in privacy, we offer either a "house call" or a private Consultation in our offices. Depending on the client’s wishes, elder and Medicaid planning can be handled as either a transaction or the beginning of a relationship where we prompt appropriate updates to the planning. Please call to schedule a private Consultation.
Estate & Trust Settlement
Even if your loved one did not plan with us, we are available to help with probate, administration and settlement of an estate or trust. Alternatively for contested matters, Mr. Knapp is an Accredited Professional Mediator. An executor, administrator or trustee may bear significant responsibility and potential personal liability. Please call for a private Consultation that will enable you to make an informed decision about how to proceed with estate administration and proper settlement.
Business Planning
We provide a full range of services from business formation and start-up through business succession and buy-sell planning. Along with Brian Tracy and Mark Victor Hansen, Mr. Knapp co-authored the book Create the Business Breakthrough You Want. Current and potential business owners benefit from a Consultation and Breakthrough Thinking SessionTM conducted by Mr. Knapp, who is a Certified Time to Think Consultant. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you broaden and achieve your business goals, please contact us.
Charitable Planning
Our attorneys have a strong interest in charitable giving. Mr. Knapp co-authored the book Giving: Philanthropy for Everyone. If you have an interest in creating a charitable legacy, you may schedule a private Consultation to discuss the formation of a family foundation, a non-profit organization, a remainder trust, a planned gift, or another other charitable strategy you may be considering.
College, Career & Life Planning
A Breakthrough Thinking SessionTM is a great tool for helping a teen choose the ideal college and major, thus saving significant time and tuition. It also works well for any adult considering a career change or new venture. We also work with local financial advisors who specialize in helping families negotiate the college funding maze. Please call for further information.
Legacy Planning Services
You may believe that your legal planning is complete and up to date, yet still wish to consult with us regarding a Personal Legacy DeclarationTM, Family Legacy VideoTM, Priceless ConversationsTM, The Ultimate Gift ExperienceTM or another of the legacy planning services we offer. If so, please call for a private Consultation that will enable us to fully discuss the options available to you.