ABOUT ROSS LAW OFFICE
What makes Ross Law Office different from other estate planning attorneys?
Three key differences set us apart:
- Personal Family Lawyer Certification: Stephen S. Ross is certified as a Personal Family Lawyer, meaning we follow a proven methodology focused on outcomes, not just documents.
- Relationship-Based Planning: We don’t just create documents and disappear. We build lifetime relationships, providing ongoing guidance and plan maintenance.
- Experienced Legal Team: Our attorneys and staff have nearly a century of combined legal experience, bringing deep expertise to your estate planning needs.
Do you only do estate planning?
While estate planning is our primary focus and specialization, we also handle real estate closings, civil practice, personal injury, and expungements. Our diverse legal background actually strengthens our estate planning because we understand how different areas of law intersect with your planning needs.
GENERAL ESTATE PLANNING QUESTIONS
Why do I need estate planning if I don't have a lot of money?
Estate planning isn’t just about money – it’s about protecting the people you love. If you have minor children, estate planning ensures they’re raised by people you choose, not strangers appointed by the court. Even modest assets can get tied up in probate for 8-16 months, costing your family time, money, and privacy during an already difficult time.
Our Family Plan starts at $2,000 and provides essential protections including our comprehensive Kids Protection Plan, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney.
What's the difference between a will and a trust?
A will is a document that tells the court what you want to happen to your assets after you die – but your family still has to go through the expensive, time-consuming, and public probate process. A trust allows your assets to pass directly to your beneficiaries privately, quickly, and without court involvement.
Think of it this way: a will is a set of instructions for the court. A trust is a way to avoid court entirely. Our Trust Plan and Wealth Plan both use trusts to keep your family out of probate.
How much does probate cost?
Probate typically costs about 5% of your gross estate value, plus 8-16 months of time, and everything becomes public record. For a $500,000 estate, that’s roughly $25,000 in probate costs that could have been avoided with proper planning.
Our Trust Plan and Wealth Plan eliminate probate entirely, often saving families far more than the cost of the planning itself.
LIFE & LEGACY PLANNING PROCESS
What's included in a Family Wealth Planning Session?
This comprehensive two-hour session is where we analyze your current situation and design your Life & Legacy Plan. Stephen will show you exactly what would happen to your family and assets under current law, then demonstrate how proper planning changes everything.
You’ll leave knowing:
- What plan level is right for your family
- Exactly what it will cost (no surprises)
- How your plan will protect your loved ones
- Your next steps to get protected
We require homework beforehand to maximize the value of our time together.
How long does the planning process take?
Our complete process typically takes 4-6 weeks from your Family Wealth Planning Session to final document signing. We use a proven three-meeting process:
- Family Wealth Planning Session: Design your plan
- Plan Preparation: We prepare your documents (about 4 weeks)
- Signing Meeting: Execute your plan and ensure everything is properly implemented
- Binder Delivery: Your original signed documents will be either delivered to you or ready for you to retrieve at the office, along with a Jump Drive of digital copies of those originals.
FEES AND INVESTMENT
How Much Is It Going To Cost Me?
We’re often asked this question, and here’s the honest answer: you can definitely find cheaper documents elsewhere. But there’s a critical difference between cheap documents and a plan that actually works.
We regularly see families who paid a few hundred dollars for a “will package” only to discover during their time of grief that:
- Assets weren’t titled correctly
- Documents were outdated or incomplete
- Their family still ended up in expensive probate
- The “plan” didn’t address their actual needs
Our Life & Legacy Plans are investments in your family’s future. We don’t just create documents – we ensure your plan works when your family needs it most. Our fees range from $2,000-$8,000 depending on your needs, but families often save far more than that by avoiding probate and other complications.
Do you offer payment plans?
We understand that proper planning is an investment. Please discuss payment options during your Family Wealth Planning Session. We’re committed to helping families get the protection they need.