ESTATE PLANNING:
Action & Accountability
No matter your needs, Ampersand Law will help create a blueprint for achieving your estate planning goals and taking action. Heather’s ability to create a quality action plan and accompanying talent for follow-through ensure your loved ones won’t be left with questions in a difficult time.
Confidence
Working with Ampersand Law to create your estate plan allows you (and your loved ones) to be confident about the future because you can stop worrying about all those “what ifs.” Although each estate plan is customized to that person’s particular needs and specific circumstances, these are the most common documents Heather creates for her clients:
Will: Your Will is the first thing most people think of when considering estate planning. Ampersand Law knows that, and though this isn’t the only document you need, it’s a priority. A will allows you to make decisions about your property (including your home and other assets) and specify who you want to manage this process on your behalf. You can also make provisions for minor children in your will via a testamentary trust and/or a guardianship nomination. A Will is a great way to provide certainty, create continuity, and reduce stress for yourself and your loved ones.
Guardianship Nomination: Worried about who will care for your kid(s) if something happens to you? You’re not alone! A Guardianship Nomination addresses this by specifying who you want the Court to appoint as the Guardian(s) of your minor child(ren) if the event the unthinkable happens.
Health Care Power of Attorney with Advance Directives: What will happen when you need medical attention but can’t communicate what you want? Who will make your health care decisions? With a Health Care Power of Attorney with Advance Directives document, you can specify who you want to make medical decisions for and provide specific instructions about end-of-life treatment in certain scenarios. Creating this document is self-empowerment and ensures your loved ones aren’t left wondering what you would have wanted.
Durable General Power of Attorney: If you have an accident or a medical emergency or have to leave town for an extended period, how will the day-to-day aspects of your life get taken care of? A Durable General Power of Attorney allows you to specify who you want to manage tasks such as paying bills, keeping your finances on track, managing your digital accounts (such as social media and email), and more. And the “durability” of this document means it stays in place even if you become legally incompetent to manage your affairs.
Revocable Living Trust: You want your estate plan to be as comprehensive yet flexible as possible. You are ready to consolidate the management and control of your assets during your life and plan (or want the ability) to hand off that responsibility to someone else later. You want to avoid probate (due to the public records and/or the fees or for other reasons). You have a complex family situation or are a part of a blended family. You want to reduce the chances of legal disputes over your assets after you’re gone. A Revocable Living Trust is worth considering if at least a few of these apply to you.
The fees noted below are the base/starting rates and are subject to increase based on the specific needs of the client(s).
Fees: Comprehensive Estate Planning
Fully customizable for every estate planning need, Ampersand Law’s comprehensive service offers the most flexible option for implementing an action plan and the necessary documents. This includes an initial consultation, drafting the necessary estate plan documents, revisions, and an appointment to execute the documents.
The fees noted below are the base/starting rates and are subject to increase based on the specific needs of the client(s)
Will Packages
FOR AN Individual without minor children: $1,200* / Couple: $1,800**
Documents included: will, durable general power of attorney, health care power of attorney with advance directives (living will)
FoR AN Individual with minor children: $1,600* / Couple: $2,400**
Documents included: will with testamentary trust, durable general power of attorney, health care power of attorney with advance directives (living will), guardianship nomination
Revocable Living Trust Packages
FOR AN Individual without minor children: $2,500* / Couple with joint trust: $3,800** / couple with individual trusts: $4,500**
Documents included: revocable living trust, pour-over will, durable general power of attorney, health care power of attorney with advance directives (living will), sample/suggested asset funding plan for the revocable living trust
FOR AN Individual with minor children: $3,500* / Couple with joint trust: $4,800** / couple with individual trusts: $5,500**
Documents included: revocable living trust, pour-over will, durable general power of attorney, health care power of attorney with advance directives (living will), guardianship nomination, sample/suggested asset funding plan for the revocable living trust
Fees updated 11/1/2024.
*BASE/Starting RATES for individuals. Subject to increase based on the specific needs of the client.
**BASE/Starting RATES for couples with substantially similar documents. Subject to INCREASE based on the specific needs of each client.
Powers of Attorney Package
Great for young adults headed off to college and/or moving away from home for the first time and others who already have Wills (or aren't quite ready to take that on right now). This package includes:
A brief (15-minute) consultation via Zoom video conference to discuss the documents and the decisions required;
Creation of the Health Care Power of Attorney with Advance Directive for a Natural Death ("Living Will") and HIPAA Release, and the Durable General Power of Attorney (for finances, property, and legal rights/obligations); and
Signing appointment to execute the documents (in-person, witnesses and notary services included, conducted with COVID-19 precautions).
Fee: $500.00 (per person). Please note: the fee for this service applies even if fewer documents are needed.
Individual Services
For those who already have some documents in place and need to add or replace one or two, Ampersand Law’s individual services offer an “a la carte” option for estate planning. Please get in touch with Heather for more information.
A Note About Pricing…
Working with an attorney to create an estate plan is going to cost money. There’s no way around that. But, how much? Heather believes in full disclosure with her clients and for that reason has provided starting/base rates for the services below. (The starting/base rates are subject to change based on a client’s specific needs.) It’s not common practice for law firms to publish fee information online but it’s how Ampersand Law does their work. That way your relationship can be just as transparent as it should be, right from the very start.
“Heather did an outstanding job working with my father-in-law to set up a revocable trust, general power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney. Heather listened carefully and made sure he knew all of his options. She patiently guided him through the process and was readily available to answer questions.”
“Heather was absolutely amazing in assisting me in getting my will & other necessary documents put together. She was very patient, offered great guidance, and was excellent at explaining anything I wasn’t understanding. I felt as if I was her one and only client - as the attention and customer service - not to mention legal & professional abilities - were simply top-notch. I would absolutely recommend Ampersand Law to anyone needing a will and supporting documents.”
Community Events
Attorney Heather Hazelwood wants people to know that estate planning is for EVERYONE. Occasionally, she hosts workshops to help those in the community understand the estate planning process and why everyone needs an estate plan.
Heather is also available to speak to groups, businesses, and organizations throughout the Triangle Area. If you’re interested in having Heather present to your organization, please reach out to her at heather@ampersand-law.com.
“I cannot sing Heather’s praises highly enough. Through the entire process, Heather was understanding, clear, and diligent. Heather struck us a genuinely kind, honest, and knowledgeable person. She’s whip-smart, funny, efficient, and just an overall joy to work with.”
ESTATE & TRUST ADMINISTRATION:
Trusted Guidance
You're not alone if you’re confused about where/how to start with estate administration (probate). The process can be unclear even if the deceased left a Will. Our firm has years of experience assisting Executors, Administrators, Collectors, and Personal Representatives with uncontested estates. Many of our clients hire us to manage the entire probate process, from initial filings to closing the case (and all the steps and tasks along the way). Some of our clients hire us to assist in more limited ways.
Focused on Helping You & the Estate
Whether you need assistance with an Affidavit for Collection, Application for Administration, Application for Probate, Limited Administration, Notice to Creditors by Limited Personal Representative, Summary Administration, or Year’s Allowance—or don’t even know what those are—we can help. We approach our estate administration clients much like our estate planning clients: we work with you to understand your/the estate’s needs and tailor our services to be most helpful to you and the legal requirements of the matter.
“My parents passed away within months of each other. Heather was super responsive, proactive and knowledgeable when I needed help with their estates. It was such a relief to know that she was there if I had questions or worries and she was so reliable that I didn’t have to chase or ask for updates. On top of that, she was compassionate and clear about when I could take things at my own pace and when things were hard deadlines. I recommend Ampersand Law without reservation.”