Life does not adequately prepare us for the loss of a loved one. After I had been practicing on my own for a number of years, I experienced the loss of several of my clients. In the time we had worked together on their wills and estate planning, I had grown close to these clients. I had come to feel a sense of friendship and to care deeply for them. As they were dying, and after they died, my heart ached. I began to question my decision in selecting this type of work. Why hadn’t I understood that this would happen?
Then I came to realize that I was here to help the families. I felt the loss of their loved one too -- certainly not to the extent that they did; but I understood they were in pain. I also understood that there was a legal process that needed to be navigated which was indifferent to the pain they were experiencing. I could help them with that legal process. In fact, one of my major planning goals is to help my clients so that their families can avoid the formal legal process entirely.
I realized that this is my purpose: to help clients prepare for the big event which we all must face and to prepare for this inevitability in such a way to avoid the unnecessary pain for their families. It still hurts my heart when I lose a client, but now I better understand why I chose to devote myself to providing this service and how I can help.
I love helping my clients with their estate planning. Often when they first come to me, they have only a vague notion of what they want to accomplish. They do not fully understand all the issues, options and alternatives. I share my knowledge about the law so I can help my clients clarify their goals. We also address all legal requirements and non legal concerns to determine how best to achieve the desired results. I want the strategies and legal documents to reflect their values and desires for their family. My team and I strive to always give our very best to each client. I am proud to say that our efforts are often rewarded by our clients expressing a sense of peace of mind and confidence that the high quality of our work assures them that the wishes for their family will ultimately be fulfilled.
People have asked me if it is tough seeing how families sometimes break down and fight against each other when a member passes away. This question used to surprise me because that is not what I see in my practice. After a loved one passes, it is a sad time for sure; but there is often joy as well. There is very little conflict and strife. I like to think that having properly prepared my clients and the families for this time makes a big difference; but I also realize a lot of it is attributable to the quality of the people I am helping. I have always been impressed with the innate goodness of my clients and their loving families. I could never adequately express my gratitude for all that I have learned from the wonderful clients that I have had the privilege to serve.
You may ask why does someone need to hire an attorney in the first place. The following sub-pages list some of the legal issues or processes which may cause a client to seek my assistance. The list is certainly not all inclusive but suggestive of many reasons a client may need to contact me. Please feel free to call me to discuss your particular situation. If I am not able to help you, I may be able to help you to better define what type of attorney you need and to give you referrals to the attorneys that I think can best serve your needs. I look forward to talking with you.