Planning for Life

At most estate planning law firms the relationship ends when you sign your documents.  At Hartney Family & Estate Law we see the signing your estate planning documents as the beginning of our relationship with your family.

Over time, your assets will change; your family may change; we know for sure that the law will change.   Your plan must accommodate all of these changes in order to make sure your plan works when your family needs it the most.  If your plan is not properly updated over time, your documents become worthless... worth no more than the paper they were printed on.  And the costs of failing to update are typically far greater than keeping your plan current.

With each of our estate plans we include a no-charge three year review to ensure that as our clients' lives change, so does their estate plan and ensure that all our clients' assets are held properly for maximum protection. We also include in our planning process a creative way for our clients to pass on more than just their financial assets, but also their human assets—who they are and what is important to them. And, we have annual membership programs for clients that desire even more service. Whether you participate in one of our annual membership programs or not, we keep all our clients updated about changes in the law and issues that might affect their lives.
Some of the Benefits Provided Under Our Membership Plans include:

• Annual Plan Review with Unlimited Plan Amendments;
• Annual Priceless Conversation to transition your most important and most frequently lost family wealth- who you are and what’s most important to you. 
• Annual Membership in service which provides 24-7 on-line access to health care and guardianship documents;
• Substantial discount on our fees for advising your loved ones after you’re gone;
• Annual Review of Your Assets and Update of Your Asset Spreadsheet;
• And much more, including valuable membership enrollment bonuses.

For more information about our unique programs, please contact us.

We Help You Leave A Legacy

After you are gone, your loved ones will miss you deeply. They will long for your words of counsel and concern. Hearing your voice again would be a tremendous gift.

Through our unique legacy process, you can give your loved ones the most precious gift - a lasting expression of your love. What could be more valuable?

At Hartney Family & Estate Law we believe estate planning is not just about transferring your financial assets and personal belongings. It’s also about capturing and transferring your  valuable intangible gifts: who you are and what's important to you – your values, insights, stories and experience.

My father died about 12 years ago. When I was born, he was 46 years old, a man with an entire history before I even entered the picture. I wanted so much to know more about his life, about him. I asked to record his memoirs but by the time he agreed, my own kids were born. He died before I ever got the chance. 

How I wish I had made it more of a priority to record him. Now, I have one handwritten letter from him in my jewelry box. That's all. 

When I was first in practice, I would tell my clients to write letters to their kids and put them in a safe place or record messages to their children letting them know how they felt about them.  But so few people ever actually did it. Parents just get so caught up with the day to day of our lives that focusing in on leaving a legacy seems to take a back seat.

So we realized we’d have to build this into our planning process and not make it just another thing you’ll get done someday. That’s why at Hartney Family & Estate Law we make it part of our planning for every client to help you capture and pass on more than just your money: your intellectual, spiritual and human assets, who you are and what’s important to you.

For more information about how we help you pass on your most valuable assets – your values, insights, stories and experience  - to  your loved ones, or about our resources for leaving your family with a true legacy, please contact us.

What Would It Be Worth?

Can you picture someone who’s passed away, someone you love and miss deeply?  Can you recall a conversation you had with them? Can you remember the sound of their voice and what they told you?  What if you could hear their voice again?
 
What if they could speak to you—heart to heart—and share their wisdom and advice? What would it be worth to you to hear their words one more time?

What is it worth to you to know that they’ll always know exactly how much you love them? It’s worth a lot to us and we are honored to be able to provide you and your family with this gift.