Advanced Estate Planning Services & Pricing
Some planning needs go beyond a standard will or living trust.
Whether you are concerned about future liability, providing for a loved one with a disability, or coordinating tax and charitable goals, start with a conversation. We help you evaluate the options, understand the tradeoffs, and decide which approach fits your circumstances.
You do not need to know which trust to request before contacting us. We will explain whether specialized planning makes sense and when a simpler plan may be enough.
The services below address different planning needs. Your consultation is the starting point for identifying the appropriate approach and the work involved.
Utah Domestic Asset Protection Trust — $3,000
For people planning ahead for potential creditor and liability risks.
A Utah Domestic Asset Protection Trust, or UDAPT, is an irrevocable trust designed to hold assets under Utah’s asset-protection framework. You may remain a beneficiary, with distributions made under the trust’s terms rather than an unrestricted right to withdraw funds.
This approach may be relevant for business owners, professionals, and others with meaningful liability exposure. The trust’s structure, funding, timing, and applicable legal limitations all matter.
Learn about Utah Asset Protection Trusts.
Mortgage Qualification Trust — $1,000
For borrowers with substantial assets but limited qualifying income.
A Mortgage Qualification Trust establishes a documented schedule of distributions from trust assets for a lender to evaluate as a potential income source.
Whether those distributions qualify depends on the lender, loan program, funding source, required history, and other underwriting requirements. Creating a trust does not guarantee mortgage approval.
Before proceeding, the proposed arrangement should be reviewed against your lender’s current requirements. We can discuss the trust structure and documentation needed for that evaluation.
Explore Mortgage Qualification Trusts
First-Party Special Needs Trust — $2,000
For a person with a disability who owns assets that may affect benefit eligibility.
A first-party special-needs trust holds the beneficiary’s own assets, which may come from a settlement, an inheritance received directly, or existing savings.
When properly established and administered, the trust can help preserve eligibility for means-tested benefits while allowing funds to support supplemental needs. Specific eligibility rules apply, including age requirements and Medicaid repayment provisions. Trust distributions can also affect benefits, so administration matters as much as drafting.
Planning with assets belonging to a parent or another family member generally involves a different structure—a third-party special-needs trust. We will discuss which approach fits the source of the funds and your family’s goals. The fee above is for a first-party trust. A third-party special-needs trust is included in the price of a revocable living trust.
Learn About Special Needs Trust.
Special Power of Appointment Trust — $3,000
For clients evaluating an alternative asset-protection structure.
A Special Power of Appointment Trust, or SPAT, uses an irrevocable trust and a limited power held by another person to provide flexibility over who may benefit from trust assets.
Unlike a conventional self-settled asset-protection trust, the person funding the SPAT is not initially a beneficiary. Any potential future benefit depends on the trust’s terms and another person’s exercise of authority—not a retained right to demand the assets.
This strategy is an alternative approach for those seeking asset protection but do not meet the requirements for a Utah Domestic Asset Protection Trust or they want to protect assets held outside the State of Utah.
Learn About Special Power of Appointment Trusts
Charitable Remainder Trust — $3,000
For people who want to combine charitable giving with an income stream.
A Charitable Remainder Trust, or CRT, allows you to transfer assets into an irrevocable trust that makes payments to you or other designated beneficiaries. At the end of the payment period, the remaining assets pass to charity.
A CRT may be useful when planning around appreciated property, investments, or other assets. Potential benefits include tax deferral and a partial charitable deduction, subject to applicable requirements.
The charitable commitment is irrevocable, and payments to the income beneficiaries may be taxable. We will help you consider those tradeoffs alongside your income needs and charitable goals.
Explore Charitable Remainder Trusts
Spousal Lifetime Access Trust — $5,000
For married clients evaluating potential estate-tax exposure.
A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust, or SLAT, is an irrevocable trust created by one spouse for the benefit of the other spouse and, often, future generations.
When properly structured, it can move assets and their future appreciation outside the contributing spouse’s taxable estate while allowing distributions to the beneficiary spouse under the trust’s terms.
The contributing spouse does not retain a right to reclaim the assets. The beneficiary spouse’s death or a divorce can also end the contributing spouse’s indirect access. These practical risks should be weighed against the potential tax benefits before assets are transferred.
By phone or in person · No obligation to hire us.
Understand the Plan Before You Commit
Advanced planning involves more than choosing a trust name.
Your attorney will discuss what the proposed structure is intended to accomplish, the rights you would retain, the restrictions you would accept, and how the trust would fit with your existing estate plan.
Before work begins, we will confirm the documents and services included in the engagement and the flat fee for that work. We will also discuss any additional planning, implementation steps, or involvement from other professionals that your situation may require.
Know Who Will Handle the Next Steps
Depending on the structure, putting the plan into effect may involve asset transfers, trustee arrangements, tax reporting, or lender documentation. Those responsibilities should be identified as part of planning—not left for you to discover after signing.
Ask us about the work included in your engagement, the steps you will need to complete, and any separate services or ongoing costs to consider.
Personal Advice for Decisions That Matter
Start with your goals, not a predetermined solution.
We will discuss your circumstances and help identify the questions that need to be resolved before choosing a structure. When additional analysis or coordination is necessary, we will explain the next steps.
You should understand both what a proposed trust may accomplish and what you would give up to use it.
Client Experiences
“Justin works diligently and professionally on my questions raised on both Asset Protection and Living Trust. His fees are reasonable.”
— Thompson W.
“Justin has been a valuable resource and sounding board as we work on putting our affairs in order. He is kind, compassionate and professional. We feel very fortunate to have him in our corner.”
— Julie S.
Questions Before You Get Started?
Do I need advanced planning, or would a standard estate plan be enough?
Advanced planning is not automatically better. It should address a specific need that your existing documents do not adequately cover.
We will discuss your goals and circumstances before recommending additional complexity. For some clients, a will-based or trust-based estate plan is the appropriate starting point.
View Standard Estate Planning Packages
Can advanced planning work with the estate plan I already have?
Often, yes. A specialized trust may supplement your existing documents rather than replace the entire plan.
Have your current estate-planning documents available so we can discuss how a proposed trust would fit and whether related changes or further review are needed. The scope of any additional work will be addressed before proceeding.
Will I still control or have access to the assets?
That depends on the structure.
Many advanced trusts are irrevocable and restrict your ability to reclaim assets, change beneficiaries, or require distributions. Some permit benefits for you or your spouse under specified terms; others are designed primarily for different beneficiaries.
We will explain the particular restrictions before you decide whether the arrangement is appropriate.
Who will serve as trustee?
The appropriate trustee depends on the trust’s purpose, legal requirements, and the responsibilities involved.
We will discuss the trustee’s role and the qualifications relevant to the proposed structure. Before proceeding, clarify who will handle administration and whether separate trustee or professional fees will apply.
How long does advanced planning take?
The timeline depends on the structure, the assets involved, and any necessary review or coordination.
Let us know about a planned sale, financing deadline, or other time-sensitive event at the beginning. We will discuss the expected timeline after understanding the work required.
What should I prepare for the consultation?
Start with a general description of your goals, your assets, and the issue you want to address. You do not need to choose a trust type beforehand.
Have any relevant existing documents available. For mortgage-related planning, bring the lender’s requirements. For special-needs planning, be ready to discuss the source of the funds and the benefits the person receives.
Find Out Which Approach Fits Your Situation
You do not need to understand every trust structure to take the first step.
Talk with an attorney about what you want to accomplish. We will help you evaluate the options, identify the issues that need attention, and understand the recommended next steps.
By phone or in person · No obligation to hire us.