Our Process and Timeline

Step 4 - Plan Architecture & Design Sheets

What this is: We turn your goals into a clear design: who’s in charge, how assets pass, and how to stay out of court.

You’ll see: A concise Design Memo and simple visuals showing where everything goes and how your heirs are protected (including options for lifetime trusts, age‑staggered distributions, or education/launch provisions).

We handle: Drafting directions for our team and a preliminary Funding Plan (which accounts/deeds/beneficiaries to align), including NJ deed work (Bargain & Sale is common) and multi‑state coordination if you own at the Shore or out of state.

Typical timing: 3–7 business days after Step 3.
Your to‑do: Confirm we captured your wishes.

Step 5 — Legal Review (Research + Quality Check)

What this is: We pressure‑test the design for taxes, blended‑family issues, SECURE Act compliance for IRAs, and New Jersey‑specific rules.

You’ll see: Nothing to do—this is our heavy lifting.

We handle: Internal research, clause selection, and quality review so your plan works on a hard day, not just on paper. For HNW families, we review marital/credit‑shelter choices and portability elections; for SNT/MAPT, we confirm benefit‑safe language.

Typical timing: 5–10 business days after Step 4.
Your to‑do: None.

Step 6 — Client Review & Finalization

What this is: We walk you through your drafts so you see exactly what each piece does.

You’ll see: Plain‑language explanations, tracked edits, and a signing checklist. Seniors updating older plans get a specific “What changed & why” summary.

We handle: Final changes, witness/notary scheduling, and your signing date.

Typical timing: within 3–7 days after Step 5.
Your to‑do: Approve final drafts and choose a signing date.

Step 7 — Signing Day + Lasting Message Session (LMS)

What this is: You sign with our team. Trust and Advanced plans include a professionally guided interview—your story, values, and messages to loved ones—stored securely and released on your terms.

You’ll see: A calm, organized signing and a guided interview (video/audio + transcript). HNW families often record stewardship guidance; special‑needs parents use this to capture care philosophies, and others instead take the opportunity to reinforce valuable and cherished beliefs, lessons, traditions, and other ideologies.

We handle: Witnesses, notarization, emergency cards, first‑48‑hours letters, and caregiver packets (if you have minor children).

Typical timing: 1–2 weeks after Step 6.
Your to‑do: Bring valid ID and sign.

Step 8 — Delivery, Funding & Confirmations

What this is: We deliver your binder and digital copies, then help you fund the plan so it actually works (titles, deeds, and beneficiaries).

You’ll see: A Funding Tracker, recorded deeds as they return, and confirmations from banks/insurers. Business owners get entity/interest worksheets; HNW clients may see ILIT/SRT coordination.

We handle: Deeds, beneficiary forms, and coordination with institutions so nothing falls through the cracks. For SNT/MAPT, we guide proper titling to preserve benefits or eligibility.

Typical timing: Binder/PDFs within 3 business days of signing; most funding completes in 4–8 weeks (bank/county dependent).
Your to‑do: Sign institution forms we prepare; reply to quick check‑ins.

Step 9 — Ongoing Care (AMP or CCP)

What this is: Your plan stays current as life changes. Choose AMP (Annual Maintenance Program) for yearly tune‑ups or CCP (Continuing Counsel Plan) for quarterly reviews with your CPA/financial advisor.

You’ll see: A simple scorecard, clean titles/beneficiaries, and meetings that keep everyone aligned. We track new accounts, home purchases/sales, beneficiary shifts, and life events.

We handle: Annual or quarterly reviews, updates, and advisor summits. For ILITs, we can administer Crummey notices under CCP.

Typical timing: AMP annually; CCP quarterly (and anytime life changes).
Your to‑do: Tell us when life changes: moves, new accounts, marriage/divorce, new children, business sale, diagnosis.

What Makes our Process Different?

• Strategy first, documents second. We design before we draft, so you don’t pay to fix the wrong plan.
• Funding is part of the job. We don’t hand you a binder and wish you luck; we help retitle and realign so probate stays off your family’s plate.
• Clarity by design. We write for real people. Your family shouldn’t need a judge to understand your wishes.
• Legacy, not just law. We capture your values with a guided Legacy Interview—because heirs need more than assets.
• Built for New Jersey. From Bargain & Sale deeds to county recording quirks and inheritance‑tax awareness for certain heirs, your plan is tailored to NJ realities.

Service Areas (New Jersey)

We regularly serve clients throughout Central and North New Jersey, including the Jersey Shore, Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Mercer, Warren, Bergen, and Monmouth counties.

Selected communities we often work with: Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Bridgewater, Somerville, Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Mendham, Chester, Flemington, Clinton, Lambertville, Princeton, Pennington, Hopewell, Allentown (Mercer area), Hackettstown, Long Valley, Warren Township, Watchung, Ridgewood, Franklin Lakes, Tenafly, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Spring Lake, Sea Girt, Manasquan, Point Pleasant.

Don’t see your town? If you live in or own property in New Jersey, we can help—onsite or by secure Zoom!