Muskegon, MI asked in Estate Planning for Michigan

Q: What should I expect to pay to have our son appointed durable power of attorney?

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2 Lawyer Answers
Steven G Cozart
Steven G Cozart
Answered
  • Estate Planning Lawyer
  • Troy, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: My answer is a phrase that is near and dear to the hearts of many attorneys. "it depends." Many factors can go into the creation of legal documents:

How customized do you want the power of attorney (POA) documents to be?

Do you want the POA documents to control financial matters, healthcare decisions (Patient Advocate Designation), or both?

Do you have any other legal documents, like a living trust, that may need to operate in conjunction with the power of attorney documents?

How "hands-on" do you want to be in the creation of the POA documents? What I mean by that is there are some pretty good form documents available if you know where to look. Having said that, in my totally biased opinion, it is always best to consult with an experienced attorney.

I know that you were looking for a price. It is very difficult to give you a specific number. Attorney fees can vary greatly. I suggest making some calls and seeing who you think can best meet your needs. I believe that you will be able to find a knowledgeable and experienced attorney who can work within your budget.

Kenneth V Zichi and Trent Harris agree with this answer

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
Answered
  • Estate Planning Lawyer
  • Fowlerville, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: As Mr Cozart said, 'it depends'.

Anywhere between 'free' if you use a DIY form of dubious quality you might find on the internet to $10,000 for a full estate plan for someone who wants trusts and has multi-millions in assets and has tax planning issues that make things very complicated.

Does that help? No? I can do better.

Call (you know, on an actual voice telephone device) a few local attorneys, ask some questions and reveal some personal information in a forum where it is safe to do so, and ask 'what is the price range'? Seriously, we can't answer that question without asking some questions of you, and without honest answers about what your needs are.

It probably won't be THAT expensive but there may be other documents/situations you're not considering that are important and should also be addressed if you're wanting solutions instead of just 'a document'. It is why we ask questions!

Trent Harris agrees with this answer

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