Frequently Asked Questions

Below are questions that clients have asked when they first contact Mense Law Firm. We hope you find these answers helpful. If you still have questions, please feel free to call us 636-456-2345, or Contact Us. If you have a question about a specific service, please see our What We Do page.

WHY CHOOSE MENSE LAW FIRM, LLC?

We place a high level of importance on listening to you! Let us say that again, we listen to you!

We work together with you and your family  to find the best solution for your problem.

We will sit down with you and discuss your needs and concerns.

Then, we will work with you to educate you on the options that are available to you and work with you to design the best solution possible for your unique situation. In addition, sometimes we discover there are better options available from someone else, that is ok, and we do not take clients to take their money. We take on a client’s case to help. Our job is to give you the best advice we can.

That is what is important to us.

WHAT OTHER AREAS OF LAW DO YOU HANDLE?

We limit our practice to Estate Planning, Long Term Care Planning, and other associated areas, such as probate, trust administration, business succession, etc. We do not distract ourselves by handling cases outside of our chosen focus.

Attorneys can practice in many different areas of their choosing, and most attorneys handle a wide variety of cases, from assaults to wills. Just as you would not go to a heart surgeon to remove a brain tumor, you should go to an attorney that has the experience to solve your particular problem.

We practice what we know best - Estate Planning and Long Term Care Planning.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

When you make an appointment, you can expect to spend about one to two hours discussing your situation. The time it takes depends on the number of questions you have.

Coming up with an estate plan or elder care plan takes time. We want to be sure we thoroughly understand your situation.

WHAT PAPERS SHOULD YOU BRING?

The more information we have about your situation the better so that we can work together to find a solution that meet your needs.

Your assets are a large part of how we work with you to determine what kind of estate plan is best. We need to know what your wishes are regarding your assets, as wel as what your wishes are regarding your health care as you age.

With that in mind, it is helpful if you bring deeds, old wills, old trusts, and an assets list and valuations, etc.

Of course, it is not mandatory that you bring in these documents. As long as you know what type of assets you have and have an idea of how you want to be cared far as you age, we can usually determine a direction for you to take.

SHOULD YOU BRING YOUR SPOUSE?

Yes, if you are married and your spouse is able to attend, it is important that he/she come along. Your spouse will be an intricate part of the estate planning process.

Some people would like to bring an adult child with them, please do so. Elder care planning and Estate planning affects the entire family. Therefore, if you wish for your adult child (or another loved one) to be part of the process, we encourage you to bring them.

If you do bring an adult child with you, please keep in mind that we might have them step out of the room while we explain the attorney client relationship and other items.

I HAVE HEARD “EVERYONE NEEDS A TRUST” - IS THIS TRUE?

The short answer is no, not everyone needs a trust.

Every situation is different.   While it is true, a Trust might be what you need, it can also be unnecessary and overkill. Additionally, there are several different types of trusts, while one might be appropriate, the other might not be.

We at Mense Law Firm, LLC are committed to staying up-to-date on the current laws that involve estate planning so we can educate you on the various options that address your needs and concerns. It might include a trust; then again, it might not.

If you have a concern about paying for the cost of long-term care, a second marriage with his/her/our kids, or have a disabled child or loved one, then you most likely need a trust.

WHAT ABOUT USING A SIMPLE WILL?

If another attorney suggested that all you need is a Will and you will be fine, they might be offering a one-size-fits-all solution. Estate Planning and Elder Care Planning is an ever-changing field. With many attorneys practicing in many different areas of the law, they might notcurrent in this field, so they simply recommend a one-size-fits-all solution.

However, there are times when an estate is not complicated. That still does not necessarily mean a Will is the solution. A Will is usually less expensive initially, but the overall cost of a Will typically is much more expensive than all other estate planning techniques.

Of course, there are situations where a Will is required. For example, a Will is necessary when you have minor children and want to name someone as being responsible for the care of your children if something happens to you.

You really need to be sure that whomever you are speak to has the knowledge to work with you on your Estate Planning needs.

WHAT DO YOU CHARGE?

We wish this were any easy question to answer. Unlike walking into a mechanic where they have a list of prices hanging on their wall, Elder Care Planning and Estate Planning is not so black and white.

Our services are determined by you, based on your needs. We take the time to educate you on the options that are available to you. We will point out the good and bad points of each option so you can tell us what you want. We do not tell you what to do, you tell us what you want us to do.

The one thing we will never do is provide a solution that you do not need. Why would we? Yes, it would be bad for you our client; it would be worse for us. Our reputation is very important to us. Providing a service to someone, who truly does not need that service, would jeopardize our good reputation. We are here for the long haul.

Mense Law Firm wants to be your Attorney for life, and your family’s Attorney for life.

 

If we have not answered your question, please call us at 636-456-2345 or Contact Us so that we may answer your questions.

For questions about a specific service, such as “What is a Trust?” please see our What We Do page.