Who would care for our children?
Who would raise your children if something happened to both of you?
Estate Planning for Young & Growing Families
They're Counting on You.
Make Sure There's a Plan.
Essential estate planning for young and growing families in Prosper and North Texas.
$1,750 flat fee per couple
Complimentary 30-minute consultation
Request My Free ConsultationLegacy ◆ Protection ◆ Peace of Mind
For Young & Growing Families
You Don't Need a Fortune
to Need an Estate Plan.
You have a family. A home. Careers. Maybe a new baby — or another one on the way.
You may not need a complicated estate plan. But you do need answers to some important questions.
Who manages what we leave them?
Who would manage the assets you leave for your children until they are old enough to manage them themselves?
Who makes medical decisions?
Who can make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself?
Who handles our finances?
Who can manage financial and legal matters if you become incapacitated?
Those aren't questions you want someone else answering later.
A Guide for Parents
Estate Planning for Young Families: Where Do You Start?
Why Parents of Minor Children Need an Estate Plan
Estate planning is not only for retirees or wealthy families. Once you have children, the most important questions stop being about who inherits and start being about who would care for your children, who would manage what you leave them, and who could step in if one of you were unable to make decisions.
Who Would Care for Your Children?
A Will lets parents name the guardian they would want to raise their children if both parents were gone, along with alternates. Without that written designation, a court decides — often after family members have had to ask for the role. Naming a guardian does not remove the court's role, but it gives the judge clear guidance from the people who know your children best.
What Happens to Assets Left to Minor Children?
Minor children generally cannot manage property on their own. Without planning, a court may need to appoint someone to manage those funds, and children may receive them outright at a young age. A well-drafted Will can name a trusted person to manage what you leave your children and set the age at which they receive it.
What Estate Planning Documents Do Young Parents Need?
Most young parents need a Will for each spouse, a Durable Power of Attorney so a trusted person can handle finances if one spouse is incapacitated, a Medical Power of Attorney naming who can make health-care decisions, a Directive to Physicians stating end-of-life wishes, and a HIPAA Authorization so loved ones can speak with doctors. Incapacity planning matters even when you are young and healthy — accidents and sudden illness do not wait.
Do We Need a Will or a Trust?
For many young families with a home, retirement accounts, and life insurance, a Will-based plan provides the essential protections. Trust-based planning may make more sense for blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, business owners, multiple properties, or larger estates. During your consultation we will tell you honestly which approach fits — and if you need more than Family Essentials, we will explain why.
What Happens During the Free 30-Minute Consultation?
We talk about your family, your children, and your goals, answer your questions in plain English, and confirm whether Family Essentials is the right fit. There is no obligation, and qualifying Family Essentials clients pay no consultation fee.
Want the broader picture? See our comprehensive estate planning and wills and trusts pages.
Alliston Family Essentials
What Is Included in Alliston Family Essentials?
One straightforward package and one clear price: a complete, attorney-guided first estate plan for married couples with straightforward planning needs.
Family Essentials
$1,750Per CoupleYour Estate Plan Includes:
- Will for each spouse
- Planning for minor children
- Guardian designations
- Durable Power of Attorney for each spouse
- Medical Power of Attorney for each spouse
- Directive to Physicians for each spouse
- HIPAA Authorization for each spouse
- Appropriate ancillary documents
- Attorney review
- Professional signing appointment
- Organized final plan
Is Family Essentials Right for Our Family?
Designed For
Young and growing families with straightforward planning needs.
- Married couples
- Minor children
- Traditional family structures
- Primary residence and typical personal assets
- No complex business or tax planning needs
- Families who want a clear, straightforward first estate plan
You May Need Comprehensive Planning If...
Your situation involves additional complexity.
- Blended families or second marriages
- Special-needs beneficiaries
- Substantial business interests
- Multiple real estate or rental properties
- Advanced asset protection considerations
- Tax-planning considerations
- Complex family or financial circumstances
Not sure which type of planning you need?
That's exactly what the complimentary 30-minute consultation is designed to help determine.
Let's Find the Right FitHow the Family Essentials Process Works
A simple, organized process designed to make estate planning clear and manageable.
- 01
Free consultation
We'll discuss your family, goals, and circumstances and determine whether Family Essentials is a good fit.
- 02
Questionnaire
You'll complete a simple guided questionnaire with our team.
- 03
Attorney review
Andrew reviews your information and prepares your customized documents.
- 04
Document preparation
We prepare your estate plan and confirm the details with you.
- 05
Review
We walk through your documents in clear, plain English and answer your questions.
- 06
Signing
You sign your documents and receive your organized final plan.
Guardianship Planning
The Most Important Decision May Have Nothing to Do With Money.
If something happened to you, who would care for your children?
Estate planning gives you the opportunity to name guardians, provide clear instructions, and help ensure your children are cared for by the people you trust.
Learn More About Guardianship PlanningYour Family Deserves More Than an Online Form.
Personal Guidance
Your plan is prepared around your actual family and circumstances.
Clear Answers
Ask questions and understand what your documents actually do.
Proper Execution
We guide you through the signing process so your plan is properly completed.
Family Essentials is designed to make attorney-guided estate planning accessible without removing the personal guidance that makes planning valuable.
Planning for What Comes Next
Your First Estate Plan Doesn't Have to Be Your Last.
Families grow. ◆ Careers change. ◆ Businesses are started. ◆ Homes are purchased. ◆ Assets accumulate. ◆ Children grow up.
Your estate plan can evolve with you. Learn how wills, trusts, and powers of attorney fit together, what to expect in our planning process, and where to find answers in our family planning resources.
Family Essentials gives you a thoughtful starting point today — and a relationship with Alliston Estate Planning as your family's needs become more sophisticated.
Learn About Client CareFamily Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Family Essentials designed for?
Family Essentials is designed for married couples with relatively straightforward estate planning needs who want a Will-based first estate plan.
Is the consultation really complimentary?
Yes. Qualifying Family Essentials clients begin with a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss their family and determine whether the package is appropriate.
What if we need more than the Family Essentials package?
If your circumstances require more comprehensive planning, we'll explain why and discuss the planning options that may be more appropriate.
Does the $1,750 include both spouses?
Yes. The Family Essentials flat fee is $1,750 per married couple for the defined package.
What if we have minor children?
Family Essentials specifically addresses planning considerations for parents of minor children, including guardian designations and appropriate planning for assets left to children.
What happens after the consultation?
If Family Essentials is a good fit, we'll guide you through our questionnaire, attorney review, document preparation, review, and signing process.
Can our plan change later?
Yes. Estate plans should be reviewed as families, assets, and circumstances change.
Eligibility and final scope are determined by the attorney after reviewing your circumstances. Website information is general only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Your First Estate Plan Doesn't Have to Be Complicated.
Give your family clarity, protection, and peace of mind with Alliston Family Essentials.
$1,750 Flat Fee ◆ Free 30-Minute ConsultationLegacy ◆ Protection ◆ Peace of Mind