Business ProfileforCarrier Law

If I could give zero stars, I would. David C****** handled my late parent's estate planning after they attended one of his Lifeplan Workshops. For background, my parents rose from lower class to firmly establish themselves in lower middle class. Upon their passing, they wanted their very humble assets to be divided amongst their three children. After attending C******'s "workshop", they met with him and he prepared their estate documents charging an outrageous fee of $8,100 with an annual interest rate of 6%. A quick call to several other estate planning lawyers in the area confirmed that for an estate of their size the normal fee would be $1500-$3k on the very high end of typical rates.
At the time of their estate plan being drawn up, my parents did not have the money to pay the entire rate so they put down $1000 and C****** put a lien on their home until the balance was paid (plus interest). We only learned of this lien at the time of their deaths 6 years later, by which time we had to pay the remaining balance of $7k and and an additional $3100 in interest. All in all, nearly $12k in estate planning for a couple whose net worth was less than $100k. $12k for paperwork more appropriately (and competitor) priced for less than $2k.

Was what David C****** did legal? YES.
Was it predatory, slimy and unethical? Also YES.

So buyer beware: I hope you (or your parents) don't have a similar experience and warn you against using someone who capitalizes on other people's trust and naivete in this way. At the very least, price check what you need against other lawyers who offer the same service.

Dear *****,

We are sorry that you feel this way about the estate plan we put together for your parents in 2015. We stand by the quality and value of our work and would love the opportunity to speak with you about it. You can reach me at 616-361-8400.

Sincerely,
Jeff Y*****