How Our Pricing Works

At Koala Law, we believe pricing should be clear, predictable, and aligned with thoughtful planning — not driven by billable hours or surprise charges. Most of our services are offered on a flat-fee or scoped basis, so you know what to expect before any work begins.

Flat-Fee First Approach
No Surprise Billing
Scope Agreed Before Work Begins
$500/hr for Discrete Consultations

Revocable Living Trust & Standard Estate Planning

Our standard estate plans are designed to address the most common estate planning needs for individuals and families. All prices are flat fees — agreed upon before work begins.

Our standard estate plan is designed to address the most common estate planning needs for individuals and families.

Includes:

  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Pour-Over Will(s)
  • Durable Power of Attorney
  • Advance Health Care Directive
  • Trust certification (if needed)
  • Guidance on funding assets into the trust
  • Reasonable drafting revisions during the planning process
Note: Includes preparation and recording of a deed transferring one (1) California residential property into the trust, if applicable.

Estates involving multiple properties or property located outside California require additional coordination and legal oversight.

Applies when:

  • Two (2) to three (3) California residential properties, or
  • Any non-California residential property

Applies when:

  • Four (4) or more total properties, or
  • Two (2) or more non-California properties, or
  • Property held in entities, multi-APN parcels, or other significant complexity
Note: Pricing is custom-scoped based on the facts involved and confirmed in advance.

As part of every estate plan, we provide guidance and instructions for funding non-real-estate assets (such as bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and other financial assets) into the trust. Some clients prefer to complete this funding themselves using our guidance. Others prefer that we coordinate directly with financial institutions.

Optional Funding Coordination Service
Starting at $495
  • Fees typically start at $495, based on the number of institutions involved and the level of coordination and follow-up required.
  • In situations involving an unusually large number of accounts or institutions, we will scope the work and confirm the fee in advance.
  • Once we review where accounts are held and how they are currently titled, the flat fee will be confirmed before work begins.

Note: Most clients fall within the lower end of this range.

Accounts Held Through Koala Financial

When a client also maintains accounts through Koala Financial, non-real-estate trust funding for those accounts is typically coordinated by Koala Financial, and no separate funding fee is charged by Koala Law for that coordination. Clients are not required to use Koala Financial in order to engage Koala Law for estate planning services.

Not included unless expressly stated:

  • Post-engagement trust funding or re-funding
  • Amendments or restatements requested after completion
  • Coordination for newly acquired assets after the engagement
  • Out-of-state legal coordination or referrals

Irrevocable & Advanced Trust Planning

Irrevocable trusts are used for advanced estate, tax, asset-protection, charitable, and legacy planning. Fees are based on the scope, complexity, and objectives of the plan, and are discussed in advance so expectations are clear.

This category includes irrevocable trusts designed for non-charitable purposes where tax or asset-protection considerations are present but not highly complex.

Examples:

  • Lifetime gifting trusts
  • Asset-holding trusts for family members
  • Simple irrevocable trusts created for specific planning goals

Includes:

  • Strategic planning and design
  • Drafting of the irrevocable trust
  • Coordination with tax considerations
  • Reasonable drafting revisions during the planning process

Special needs planning requires careful attention to public benefit eligibility, fiduciary standards, and long-term administration considerations.

Third-Party SNT
$4,500 – $6,000
First-Party / Payback SNT
$6,000 – $8,000

Pricing reflects:

  • Benefit-eligibility rules
  • Distribution restrictions
  • Ongoing fiduciary complexity
  • Increased compliance and drafting precision

Purpose:

  • Remove life insurance proceeds from the taxable estate
  • Provide liquidity for estate taxes or family needs
  • Coordinate insurance planning with broader estate strategies

Fees reflect:

  • Trust drafting and structuring
  • Coordination with insurance planning
  • Crummey notice provisions where applicable

Examples:

  • QTIP trusts
  • Marital deduction trusts
  • Family trusts designed for remarriage or blended-family situations

Engagements often involve:

  • Complex distribution structures
  • Heightened sensitivity to family dynamics
  • Increased drafting and risk management

Some irrevocable trusts involve significant estate, gift, or generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax planning. These engagements are custom-scoped based on the planning objectives and complexity involved.

Examples:

  • GST-sensitive planning
  • Multi-trust structures
  • Advanced wealth-transfer strategies

Charitable trusts are addressed under a separate fee schedule due to their unique tax, accounting, and compliance considerations.

Includes:

  • Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs)
  • Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs)
  • Other charitable planning structures

View charitable trust pricing below

Charitable Trust & Advanced Philanthropic Planning

Charitable trusts are advanced planning tools used to achieve a combination of tax efficiency, income planning, charitable impact, and legacy goals. Fees are based on the structure selected, the assets involved, and the overall complexity.

Purpose:

  • Sell highly appreciated assets with reduced immediate tax impact
  • Generate an income stream for life or a term of years
  • Provide a charitable remainder benefit
  • Coordinate legacy planning for family members

Includes:

  • Strategic analysis of CRT suitability
  • Design and drafting of the Charitable Remainder Trust
  • Coordination with tax considerations related to the funding asset
  • Guidance on trust funding and implementation
  • Reasonable drafting revisions during the planning process
Note: CRT planning often involves coordination with accounting, tax, investment management, and insurance professionals. Ongoing administration, accounting, and tax services are priced separately.

Purpose:

  • Advanced wealth-transfer and estate-tax planning
  • Leveraging charitable giving to benefit heirs
  • Generation-skipping or family legacy strategies
Note: Because CLTs are highly sensitive to tax assumptions, asset selection, and payout structures, these engagements are custom-scoped based on the planning objectives involved.

Examples:

  • Private charitable trusts
  • Specialized philanthropic vehicles
  • Coordination with donor-advised funds or private foundations
Note: Fees depend on the assets involved, the level of tax planning required, and the degree of coordination with third parties.

Business Entity Formation & Structuring

Business entity formation is a foundational legal step that affects tax treatment, liability protection, governance, and long-term flexibility. Fees are discussed in advance so expectations are clear.

Common uses:

  • Small businesses and professional practices
  • Real estate ownership
  • Family or closely held enterprises
  • Flexible ownership and management structures

Includes:

  • Consultation regarding entity structure and legal considerations
  • Preparation and filing of Articles of Organization
  • Drafting of a standard Operating Agreement
  • Initial resolutions and organizational documents
  • Coordination of initial compliance steps

When appropriate:

  • Formal governance is required
  • Ownership is expected to change or expand
  • Equity compensation or future investment is anticipated
  • Specific tax or operational considerations apply

Includes:

  • Consultation regarding corporate structure and governance
  • Preparation and filing of Articles of Incorporation
  • Drafting of bylaws
  • Initial organizational resolutions and stock issuance documentation
  • Coordination of initial compliance steps
Note: An LLC electing to be taxed as an S-Corporation is priced at the corporate formation rate.

Entity formations involving multiple owners, unequal ownership interests, or enhanced governance provisions may require additional customization.

Examples:

  • Multiple members or shareholders
  • Unequal capital or profit allocations
  • Manager-managed LLCs
  • Buy-in or vesting provisions
  • Enhanced transfer restrictions
Note: These engagements are scoped based on the facts involved, with fees confirmed in advance.

Includes:

  • Formation of the nonprofit corporation
  • Drafting of nonprofit bylaws
  • Initial organizational resolutions
  • Coordination related to tax-exempt status planning
Note: IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ preparation is typically priced separately due to its distinct scope and complexity.

Business Agreements & Transactional Legal Services

Well-drafted agreements are essential to protecting business owners, preserving value, and reducing the risk of disputes. Fees are based on the type of agreement, the complexity of the transaction, and the level of customization required.

Purpose:

  • Address ownership changes upon death, disability, or departure
  • Establish valuation and funding mechanisms
  • Preserve business continuity
  • Reduce the risk of disputes among owners or heirs

Pricing reflects:

  • Number of owners involved
  • Complexity of triggering events
  • Valuation methodology
  • Funding considerations (including insurance coordination)
  • Integration with estate and succession planning

For businesses requiring more than a standard formation document, enhanced governance agreements may be appropriate.

Examples:

  • Customized Operating Agreements for LLCs
  • Shareholder Agreements for corporations
  • Agreements addressing transfer restrictions, voting rights, or management authority
Note: These engagements typically involve greater customization and coordination with the business's ownership and tax structure.

Includes:

  • Review and negotiation of commercial leases
  • Drafting of business or office leases
  • Assignment or modification of existing leases

Pricing depends on:

  • Length and complexity of the lease
  • Degree of negotiation involved
  • Allocation of risk and financial exposure

Examples:

  • Service agreements
  • Independent contractor agreements
  • Consulting agreements
  • Vendor or customer contracts
Note: Fees vary based on the scope of the agreement, customization required, and negotiation involvement.

Examples:

  • Ownership restructurings
  • Business acquisitions or sales (non-litigation)
  • Equity transfers or redemptions
  • Coordination with tax, accounting, or financial planning
Note: These engagements are scoped individually, with fees confirmed in advance.

Scope, Billing & Disclosures

Scope & Complexity Considerations: Our estate planning fees are designed to cover typical family, asset, and distribution structures commonly addressed through a revocable living trust. This includes standard planning for spouses, children, and commonly held assets, as well as reasonable variations in client circumstances. Some estates involve additional structural or coordination complexity that materially changes the scope of planning. Examples may include, without limitation, multiple or out-of-state real properties, closely held business interests, complex family arrangements (such as blended families or unequal distributions), enhanced asset-protection provisions, specialized trust governance structures, or extensive coordination with third parties. When such factors are present, pricing may require adjustment or custom scoping.
Hourly Billing: While flat-fee and scoped pricing is our default approach, hourly billing may be appropriate in limited circumstances, such as discrete consultations, highly variable matters, or work outside the scope of an existing engagement. Our current hourly rate is $500. Any hourly billing is discussed and agreed upon in advance.
Legal Services Disclosure: Legal services provided by Koala Law are independent of any accounting, tax, or insurance services offered through affiliated Koala entities. Clients are not required to engage any additional services in order to receive legal representation.

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