How our pricing works.
Most matters have a flat fee agreed before work begins. Explore starting prices and what is included; your engagement letter confirms the scope and any separate costs.
A written scope and fee before drafting begins.
Flat fee, scoped in advance.
- The fee is set in the engagement letter before work begins.
- Reasonable drafting revisions during the planning process are part of the scope.
- No hourly meter running while you think, ask questions, or gather documents.
- Complex or unusual matters are quoted individually, still before work starts.
Hourly, only when it fits.
- Discrete consultations, highly variable matters, or work outside an existing scope, and only with your agreement first.
- Work outside the agreed scope of a flat-fee engagement is discussed before it starts.
- Court, recording, publication, and other third-party costs are separate under either model.
Revocable living trust and standard estate planning.
These plans cover common estate planning needs for individuals and families. We agree on a flat fee before work begins.
A coordinated set of documents, with the scope agreed before work begins. Details for each plan are in the rows below.
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
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
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.
- 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.
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 and advanced trust planning.
We discuss the purpose and terms of the trust before quoting a fee. The cost depends on the work involved and the complexity of the arrangement.
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.
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
Charitable trust and advanced philanthropic planning.
Fees depend on the type of charitable trust, the assets involved, and the drafting and planning work required.
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
Purpose:
- Advanced wealth-transfer and estate-tax planning
- Leveraging charitable giving to benefit heirs
- Generation-skipping or family legacy strategies
Examples:
- Private charitable trusts
- Specialized philanthropic vehicles
- Coordination with donor-advised funds or private foundations
Business entity formation and structuring.
We help you choose and form an entity, prepare its governing documents, and understand the filing requirements. Fees are agreed in advance.
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
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
Includes:
- Formation of the nonprofit corporation
- Drafting of nonprofit bylaws
- Initial organizational resolutions
- Coordination related to tax-exempt status planning
Business agreements and transactional legal services.
Fees depend on the agreement, the transaction, and the drafting or negotiation 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
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
Examples:
- Ownership restructurings
- Business acquisitions or sales (non-litigation)
- Equity transfers or redemptions
- Coordination with tax, accounting, or financial planning