Estate planning is about more than preparing documents. It's about having someone you trust to…read moreguide you through important decisions. Unfortunately, that was missing from our experience.
We hired Sechler Law Firm to assist a family member with estate planning. We went into the process unsure of exactly what was needed and relied on the firm for professional guidance and recommendations.
Unfortunately, our experience was marked by inconsistent communication, a lack of continuity, unanswered questions, and confusion surrounding fees and services.
We initially worked with one person who went on vacation, which was completely understandable. However, when she returned, our communication with her never resumed. Instead, we found ourselves working with two other individuals throughout the remainder of the process, without a clear understanding of who was ultimately overseeing our case.
Another concern was that we paid half of the estate-planning fee upfront, but to our knowledge, no engagement or fee agreement was ever signed. This left us unclear about exactly what services were included and what might result in additional charges.
We also raised important questions about assets that needed to be addressed as part of the estate plan. We were told the firm was looking into our questions and would follow up, but we never received the promised guidance. Nearly two months later, we were informed that an additional paid consultation with an attorney would be required to discuss those concerns. We were also unable to get a clear estimate of what any related work might cost.
Throughout the entire process, we never met directly with an attorney.
Ultimately, we decided not to proceed with the documents and sought assistance elsewhere. The difference was night and day. Our new firm began with a comprehensive questionnaire and document-upload process before our first appointment, ensuring that important assets and concerns were identified from the start. Our first meeting was directly with an attorney, who provided clear answers and guidance.
To Sechler's credit, they agreed to refund the full amount we had paid when we terminated the relationship, and we appreciate that. However, the refund took nearly a month to receive and required two additional follow-up emails on our part. While we are grateful that the firm honored its commitment, the process unfortunately reflected some of the same communication and follow-through frustrations we experienced throughout our time with them.
We weren't expecting estate planning to be simple, but we did expect clear communication, transparency about fees, and consistent professional guidance. Unfortunately, that wasn't our experience.
I hope sharing this helps other families understand the importance of asking questions about who will be handling their case, what services are included, and when they will have the opportunity to speak directly with an attorney.
