I engaged Jennifer King's services after my previous estate attorney -- who was exceptional --…read moreretired, intending to establish a thoughtful, well-prepared estate plan. From the beginning, I was very clear that I was in excellent health and was approaching this proactively -- not urgently -- and that I still needed essential information before I could finalize anything.
Unfortunately, despite this clarity, at exactly the one-year mark from my initial conversation with her, I found myself repeatedly pressured to finalize and sign draft documents that were incomplete and inaccurate. One example: a provision in the will assigned $24,000 each for the care of my two pets -- ten times the amount I had instructed. I pointed this out multiple times in writing and even spoke to Jennifer directly by phone, where she assured me she was correcting it "in real time" during the call. Yet the error remained in every subsequent draft.
The larger concern, however, was the overall tone and approach that developed. Jennifer and her assistant worked as a tag team, pushing forward with a signing schedule despite my telling them that the documents were incomplete and, in some cases, inaccurate.
In one meeting, Jennifer strongly criticized me in front of my financial advisor for "taking too long," even though I had made it clear from the start that my draft was incomplete. To make matters worse, this advisor was new to my team, making the comment especially cringeworthy, inappropriate, and unprofessional in my view.
Additionally, Jennifer provided names of Trust Services companies I could consider as executors but repeatedly emphasized their supposed inconsistency and unreliability, noting that she was considering offering trust services through her own firm. When I spoke with the trust company I ultimately chose, they were very interested to learn this. In my view, it is concerning when an attorney plants seeds of doubt about other professionals in the field, especially when positioning themselves as the more reliable alternative.
Writing a will is a highly personal, detailed process that requires trust, patience, and care. It is not something to be rushed when a client has been clear they are not ready. Since transitioning to a different estate attorney, I've experienced a much more respectful, patient, and collaborative process. I'm deeply grateful for the difference.
If you are a client who wants to move at your own pace, ensure every detail is correct, and be treated as a true partner in the process, I would advise caution when considering Jennifer's services. She may be better suited to clients who are ready to sign within a short timeframe and who prefer a faster-paced, attorney-directed process.
I take no pleasure in leaving a one-star review, but I believe it's important to share my experience candidly so others can make an informed decision when selecting an estate attorney.