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The Process
A clear walk-through of what working with Kelleher Legacy Law on an estate plan actually looks like, start to finish, with realistic timelines.
Most people have never built an estate plan before. The lawyer they hire often assumes otherwise, which is how clients end up with a stack of documents they don't fully understand and a vague sense that they've checked the box.
We work differently. Every engagement follows the same eight-step arc below. The steps are designed to give you time to think, room to ask questions, and a signed plan you actually understand at the end.
The arc
Your timeline depends on how quickly you gather information and how many revisions feel right. Most engagements land between six and ten weeks from first meeting to signed originals.
5 minutes
Book a complimentary 60-minute meeting online or by phone. No commitment. We send a calendar invite and a brief intake so the conversation starts where it should: your situation, not our questionnaire.
60 minutes
We meet, whether in person at our office in The Woodlands or by secure video. You tell us about your family, your assets, and what's prompting the call. We outline the realistic options at a high level: what kind of plan fits, roughly what it costs, and what the timeline looks like.
Same day or shortly after
If you decide we're a fit, you sign a short engagement letter. Estate plans are quoted as a flat fee, agreed up front, with no hourly surprises. Other matters (probate, complex business planning) may use a different fee structure; we explain why before you sign.
1–2 weeks
We send a structured questionnaire so you can collect details at your own pace: beneficiaries, assets, named advisors, healthcare wishes. Anything you're unsure about, you flag and we discuss. Nothing is drafted yet.
2–3 weeks
Laura drafts your documents: the will, a trust if it fits, statutory durable power of attorney, medical power of attorney, directive to physicians, and beneficiary deeds. You receive plain-language summaries alongside the legal text so you actually understand what each document does.
60–90 minutes
We sit down together (in person or by video) and walk through every document line by line. We adjust anything that doesn't reflect what you want. You leave the meeting with a plan you understand, not a stack of paper to puzzle over later.
30–60 minutes
Formal execution, in person at our office. Texas wills require two witnesses and a notary; we provide both. You walk out with the signed originals and digital copies. The plan is real, not pending.
Ongoing
You have a complete signed plan plus a copy. We recommend a review every three to five years, and sooner after major life changes: marriage, divorce, a new child, the death of a named person, a move to or from Texas, or a significant change in assets.
Before your first meeting
Nothing on this list is required. The consultation is just as productive without it. But if any of these come naturally, bring them.
A rough mental map of your family: who is married, who has children, who you want involved.
A high-level list of major assets: real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, life insurance. Exact balances are not required.
Existing documents: an old will, a prior trust, powers of attorney, prenuptial agreement, divorce decree.
Names and contact info for any advisors: financial planner, CPA, insurance broker.
Anything specific weighing on you: a difficult family situation, a child you are concerned about, an asset you do not know how to handle.
The documents people sign in difficult moments deserve more time, more care, and more conversation than the legal industry usually allows for them.
Laura Kelleher
Other practice areas
The arc above describes an estate-planning engagement, our most common. Probate, business planning, and guardianship matters follow a similar shape (consultation, engagement, gather, draft, review, file or sign, aftercare), but the timeline and document set look different. We walk through the specifics during the initial consultation. See all practice areas →
Most engagements start with a short consultation, in person at our office, or via secure video if that's easier. The first meeting is complimentary, and there's no expectation that you'll engage us afterward.
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