The Process
Estate planning does not have to be complicated. Here is exactly what to expect from start to finish.
Step 1:
Schedule a Consultation
Request a consultation using the form on the scheduling page. I will follow up promptly to schedule a telephone or video call to discuss your needs and confirm whether Provident is the right fit for you.
Consultations are available evenings and weekends by appointment. There is no obligation to proceed, and consultation fees are credited toward your total if you decide to move forward.
Step 2:
Sign Your Engagement Letter and Complete Your Questionnaire
Once confirmed, you will receive an engagement letter describing the scope of services and online payment instructions. After signing and payment, you will be directed to complete a detailed intake questionnaire.
The questionnaire is thorough by design. The quality of your documents depends on the quality of the information you provide, and it ensures that nothing important gets missed.
Before you begin the questionnaire, I recommend reviewing the Starter Plan Guide, which walks through your power of attorney decisions in plain language so you can answer with confidence. Download the Starter Plan Guide (PDF)
If the questionnaire reveals that your needs are more involved than your initial package covers, you may upgrade at that point and apply what you have already paid toward the additional service.
Step 3:
Review Your Documents
Based on your questionnaire responses, I will draft your documents and send them to you for review before your second appointment. We will then meet by telephone or video call to go through every provision together — not just to explain what the documents say, but to make sure they accurately reflect your intentions and that you are fully comfortable with what you are authorizing. Any revisions will be made at this stage. This meeting is the most important part of the process.
Step 4:
Execute Your Documents
Once finalized, I will send your documents to you for execution. Your documents are not legally effective until properly signed and notarized. You are responsible for arranging execution, and the requirements differ by document:
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Financial/Durable Power of Attorney — requires notarization; no witnesses required under North Carolina law
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Healthcare Power of Attorney — requires notarization and two qualified witnesses who are disinterested adults; family members, heirs, and healthcare providers are disqualified from serving as witnesses
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Last Will and Testament — requires two disinterested witnesses and a notary
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Revocable Living Trust — requires notarization
Finding a notary: Most UPS Store locations offer walk-in notary services. Many North Carolina public library branches offer free or low-cost notarization. Banks and credit unions typically provide notary services to account holders at no charge. Mobile notaries will come to you — search "mobile notary [your city]" to find one nearby. North Carolina also permits Remote Online Notarization (RON), meaning notarization via secure video call — search "North Carolina remote online notary" to find a certified provider.
A note on bank notarization: A notary's role is to verify your identity and witness your signature — not to review or approve the document's contents. A notary is not required to have produced a document in order to notarize it. If a bank employee suggests otherwise, that reflects internal bank policy, not North Carolina law. Download Provident's plain-language guide to notarization and document signing in North Carolina — it addresses common questions and can be shared with bank staff if needed.