About Estate Planning Attorney, Jeni Snider
A Note From Jeni
I didn't start out as an estate planning lawyer.
After graduating from Dartmouth College and UC Berkeley School of Law, I spent the first part of my career at large international law firms in New York and Los Angeles, and then at a midsize firm in downtown LA. The work was demanding and the clients were companies. It wasn't why I went to law school. I wanted to work directly with people and help them with the things that matter most to their families.
That's when I decided to focus on estate planning.
Why I Plan Differently
I've seen what can go wrong in my own family. In 2002, my parents paid about $6,000 for an estate plan. Since then they've sold the businesses and property it covers, moved to another state, and changed their minds about end-of-life care. Their lawyer never followed up, and they never went back. Today the plan doesn't reflect their lives at all.
Their story is common. Most plans don't fail because they were drafted badly. They fail because no one keeps them current. They fail because plans aren’t just the documents. I built my practice to fix that.
What That Looks Like for You
A flat fee you know up front. I don't bill by the hour. We agree on the fee before any work begins, so you never have to wonder whether a phone call will cost you. The fee depends on the plan you choose, whether that's a will-based plan or a revocable living trust plan, not on how much you own.
Real access to me. Appointments are generally available Monday through Thursday from 9 to 6, and Fridays from 9 to 3. You can book a call or meeting online, so neither of us spends days trading voicemails.
A plan that stays current. After you sign, I'll reach out every year to ask whether anything has changed, and every three years I'll review your full plan with you at no charge. If something big happens before then, a birth, a death, a move, a marriage or divorce, I want to hear about it. Clients who want more ongoing support can join my VIP Membership Plan.
More than documents. When my grandparents died, they didn't leave much money. What I wish they had left were their stories: surviving World War II, life in the Soviet Union, and starting over in America. I remember pieces of those stories, but my children don't know them at all. That's why I offer a recorded legacy interview as part of your plan. I'll guide you through sharing your stories, your values and the lessons you want passed on. The video is edited and saved to the thumb drive you receive with PDF copies of your signed documents, so your words stay with your plan.
Who I'm Right For
I'm a good fit for people who want more than a stack of forms. My clients want to understand their plan, get organized, and make things easier for their family.
On a Personal Note
I'm the mom of three beautiful children. Being a parent is a constant reminder that an estate plan isn't really for the person who makes it. It's for the people who will rely on it later.
Warmly,
Jeni Snider