Estate planning consultation proposal: Free template

Customize this free estate planning consultation proposal with Cobrief
Open this free estate planning consultation proposal in Cobrief and start editing it instantly using AI. You can adjust the tone, structure, and content based on your client’s family situation, assets, and planning goals. You can also use AI to review your draft — spot gaps, tighten language, and improve clarity before sending.
Once you're done, send, download, or save the proposal in one click — no formatting or setup required.
This template is fully customizable and built for real-world use — ideal for pitching estate planning services, formalizing your consultation process, or outlining multi-step legacy strategies. Whether you’re working with individuals, couples, or family offices, this version gives you a structured head start and removes the guesswork.
What is an estate planning consultation proposal?
An estate planning consultation proposal is a document that outlines the scope, process, and fees for advising a client on how to manage and transfer their assets. It’s typically used by attorneys, financial advisors, or estate planners to describe how they’ll help clients make informed decisions about wills, trusts, beneficiaries, taxes, and healthcare directives.
This proposal is usually sent after an initial conversation or intake session. It summarizes the client’s priorities — such as minimizing probate, protecting heirs, or planning charitable gifts — and presents a tailored path forward.
A strong estate planning proposal helps you:
- Clarify which topics will be covered and in what order
- Set expectations around deliverables and responsibilities
- Position your service as structured, thoughtful, and personalized
- Build trust around what can often be an emotional or complex topic
Use this proposal to turn a discovery conversation into a defined, professional engagement.
Why use Cobrief to edit your proposal
Instead of copying from a PDF or fiddling with a Word doc, use Cobrief to create a clear, compelling proposal — fast.
- Edit the proposal directly in your browser: No setup required. Just open, customize, and send.
- Rewrite sections with AI: Improve tone, clarify explanations, or adapt language to your client.
- Run a one-click AI review: Spot vague phrasing, missing details, or inconsistent structure.
- Apply AI suggestions instantly: Review and apply improvements across the entire document.
- Share or export instantly: Send via Cobrief or export a polished PDF or DOCX file in seconds.
Build credibility and clarity — without getting bogged down in formatting.
When to use this proposal
This estate planning consultation proposal works well in scenarios like:
- After a discovery call with a new client: Formalize what you’ll help them plan and how.
- When pitching estate planning as a standalone service: Offer clear scope, steps, and pricing.
- For clients with significant assets or blended families: Show you have a thoughtful, organized process.
- When partnering with financial advisors or CPAs: Use this to onboard referred clients professionally.
- As part of a broader life planning engagement: Include estate planning as one phase of a multi-service relationship.
Use this proposal whenever you want to provide structure, clarity, and next steps around complex legacy decisions.
What to include in an estate planning consultation proposal
Each section in this template is designed to help clients understand your approach and feel confident moving forward:
- Executive summary: Outline your understanding of the client’s goals (e.g., protecting heirs, avoiding probate, charitable giving) and explain how you’ll help them create a structured, legally sound plan.
- Scope of services: List what’s included — e.g., review of current estate documents, needs assessment, strategy session, draft recommendations, referrals to legal counsel (if not in-house). Clarify if you’re creating documents directly or advising only.
- Timeline: Break the consultation into stages — e.g., data gathering → strategy session → recommendations → follow-up. Include approximate timelines.
- Fees: Share how you charge — flat fee, hourly, or bundled with other services. Be clear about what’s included and whether document preparation is separate.
- Terms and expectations: Clarify what inputs you’ll need (e.g., list of assets, current will/trust, insurance policies), how communication works, and what the client is responsible for.
- Next steps: End with one clear action — such as “Reply to confirm,” “Schedule your intake session,” or “Sign to begin consultation.”
How to write an effective estate planning consultation proposal
Estate planning can be emotional and complex — your proposal should help simplify, guide, and reassure. Here’s how:
- Use plain English: Avoid legalese. Keep explanations clear and human.
- Focus on client priorities: Frame your service around peace of mind, family clarity, or minimizing conflict.
- Be transparent about scope: Don’t leave clients guessing what’s included — or not.
- Keep structure clean: Use short paragraphs, headers, and bullet points to aid readability.
- Acknowledge sensitive topics: Use calm, confident language when referencing death, incapacity, or family dynamics.
- Always end with a clear next step: Help the client feel guided and confident about what comes next.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Does this proposal include legal document drafting?
Only if that’s part of your service. Otherwise, use the proposal to outline your advisory scope and mention that legal drafting may require referral or collaboration.
Can I customize this for couples or family offices?
Yes — you can adapt the language and scope to reflect shared assets, family dynamics, or multi-generational planning needs.
What documents should the client prepare before the consultation?
Typically: any existing wills or trusts, a list of assets and liabilities, insurance policies, and beneficiary designations. You can specify this in the proposal.
Is this a legal agreement?
No — this is a proposal, not a binding contract. You can attach an engagement letter or fee agreement if needed.
Can I send this proposal as a PDF?
Yes — after editing, you can download a clean, professional PDF or DOCX file instantly.
This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Cobrief is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.