Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, no for personal legal expenses, but this depends upon exactly what kind of work is being provided and to whom. We can let you know whether or how much of your legal fees can be deducted. Legal fees for businesses will almost always be deductible.
At Cripps and Simmons, LLC we are committed to providing the highest quality of work at a reasonable cost. We believe each client deserves to pay only for the services they receive, so we do not have a set pricing schedule, nor can we quote prices before meeting with new clients.
For new clients, we offer a complimentary initial consultation which is used to gather information and discuss the client’s objectives and possible solutions. At this time, we are usually able to provide an estimate of the cost to provide the services agreed upon. Returning clients are usually charged an hourly rate for services rendered.
The entire process from initial consultation to final signing of documents may take a few days to a few weeks, depending on where the client is at in making decisions and what assets are involved.
Your estate plan does not have to be written by an attorney, but we strongly recommend it. It is much easier and less expensive to have it done correctly to begin with than to have your family incur substantially more expense trying to “fix it” later.
Yes! Everyone already has an estate plan that is built into the way you own your assets. Come visit with our attorneys to find out if this is what you really want. Also, Estate planning includes planning for incapacity whether or not you have any assets. So everyone should visit with a knowledgeable attorney to be sure they have “all their bases covered.”
Estate planning is important at all stages of life: whether you are retired and looking to protect your assets or pass along a business, just starting a family and want to ensure they will be provided for, or starting college and want to ensure someone can act for you should you become incapacitated. So if you do not have an estate plan in place, you should begin now.
We are located at 1109 Club Village Drive, Suite 101, in Columbia, Missouri. We are behind the Walgreens on the corner of Forum and Nifong. Our building is right across from Hawthorn Bank. Look for the blue awnings on the front of the building that say “Cripps & Simmons, LLC”.
At Cripps and Simmons, LLC we provide comprehensive, personalized, quality legal services to individuals, families and small business clients throughout Missouri. Our service areas are focused on Estate Planning (including Trusts, Wills, Deeds, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Declarations) Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Business & Succession Planning, Real Estate Transactions, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Probate-Decedent Estates, Trust Administration and Fiduciary Litigation. Areas of other services that we offer include Presentations to local community groups. All of these areas include many components, so we invite you to explore our website to see how we may be able to assist you. By concentrating our practice on specific areas of the law, we are able to provide up-to-date options and solutions for our clients’ consideration. Because each client’s situation is unique, we believe in providing services designed for the individual client and their needs.