Moulton Law Offices Client Care Program
Terms of Service
Program Overview
The Client Care Program (CCP) is a supplemental membership-style program offered by Moulton Law Offices, P.S. (MLO) to provide clients with an additional level of service and care along with several other helpful features and benefits. The program is offered as an option to clients who wish to receive a higher level of service and attention. An active CCP membership is not required to conduct business with MLO. Any previous work (wills, trusts, ancillary documents, probates, etc.) are legal and in effect once signed and notarized regardless of a client’s CCP membership status.
CCP Features and Benefits Explained
During their membership period, members of CCP are eligible to receive all the following benefits included with the cost of annual membership renewal:
Annual Paralegal Review Meeting
The purpose of a paralegal review meeting is to ensure that a client’s estate plan remains up to date and continues to reflect the client’s desires. CCP members are entitled to ONE (1) free paralegal review meeting each year that they maintain an active CCP membership. CCP members are required to call our office to request and schedule an appointment. In most cases, meetings will be scheduled with any available member of the paralegal team. However in some circumstances, a review appointment may be scheduled with an attorney at no additional cost to the CCP member.
Free Estate Plan Amendments
CCP members are entitled to receive free amendments to their estate plan during their membership. A qualifying amendment is defined as a minor adjustment to your existing plan. These changes could include updates to beneficiary names, adjustments to bequests, or incorporating newly acquired assets.For an amendment request to qualify for the CCP benefit, it must be received by our office in writing (handwritten, typed, printed, or via email) prior to the client’s CCP expiration date. The amendment does not need to be processed, completed, or signed prior to the expiration date to qualify. (Example: Client’s expiration date is July 31, 2024. Client sends an amendment request via email to our office on July 15, 2024. The amendment may take 6 weeks or more to complete. The amendment will still be processed and completed free of charge as it was submitted and received prior to the client’s expiration date, regardless of whether the client chooses to renew their CCP membership for the following year.) There is no limit to the number of amendments a CCP member may request during their active membership.
Restatements
Restatements are necessary when significant changes to an estate plan are required, such as restructuring a trust, changing fiduciaries, changing multiple beneficiary designations, or incorporating protective trusts for beneficiaries. As of July 1, 2024, the cost for a restatement is $1,500 for a single person and $2,000 for a married couple. Restatements are NOT included with the cost of CCP membership. However, for CCP members their annual renewal price is applied towards the cost of a restatement and CCP membership is extended for an additional 12 months from the date of the restatement signing. (Example: A married couple paid $450 for their annual CCP renewal and needs a restatement. The cost of a restatement for that couple during their active CCP year would be $1,550 [$2,000-$450].) For clients who have maintained a paid CCP membership for 5 years or more but have not done any work with our firm (no amendments, no review appointments) during that time are eligible to receive a restatement for no additional charge if one is deemed necessary by an attorney or paralegal.
Phone calls and emails with an attorney
For matters determined to require attorney-level support, CCP members may communicate directly attorneys via phone or email. Determination of need for attorney support will be at the sole discretion of Moulton Law Offices staff. Communication via any channel with attorneys for matters not directly related to your estate plan and/or not pre-approved by MLO staff will be billed at the attorney’s hourly rate of $300/hr.
Digital Storage Lockbox
The Digital Storage Lockbox provides unlimited access to a client’s important estate plan and legal documents online. The third-party service utilized to host the digital lockbox (MyCase.com) utilizes banklevel SSL/AES encryption to ensure that all documents are private and secure. Clients can authorize additional users to access their lockbox by completing a Lockbox Enrollment Form and listing the individual(s) to be added and their email address(es).
Emergency Medical Information Card (EMIC)
In the weeks after signing their original estate plan, CCP members will receive an Emergency Medical Information Card (EMIC) via mail. This card is intended to be kept in a client’s wallet or purse. In the event of a medical emergency, medical professionals will be able to receive swift access to vital legal and medical documents, including emergency contact information, known allergies, existing medical conditions, healthcare power of attorney, advance healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization. In order for the information associated with the EMIC to be accurate and current, it is important for clients to update their medical and emergency contact information whenever there is a change by completing a Moulton Health Information (MHI) form. Members who maintain a paid CCP membership over multiple years will receive new EMICs every other year upon their renewal.
AssetTrack® Report
The AssetTrack® report helps clients maintain an inventory of assets with current values which ensures both an easier transition for their Successor(s) and avoids any assets falling through the cracks. This information also helps our firm provide clients with timely and relevant legal advice. Access the AssetTrack® report by logging in to the web portal (www.moultonlaw.com/asset-track/) where clients can add and update information at any time. The AssetTrack® is NOT a legal document and is not required to be completed in order to administrate an estate plan. While AssetTrack® data is secure, it is not recommended to store financial account numbers, passwords, or other security or identity related information in the AssetTrack® system.
Client Care Concierge support
Current CCP members have exclusive access to the Client Care Concierge. The concierge serves as the client’s single point of contact within the firm for all matters. The Concierge will strive to serve CCP members however possible, answer any questions they might have, or escalate their matter to other staff when necessary. To connect with the Client Care Concierge, send an email to care@moultonlaw.comhi or call (509) 328-2150 and press option 3 from the main menu.
Client Care University (CCU) access
The Client Care University (CCU) is an online learning center with a host of articles, resources, guides, and videos about various aspects of estate planning, elder law, and estate administration. CCP members have unlimited access to the contents of CCU during their active membership. CCU also serves as the archive for recordings of all previous Client Care Workshops and Seminars. To access CCU, visit ccu.moultonlaw.com and click the appropriate button at the top of the page to Sign In to an existing account or Sign Up for a new account.
Exclusive Monthly e-Newsletter
A monthly e-Newsletter is distributed to all current CCP clients and their lockbox designee(s) on or about the first of every month. Clients must have a current active email address on file with MLO in order to receive the e-Newsletter. E-Newsletters contain information about estate planning and elder law in general, organizational updates, helpful articles on topics relevant to clients, and highlight local community events, among other periodic features. Clients may choose to OPT OUT of receiving the monthly e-Newsletter by using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each month’s newsletter. It is important to note that by unsubscribing from the newsletter, clients will also be unsubscribing from all other automated and marketing email communications from our firm, including CCP renewal reminder messages.
Quarterly Client Care Workshops
Four times each year, MLO will hold special events exclusively open to current CCP members referred to as Quarterly Client Care Workshops. Each Workshop is held once in the Spokane area and again in the TriCities area in an effort to serve our CCP clients in all regions. These events vary in format and focus, with some being more educational and informative and other being for fun and entertainment. Previous informational workshops have included discussions about caring for aging parents, applying for and
navigating Medicaid, the role and responsibilities of the Successor Trustee(s), and how to plan for more intangible aspects of one’s estate. Fun and entertainment experiences have included a Paint & Sip (learn to paint a picture and sample local wines), live comedy from local comedians, and Bingo games. There is no additional cost for CCP members to attend these events but advance registration is required. Event and registration information is sent out via email in the monthly e-Newsletters. With the exception of the biennial Successor Trustee Workshop, these events are open exclusively to CCP members and no outside guests or +1’s will be permitted. CCP members who are unable to attend an informational workshop will be able access a video recording on CCU in the weeks following the workshop.
Exclusive CCP Facebook Group access
MO has created a Facebook group open exclusively to CCP members. The purpose of the group is to provide an additional channel of communication from ther the firm to the client, from the client to the firm, and to connect clients to each other. To join the group, visit www.facebook.com/groups/mloccp and click the button to join the group. Those requesting membership are required to read and agree to the group rules and answer a few general information questions in order to be admitted. Group members may be removed from the group for failure to comply with group rules and codes of conduct. No refunds of CCP renewal costs will be refunded, in whole or in part, as a result of a client being removed/banned from the group as a result of their own conduct.
Successor Trustee Manual
This helpful comprehensive resource was created to assist Successor Trustees through the journey of trust administration. It is available in both digital and printed formats. The digital version is available on Client Care University (CCU): ccu.moultonlaw.com/course/successor-trustee-manual. A printed version is available by request from our office and is also distributed to all attendees of the biennial Successor Trustee Workshop.
Annual Estate Plan Summary
Each year in the month prior to their CCP expiration date, members will receive a renewal packet via standard mail that includes summary documents of their estate plan. These documents may include any of the following: Names and Fiduciaries Summary, Trust Summary, and/or Estate Plan Review. These summaries are NOT legal documents in and of themselves. They are intended to serve as an at-a-glance overview of a client’s estate plan, providing a simple method for quickly verifying that their plan still reflects their wishes and determining if any changes or updates need to be made. Summary documents do not need to be saved or retained by clients.
Annual summary of law changes affecting your estate plan
A summary of current state and federal law changes relevant to estate planning is also included in the annual CCP renewal packet. The summary is created by the MLO legal team and written in such a way as to be easily understandable by clients. It is the client’s responsibility to review this summary and determine if their specific estate plan has potential to be affected by the law changes detailed therein. It is recommended that clients with questions or concerns schedule a review appointment to determine if changes are necessary.
Update to your Durable Powers of Attorney
Many financial institutions have very stringent regulations regarding acceptance of Durable Powers of Attorney (DPA). One commonly scrutinized aspect is the age of the document. In order to ensure that clients always have a recent DPA in effect, we send new DPA documents to all CCP members every other year in the annual renewal packet. The DPA will reflect the same information as the previous document, save any verbiage changes that may be necessary to meet current legal standards. Clients are responsible for having the document notarized, which can be done at MLO (see next paragraph) or any notary of the client’s choosing. Clients who wish to have their most recent DPA on file or included in their digital lockbox will need to submit copies of the signature pages to our office by either mailing physical copies or sending scans via email.
Notary services for ANY legal document
CCP members are eligible to receive free notary services from our office on any documents, regardless of who created them. SPOKANE OFFICE: No appointment is necessary for documents requiring signatures on 2 or fewer pages, but please call ahead to verify availability. Appointments are needed for documents requiring signatures on 3 or more pages. TRI-CITIES & YAKIMA OFFICES: These offices are not able to reliably accommodate walk-ins. Appointments are necessary for all notary services.
15% discount on additional legal services
CCP members requiring additional legal services will receive a 15% discount off standard flat-rate pricing for in-house legal services. This discount does not apply to deed recording fees, LLC processing fees, or other services whose fees are not determined by MLO.
Membership Periods & Renewals
Every new client of Moulton Law Offices that creates a new trust-based estate plan receives one free year of CCP included with the purchase of their estate plan. Their membership expires 12 months from the last day of the month they sign their estate plan. (Example: Client signs their trust on July 9, 2024. Their CCP expiration would be July 31, 2025.) There is no option to auto-renew a membership at this time and our firm does not store any kind of payment or financial information. Each year in the month before their expiration date, CCP members will receive a renewal packet via mail. Renewal packets include: a letter from the managing attorney, annual summary of federal and state law changes that may affect your estate plan, an invoice for the cost of CCP renewal, summary documents of their current estate plan, a copy of their current AssetTrack report, information about CCP, and a business reply envelope to return any documents that need to be updated/changed. Clients are offered a discount (amount varies) on their renewal price if they renew before their expiration date. Renewal discounts expire at 11:59pm on the date of membership expiration. Renewal payments can be made by sending a check to our office using the business reply envelope included in the renewal packet, calling our office at (509) 328-2150 to pay by phone using a major credit/debit card, or paying online via our website: www.moultonlaw.com/membership-renewal/. It is still possible to renew a membership after the expiration date, but the discount will no longer apply.
Renewal Rates for 2024 and 2025
2024
Single: $350
Married: $450
2025
Single: $400
Married: $500
By renewing CCP membership, you acknowledge your understanding and agreement to theses terms and conditions. If you have questions or require additional information about any of these terms, please contact the Client Care Concierge at (509) 328-2150 x9010 or care@moultonlaw.com.
