As a maxim of life, it is harder to hit a moving target than a stationary one.  So, why would it then be true that “mobile” estate planning is good for you, possibly even better than “stationary” estate planning?  The answer has more to do with what it means that I provide “mobile” estate planning services, than we are moving while planning your estate.  “Mobile” estate planning is not estate planning done while in motion, but rather has to do with me coming to see you where you are, making life more convenient.

Over the years, I have met clients in many different places.  I have met clients at my main office in Broomfield, but I have also met them at one of my remote locations.  I rent my office from a company that provides co-working and conference rooms at any of the locations the company owns.  I don’t own all the offices, but I can use the different locations, as necessary.  I have also met with a lot of clients in their homes, or at their places of work – in a conference room for a large business, in the cramped office of a restaurant or bar owner, or even in the break room of an electronics manufacturing company!  During the shutdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, I met people on their front porches, driveways, in public parks, and even embraced the world of video conferencing.  Looking at this list, you can tell I have met people anywhere and everywhere, whatever is most convenient for them.

I know life is busy and most people don’t have lots of time to drive to where I may be.  I don’t mind driving to see people.  I know lots of people don’t want to fight traffic, so I am willing to brave the dangers of I-25 and come see you!  My need to travel between appointments does impact my ability to be in two places at once, or to travel between locations on the opposite side of town quickly, but I do enjoy the trip. And, I am willing to do virtual meetings, though I do prefer meeting you in person and not just over a video call!  For some of you, making the trip to see me may not really be possible.  I am happy to come see you where you are if you cannot come see me where I am.

 

Your Life Is Busy, So I Am Mobile and I Come to You

At the risk of stating the obvious, your life is busy.  My life is busy, too.  Not just with work, but with three children who need to get to and from school, to and from band or piano practice, to and from sports practice, to and from church and other youth activities, and just generally with the demands of life.  I am fairly certain similar demands on the time of almost all of you reading this.  Because you are busy, and I know that the demands on your time mean you don’t have a lot of time to drive and see an estate planning attorney, I come see you to reduce your travel burden.  My main office is in Broomfield, so if you live in Lone Tree, I don’t want to make you drive an hour to see me, and an hour back…unless your favorite restaurant is up by my office and you want to take your spouse out on a date after we meet, and then Friday afternoon at 4 pm is a great time to meet me in Broomfield!  If that is not the case, I will travel to where you are, and we can meet where it is convenient for you.  I will even stop the car and sit down to talk with you, so that we are not in motion, even if we are doing “mobile” estate planning.

 

Traffic is No Fun!  Let Me Do the Driving

I don’t know many people who love to drive in rush hour traffic.  Or, as we can now call it, any time of the day on I-25 or I-70.  I do think I-25 moves pretty freely during the hours of 2 am and 2:11 am, but otherwise it can be unpredictable, and slow down quite often.  Rush hour is the worst, when you get to sit in traffic with thousands of your closest friends on the freeway.  Granted, you are all in your own cars, and are not likely to engage in pleasant banter with your fellow motorists, but you do get to spend time with them on the freeways and other streets.  I get to spend time on the road as well.

I don’t mind driving, and I even enjoy driving across the city when it is not the heart of rush hour.  I will often schedule meetings to avoid the worst of traffic.  Or, if I am on the opposite side of the city from where I live and would be heading into terrible rush hour traffic, I simply stay on the opposite side of town and work until traffic clears.  This means I can enjoy the drive, and I can drive where I need to go instead of having you come see me.  Let me take on the drive, so you don’t have to!

 

If Driving Doesn’t Work, We Can Meet Virtually

As I drive to and from meetings, I do notice that many of my fellow drivers seem to be engaged with their mobile phones.  I cannot tell for sure, but it does look like many of them are talking on their phones, sending or reading text messages, checking social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or even watching videos.  I am amazed at how often I look around and see people looking down at their phones, even on the freeway.  I have been known to take, or make, a phone call while driving, and the bluetooth technology built into my car helps my phone calls be made more safely, but I cannot endorse any of the other activities.

If I am meeting with someone virtually, I also will not take, or make a video call in the car while driving…that is just not a good idea for me.  I do take notes during such calls, so that would be even worse!  Instead, when I have a virtual meeting, I stop somewhere that I have a good internet connection to be able to have a full conversation with the person without trying to drive, as well.  I think other drivers and the traffic police / traffic laws agree with this approach.  I do meet with people virtually in a safe manner, even if it is not my favorite way to meet with people.  I prefer an in person meeting, just because I like being able to meet the person and shake their hand and look them in the eye.  I feel like there is more of a connection with an in person meeting than virtually, but that just may be me.

 

Sometimes You Physically Cannot Come See Me, So I Come See You

I have many clients who have difficulty getting around.  These clients may be physically unable to travel, or they may not have access to transportation to come see me, or they may just be homebound.  Many of my clients live in assisted living centers, or skilled nursing facilities, so getting them to come to see me can be quite difficult.  I am more than happy to go see these types of clients, as they may be the most in need of estate planning services, but have the hardest time coming to see me.  These types of clients are the reason I started doing “mobile” estate planning in the first place.  But, what was good for them can be good for everyone, so I keep going with mobile estate planning and allow everyone to take advantage of the service.  I know there are some who cannot get out to see me, but I believe my mobile service benefits more than just those who cannot come see me for some reason.

If you are unable to travel or get out of the house, I can come to you.  If it is more convenient for me to travel to you, I am happy to do so.  If you want to come see what my office looks like, we can meet there.  If you want to show off your new house remodel, I am happy to come to see you and enjoy the new wonderfulness of your house.  No matter what your reason is for it being more convenient to meet with me at a place of your choosing, I am happy to come and visit you where you are, so that the estate planning process is less of a chore for you!

 

Let Me Come See You, And Get Things Moving

I already covered how we don’t need to be running around or driving while handling your estate plan.  There was an old Volkswagen commercial where the purchaser were to “sign and drive” at the same time, with attendant follies of driving while signing a document, and the commercial concluded that “sign, then drive” was better.  I feel similarly about estate planning…let me drive to you, or to where it is convenient to meet, and then we can get your estate plan done, just not while driving.  Sometimes the most difficult step in estate planning is just to get started, so let me help you get moving on your estate plan by coming to see you – to see what I can do for you!