Estate Planning in Iowa Doesn't Have to Feel Like a Mystery

Most people put off estate planning because they don't know what to expect. Here's exactly what working with me looks like — from first conversation to signed documents.

Two people sitting close on a couch, smiling and holding hands in a warm living room.

A Process Built Around Your Actual Life

I designed every step of this process to feel manageable, not overwhelming. There are no surprise invoices, no legal jargon to decode, and no handoffs to a paralegal you've never met. You work with me directly from start to finish.


Before we draft a single document, I take the time to understand your family, your assets, and what you actually want to happen. That conversation shapes everything that follows.

The Four Steps From First Call to Finished Plan

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STEP 1

Schedule a Free Consultation

Book a time directly through my online scheduler — no phone tag, no waiting for a callback. Before our first meeting, I'll send you a short intake form so we can make the most of our time together. Most initial consultations run about an hour.

STEP 2

Receive Your Flat-Fee Quote

After our consultation, I'll give you a clear, all-inclusive flat-fee quote for your estate plan. No hourly billing, no open-ended estimates. You'll know exactly what your plan costs before you agree to anything.

STEP 3

Review Your Draft Documents

I'll prepare your documents in plain, readable language — no Latin phrases, no boilerplate clauses you can't interpret. You'll have a chance to review everything and ask questions before we schedule your signing appointment.

STEP 4

Sign and Implement Your Plan

We'll meet to execute your documents properly — signatures, witnesses, notarization. After signing, I don't hand you a folder and disappear. I walk you through the implementation steps, including how to fund a trust if one is part of your plan.

What to Bring to Your Estate Planning Consultation

You don't need to arrive with a stack of documents. A general sense of the following is enough to get started:

  • The names and relationships of the people you want to provide for
  • Any minor children and who you'd want to raise them if something happened to you
  • A rough sense of your assets — real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance
  • Any existing estate planning documents, if you have them
  • Questions or concerns you've been carrying around — there are no wrong ones

If you're not sure whether something is relevant, bring it up anyway. Part of my job is helping you figure out what matters.

How Long Does the Iowa Estate Planning Process Take?

For most clients, the process takes two to four weeks from initial consultation to signed documents. That timeline depends on how quickly the intake form comes back, how many rounds of revisions are needed, and scheduling availability for the signing appointment.


If your situation is more complex — a special needs trust, an irrevocable trust structure, or a blended family with specific distribution goals — I'll give you a realistic timeline during our consultation so you're never left wondering where things stand.

Every Family Structure Is Welcome Here

I work with married couples, single individuals, same-sex couples, blended families, and households that don't fit a traditional mold. Iowa estate planning law applies equally to all of them, and my documents reflect the family you actually have — not a generic template designed for someone else's situation.


If you've felt overlooked by law firm websites that seem to assume everyone has the same family structure, that's exactly why I built this practice the way I did.

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Common Questions About Working With Me

  • Do I need to come into your office in person?

    My office is in Cedar Rapids, and most clients come in for at least the signing appointment. For consultations and document review, I work with clients across Eastern Iowa — including Marion, Iowa City, Coralville, Waterloo, and Cedar Falls — and can discuss remote options if traveling to Cedar Rapids isn't practical for you.

  • What if I already have a will or trust from years ago?

    Bring it. I'll review what you have and tell you honestly whether it still does what you need it to do. Life changes — marriages, divorces, new children, significant asset changes — often mean an existing plan needs updating. You'll leave knowing exactly where you stand.

  • How does flat-fee pricing work for estate planning?

    After our consultation, I quote you a single all-inclusive fee for your estate plan. That fee covers everything: document drafting, revisions, the signing appointment, and post-signing implementation support. There are no hourly charges, no add-on fees for extra calls, and no surprises on your invoice. You can see more about how I structure pricing on my transparent flat fees page.

  • What happens after I sign my documents?

    Signing is not the finish line — it's the handoff point. After your signing appointment, I walk you through any remaining steps, including how to transfer assets into a trust if that's part of your plan. Most attorneys hand you a folder and consider the job done. I don't.

  • Is estate planning only for older people or wealthy families?

    No. If you have children, own a home, or have any assets you'd want to pass to someone you care about, a basic estate plan matters. The clients who benefit most from starting early are often in their 40s and 50s — not their 70s.

Scott Shoemaker is a Cedar Rapids estate planning attorney with eight years of experience helping Iowa families build plans that actually hold up. He practices solo, which means you work directly with him — not a rotating team — from your first consultation through signing and beyond. Read more on the about page.