About

Estate planning is for everyone

The peace of mind that comes with an estate plan is within reach.

This law firm sets out to destroy the idea that estate planning is only for people of extraordinary wealth. In reality, most people would benefit from having a plan in place, no matter how small you think your assets are.

Who we are, what we stand for

We believe in access to legal services for all people and that our clients deserve the best. If you are looking for a new kind of law firm that cares about customer service and delivering excellence, you’re in the right place.

As much as we don’t want to think about a tragedy or horrific accident cutting our time with our families short, things happen - and often unexpectedly. This realization really hit home for many people during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Our lives were turned upside pretty quickly and without much notice. What we thought would be just a two-week period of being home has turned into many people working from home permanently, over a year of distance learning for most kids and unfortunately many lives lost. Millions of people contracted the virus and may need long or short-term healthcare.

Estate planning is necessary to protect your family and your assets if you are unable to handle your affairs. This includes lower-income and middle class families, parents and singles. Without a plan, the law in your state will control how your assets are dispersed. This also means that your family will likely have to go through the probate process to begin to handle your estate. “Probate” is a term for how courts handle the treatment of assets after someone dies, or doesn’t have the capacity to handle their affairs themselves. Probate can be expensive - especially if there is disagreement among the remaining family members or heirs. Such conflicts can lead to lengthy and expensive litigation. Further, probate can also be incredibly time-consuming. The court system can take months to schedule an initial hearing, depending on the current volume of cases.

Having an estate plan is essential

By putting your family first and setting up an estate plan, you can decide ahead of time how you want your assets to be handled and who you want to nominate as a guardian for your children. You can also choose who will make financial and medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself, even for a short period of time. Without these documents in place, your family may be unable to carry out your final wishes, make medical decisions, have access to healthcare records or even have access to your bank accounts to pay your bills. .

Since having an estate plan is essential, the Law Office of Katie M. Shank believes everyone should be able to get one. We offer flat-fee estate planning packages for our clients to avoid any surprises, hourly-rate services for specialized situations, and payment plans. We also provide discounts for active duty military, veterans and teachers. Further, we are committed to making estate planning a normal part of your financial wellness plan and to continue to destigmatize it as an area only for “elites.”

Katie Shank, Esq.

Katie M. Shank grew up just outside Chicago, Illinois but has found her home in sunny San Diego. A graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago and DePaul University, Katie now enjoys the mild climate in Southern California instead of four seasons in one day.

Shortly after graduating from college, Katie began working in the legal field as she had her eye on law school and wanted to make sure it was a good fit. She found an appreciation for the law, and continued to work in law firms full-time as an assistant, law librarian and law clerk while she attended law school part-time at night. She has worked in civil litigation, insurance coverage, personal injury, homeowner’s association law, federal workers’ compensation and construction defect law.

When she became a mother, her focus in law shifted to wanting to help other families make sure their loved ones are protected. Now, she helps people protect their assets and make sure that what they work so hard to build will be protected and preserved. Realizing that more people need estate plans than believe they can afford them, Katie seeks to provide effective and reasonably-priced services for all levels of income. She firmly believes that every person should have a plan in place for the “what if” scenarios, and wants to help put your mind at ease.

Outside of her practice, Katie hosts a podcast - What the Firm. She started this podcast as a forum for law students and newer attorneys to talk about their actual experiences working in law in detail. In addition, the podcast also discusses the oft-observed but rarely discussed divide between clients and attorneys, and how attorneys can make the experience more positive for everyone. Additionally, she loves to exercise, cook, spend time with her partner and son, and taught herself how to DJ while quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Book consultation

Admissions

State of California, June 2016

Education

DePaul University College of Law, J.D., December 2015
University of Illinois at Chicago, B.A., August 2009

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