Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Fuss.
Hi Chad, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started out as a litigation attorney representing insurance companies in car accidents and personal injury claims. It wasn’t until our son was a toddler, and we planned on going out of town without him for the first time that I even thought about estate planning. But, in that moment I realized that something could happen to both me and my wife, and we weren’t sure who would raise our son. There was an easy solution; we needed a will or trust to protect him if we were no longer here to do it ourselves. I called attorneys in our area only to be told that they wanted between $300 and $500 to consult with us, and the cost for a trust would be between $5,000 and $10,000. Who could afford that?
As an attorney, I was shocked at the cost and the lack of care that these law firms offered to potential clients. That was when I decided to start looking into doing estate planning for myself, just as a way to protect us as well as other family and friends. I never thought that this would be the path that I would take as a career, but in 2022, when my wife’s uncle was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I stepped in to help his daughter get his California home, vehicles, and assets into order. I urgently created estate documents and walked them through probate. That was the moment I realized that this was what I wanted to do. I wanted to help people and prepare them for the inevitable. But, I didn’t just want to do estate planning; I wanted to help everyone who thought wills and trusts are just for the super wealthy – people with young families, retirees, people who were working hard to have a house and provide for their kids.
That’s when we created Affordable Estate Planning with the goal to make wills, trusts, and estate planning accessible and affordable for everyone.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There’s definitely been a learning curve in owning my own business. I had worked for a lot of law firms since I was licensed, but I didn’t really want to follow the same model. I wanted something more personal and informal. I didn’t just want to be another stuffy lawyer. Luckily, my wife had a lot of experience running small businesses and doing marketing, so we worked together to create a brand and office experience that’s more comfortable for people when they come to me to discuss what they want to have happen when they pass away.
Once we knew who the company was, our biggest challenges have really been streamlining and creating systems. You don’t think about things like opportunity pipelines and calendar tracking when it isn’t your own business. We had to develop a lot of our own project management tools to get the company running in the simple and approachable way that would best fit our clients. Things like virtual and in person meetings with auto reminders, digital intake forms, and having my wife as a notary have all made big differences in how we operate.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a family owned estate planning law firm focused on middle class families. Our goal is to make getting a will, trust, power or attorney, probate, etc. as simple, understandable, and affordable as possible in all of the states that I am licensed in: Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Florida, and Nebraska.
We believe that everyone deserves to be protected which is why we offer:
Free Consultations (No risk)
Lower Prices Compared to Other Attorneys, and Flat Rates (Save money with no upsell)
Appointments Available on Weekends and Nights (No need to take off work)
Virtual Appointments Available (You don’t need a babysitter)
We Come to You if You Need Us to (Be comfortable in your environment with no need to drive)
Free Notary Service Included
Deed Recorded For You When You Move Your House Into Your Trust
I’m proud that I offer a service that people need and I’m able to make it less intimidating. We have been recognized by our community in 2025 and 2026 as the Best Law Firm which has only solidified my dedication to my vision.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Not really.
Pricing:
- Flat rates with notary included
- Free consultations
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.affordableestatepnw.com
- Instagram: @affordableestateplanning
- Facebook: @affordableestateplanning
