Joel Armstrong Schoenmeyer

So there we were ready to board a plane when my husband and I turned to one another and asked, "What if?" It was the first time that we had been away from our newborn triplets and we panicked. We quickly made phone calls to make sure that our family and close friends knew our wishes and were all on t...he same page - with custody and finances -- but knew that the phone call would never stand up in the court system. As soon as we returned home, we called Joel. He met wth us (he even came to us!) and we immediately started the process. We asked a ton of questions -- over and over again -- in person, by phone and email and he was so patient explaining each part of the process and how various wills and trusts work. We even through in a few bizarre scenarios. The guy didn't bat an eye. He is so thorough and knowledgeable about every aspect in this corner of the law. What we thought were overwhelming issues: custody, trustees, life insurance, two homes, retirement and college funds, precious keepsakes, burial wishes -- Joel eased our mind and walked us through each step. Instead of being overwhelming, Joel made the experience painless.. By understanding how each approach worked, it was easier for us to know what to do. With each decision, a weight was lifted from our shoulders because we knew that the process was a rite of passage and was just another task that responsible parents and adults do. Like socking away money for our children's education, this too is a gift to them. It allows them to know that we put much thought and effort into how we want their life to be if they had to live without us. We decided which method was best for our family and Joel turned our wishes into legal documents that would stand up in court. Within weeks we had trusts and wills that were handed out to those named in them and put one for our fire-proof lockbox. With our trusts and wills, and most importantly Joel working for us (by staying abreast of new trends), we know that everything is in place should something happen. He is a great lawyer, readily accessible, helpful, honest, thoughtful, patient, brilliant and someone who we now consider our friend. I highly recommend Joel to anyone wanting to sleep well at night knowing that your wishes will be carried out because Joel has ensured that they will.