06/02/2026
This is Vanessa Fuss (Me). I handle the business-y part of Affordable Estate Planning and the socials. I don't love taking posed photos, can you tell? But I do love writing captions.
When Chad and I got married, he never wanted to open his own law firm. He was happy pushing papers and going to court for someone else. But over the years, I told him to do whatever made him happy, and one day, this was it.
The business planning, branding, logo, posts, education sessions, slide decks, advertising, invoicing, and blogging are all collaborations I often imagine and bring to life.
This company started as a side gig. I was working for medium-sized businesses or schools, and Chad was helping out friends and family with their wills and trusts when he wasn't busy litigating. Then, we moved to Oregon, and my uncle was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Chad came to my family's rescue by working to get paperwork in place before he died and helping with the probate process after his passing. Unfortunately, my uncle spent his last few weeks going to the Social Security office, DMV, and other places rather than just enjoying his time with his family. But this experience was a turning point for us. It was an "Aha" moment that led to the creation of our law firm and to our dedication to serving families who have otherwise been overlooked and undereducated about the legal system.
Have you had to deal with probate or not having a Power of Attorney when you needed one? Did you know what to do, or were you learning as you went?
