About Peffers Law

Peffers Law, a boutique firm in Milton, Ontario, has been specializing in estate planning and corporate law since its founding in 2012. During the COVID-19 pandemic, founder Colleen Peffers saw an increase in demand for will and estate planning services–up to 10 client files per month.

With only two staff members managing both operations and client services, Colleen needed a solution to boost efficiency while maintaining the high level of personalized care her clients had come to expect.

Our goal is to help our clients protect their legacy with well drafted estate planning documents that accurately reflect their wishes. We believe that a great estate plan is a gift you give your family.

- Colleen Peffers, founder, Peffers Law

In 2021, Colleen started using eState Planner to reduce time spent on drafting documents and reduce drafting errors. This allowed her to shift her focus from drafting documents manually to offering strategic, client-focused advice–her real mission for Peffers law. Since introducing the software, Peffers Law has seen significant improvements: reduced drafting times, improved client satisfaction, and more precision in estate planning documents.‍

Time-consuming processes and clients' struggles to understand their documents

Before integrating eState Planner, Colleen often heard from clients that while they appreciated the initial meeting, they found the estate planning documents difficult to understand.

This feedback resonated with Colleen, making her aware of two things: First, clients valued face-to-face interactions, but due to the time spent drafting documents, she couldn't dedicate as much time to her clients as she wanted. Second, she needed to find a better way to explain to her clients how their estate plan and will worked.
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Each document was not just a piece of paper; it represented her clients' hopes and dreams for their families–yet the sheer volume of admin work left her with little room to build the meaningful connections she valued.

Manual precedent updates and revision: Colleen would draft with her own precedent built up over the years, but she had to spend time researching clauses for new scenarios.

Client understanding: Clients often found the final estate documents confusing due to the complex legal language. Colleen spent too much time explaining how the documents reflected their instructions, creating a disconnect between her work and the client’s understanding.

Time management: Colleen’s commitment to her clients meant that the manual drafting process consumed not only her time but also her ability to build deeper relationships. Administrative tasks consumed valuable time that could be better spent addressing clients' unique estate planning needs.

With her clients facing intricate estate planning scenarios, Colleen was ready for a better solution. She needed a way to transform the task of drafting wills into a more efficient process. The ideal solution would not only eliminate the tedious data entry that consumed her valuable time but it would also empower her clients with a clear understanding of their estate plans.

How Peffers Law streamlined their estate planning process with eState Planner

After attending a legal seminar, Colleen was introduced to eState Planner, a tool that streamlines much of the estate planning process. As a sole practitioner, every minute counts, and Colleen wanted to spend less time buried in paperwork and more time connecting with the people she serves. 

Going from manual data entry to interactive and accurate client intake

Previously, Colleen had to manually transcribe client information from intake questionnaires, which was time-consuming and repetitive. With eState Planner’s online questionnaire, clients now enter their information directly into the platform, minimizing errors and freeing Colleen from tedious data entry. 

Having more time for meaningful client conversations

By reducing the amount of time spent on administrative tasks, eState Planner has allowed Colleen to concentrate on what truly matters—getting to know her clients better. Now, she has more time to engage in deeper conversations, helping clients articulate their goals and ensuring their estate plans align with their vision for the future.

There’s much more of a conversation and process involved to ask what the client actually wants.

- Colleen Peffers, founder, Peffers Law

Drafting documents more efficiently

After clients complete the intake, eState Planner generates a family tree and Colleen uses it to guide the estate planning process. In addition, Colleen no longer has to manually update her precedents because eState makes sure they’re always up-to-date. When it’s time for revisions, she can make adjustments in just a few minutes, making the review process much faster and allowing her to focus more on her clients.
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Now, instead of feeling overwhelmed by paperwork, Colleen can dedicate her energy to meaningful conversations about the implications of each document, ensuring that they align with her clients' unique circumstances. 

Using visual summaries for clarity

With eState Planner, Colleen can create visual representations of her clients' estate plans, which ultimately help them understand how their wills work. Throughout the estate planning process, eState Planner generates visual summaries for each scenario linked to the client's will. This feature allows Colleen to visually and accurately verify her clients' instructions, ensuring clarity and precision.

By bringing these concepts to life visually, Colleen turns what could be a daunting process into an interactive experience. Clients love seeing their instructions mapped out; it sparks great conversations and helps them feel more in control of their estate plans. This way, they leave each meeting not just informed, but genuinely excited about their decisions. In Colleen’s word:

My client is happy because they understand what’s in their will in a visual format. There’s no ambiguity from when we leave from one meeting to the next, we’re aligned, and we know exactly what’s going into the Will and estate documents. I no longer have to worry about missing anything during the entire planning process.

- Colleen Peffers, founder, Peffers Law

Driving growth and client satisfaction with legal technology

With eState Planner integrated into her day-to-day workflow, Colleen has not only improved efficiency but also deepened her relationships with clients. By spending less time on manual tasks and more time on personalized advisory work, Peffers Law has seen growth in both client satisfaction and referral rates.

No longer bogged down by repetitive tasks, Colleen now finds joy in drafting estate plans that resonate deeply with her clients’ hopes and dreams. This approach has ignited a new spark in her practice, where each meeting becomes an opportunity to connect and empower. As Colleen continues to elevate her service with the help of eState Planner, she embodies the future of estate planning—where technology can help lawyers create legacies that truly reflect their clients' wishes.
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‍Ready to elevate your practice? Book a demo to see how eState Planner can improve your estate planning practice.