The problem
A revocable trust only keeps assets out of probate if they are retitled into it, and many clients leave the signing meaning to call the bank and never do. If a firm signs 12 trust plans a month and spends 45 minutes on each funding letter plus 4 follow-up calls or emails at 10 minutes, that's 85 minutes a client, 17 hours a month, and still some trusts stay half empty.
What the AI does
MyCase Pro includes automated workflows, which MyCase says create tasks, events and documents, along with document generation, two-way texting and the 8am IQ Writing Assistant. At the signing the paralegal applies a funding workflow that creates check-in tasks at intervals the firm chooses. The funding letter is generated from a template listing each account and property the client named, and 8am IQ polishes the wording into plain, client-ready language. The attorney approves the letter before it goes out through the client portal. When each task comes due, the paralegal texts a short check-in from a saved template and logs what has been retitled. 8am IQ only edits wording; the attorney decides how each asset should be titled.
A worked example
An illustrative example built from typical figures, not a named business.
A two-attorney estate planning firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, signs about 12 trust plans a month. It moves its paralegal and one attorney to MyCase Pro, builds a funding letter template and a three-month funding workflow, and texts clients at each check-in.
Before
85 minutes a client on the funding letter and 4 follow-ups: 17 hours a month
After
About 28 minutes a client with a template letter and texted check-ins: 5.6 hours a month
What it's worth
About $400£301€358A$577C$565 a month of paralegal time, against $200£150€179A$289C$283 for two Pro seats. Saving 57 minutes on each of 12 clients is about 11.4 hours, at an assumed $35£26€31A$51C$49 an hour. Pro is $100£75€89A$144C$141 per user a month billed annually or $120£90€107A$173C$170 monthly. More fully funded trusts, and fewer probate files later, are not counted.
How to set it up
- List every asset type the firm funds (bank and brokerage accounts, real estate, business interests) and write a plain funding instruction for each, approved by the attorney.
- Build the funding letter template and a workflow with check-in tasks at the intervals you choose, such as 2, 6 and 12 weeks after signing.
- Complete MyCase's one-time text messaging registration (MyCase says there is no extra charge), and get each client's consent to texts at the signing.
- Generate each letter, use 8am IQ to tidy the wording, and have the attorney approve it before it is shared through the client portal.
- Log each retitled asset as it is confirmed, and have the attorney call any client who has funded nothing after 12 weeks.
What goes wrong
- Funding a trust involves legal choices (a deed, a beneficiary designation, a business interest). 8am IQ polishes wording only; the attorney decides how each asset is titled, as the state bar's supervision rules require.
- Deeds are recorded under county rules and some lenders or title insurers need notice. Don't let a template letter suggest the client can simply retitle real estate alone.
- MyCase is priced per active user. Workflows, texting and 8am IQ are on Pro, not Basic, so every user who needs them adds $100£75€89A$144C$141 a month billed annually.
- Texts and portal messages should confirm progress, not list account numbers. Keep account details in documents inside the portal.