Durham Legacy Collective
Peace of mind that reflects who you are and who you love.
Estate Planning Specialists
Too many people have been left out of the legacy planning conversation.
I’m Mal, an attorney who deeply values community care. I built Durham Legacy Collective as a place where planning your future feels affirming, accessible, and human.
For years, I watched friends, clients, and community members struggle with life insurance denials, and confusing legal documents. Fat folks, queer folks, single adults, nontraditional families, people estranged from family, people surviving trauma — all trying to protect their futures in a system that wasn’t built with them in mind.
Here, your identity is respected. Your chosen family is recognized. Your boundaries matter. Judgment has no place.
Whether you’re creating a will, securing final-expense insurance, or taking your first steps toward stability, I’m honored to support you.
Your legacy deserves care, dignity, and safety, and I’m here to help you protect it.
Warmly,
Mal
Founder, Durham Legacy Collective
Services
Estate Documents
Planning for the future isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your wishes. These three essential documents help ensure that the people you trust can care for you and honor your choices when it matters most.
To make estate planning more accessible, services are offered on a sliding scale basis. All clients receive the same legal services and level of care. The tiers simply allow clients to choose the price that best reflects their financial situation. The Community rate is intended for those with limited financial resources, the Standard rate reflects the typical cost of services, and the Sustainer rate allows clients with greater financial flexibility to help support reduced-cost services for others in the community.
Last Will and Testament
Community Rate
$300
Standard Rate
$500
Sustainer Rate
$1,200
Outlines how you’d like your assets, belongings, and responsibilities to be handled after your death, and allows you to name executors and heirs.
A will gives you a voice and makes sure your wishes are respected after you are gone. Without one, state laws decide who receives your property — laws that may not reflect your nontraditional family or values.
Even small or sentimental belongings can cause stress among loved ones if your wishes aren’t clear. A will ensures the people who matter most are included and saves your loved ones time, money, and unnecessary stress during a difficult time.
Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney
Community Rate
$125
Standard Rate
$200
Sustainer Rate
$450
Allows you to designate someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are ever unable to do so yourself.
This document ensures that the person you choose, not just the person defaulted to by the hospital, is the one empowered to make these important decisions.
For LGBTQ+ folks, unmarried partners, or anyone outside traditional family structure, it guarantees your chosen family can make decisions. When your decision-maker is named, it takes away guesswork and guilt during stressful moments.
Advance Healthcare Directive
Community Rate
$125
Standard Rate
$200
Sustainer Rate
$450
Spells out your wishes for medical care and end-of-life decisions if you’re unable to communicate them yourself.
You get to decide what kinds of care you do and don’t want in advance so that your wishes are clear and respected. This document is about dignity, autonomy, and compassion.
When families face a medical crisis without guidance, it can lead to stress and conflict. For queer and trans folks, it can include specific language about pronouns, gender-affirming care, and chosen family access.
Peace of Mind Package
Community Rate
$500
Standard Rate
$800
Sustainer Rate
$2,000
Includes all three essential documents plus a 30-minute consultation to complete your comprehensive legacy plan.
This package gives you complete protection for your future and your loved ones in one affordable offering. You’ll receive a custom-drafted Will, Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney, and Advance Healthcare Directive — everything you need to ensure your wishes are known and respected.
The included consultation provides time for review and finalization. By bundling these documents together, you save time, money, and create a complete foundation for your future planning.
Services
Final Expense Life Insurance
Final expense life insurance helps ensure your loved ones can focus on healing and remembrance instead of worrying about how to cover immediate costs. This kind of coverage is about care, dignity, and peace of mind.
What is Final Expense Life Insurance?
Final expense life insurance is a small, simple policy designed to cover funeral, burial, or cremation costs, memorial services, and immediate household expenses for loved ones.
Available policies range from $2,000 to $35,000, offering enough to ease the burden without high premiums or complicated applications. There are no health exams or physicals required.
Why Does It Matter?
Even modest funeral costs can add up quickly. Coverage ensures your chosen loved ones don’t face unexpected expenses during a time of grief.
By planning ahead, you decide what kind of service or celebration you’d like, and your policy allows your wishes to be honored without financial strain on the people you leave behind.
The Funeral Consumer Guardian Society
Every policy includes access to the Funeral Consumer Guardian Society (FCGS) — a free benefit that helps families compare prices and save on funeral costs, carry out your final wishes, and receive guidance through each step of the process.
Additional Savings with Final Expense Life Insurance
If you purchase a final expense life insurance policy at the same time as your estate planning documents, you’ll receive an additional 15% discount on your chosen package or document rate. This is my way of supporting you in creating the most complete, affordable plan for the future.
How It Fits Into Your Legacy
Final expense life insurance, together with your Will, Healthcare Power of Attorney, and Advance Healthcare Directive, forms a complete foundation for your future planning.
Get In Touch
Schedule a Call
A free 30 minute conversation where we learn your needs and answer questions.
Email Us
Have questions before you’re ready to meet? hello@durhamlegacycollective.com
Service Area
We currently serve clients across the United States.
Accessibility Note
We are committed to fat-positive, LGBTQ+ affirming, and trauma-informed communication.
Let us know if you have accessibility needs for our call or your documents.
