When most law firm founders talk about “growth,” they’re thinking in years. For Paul Yokabitus, it’s been just a few—and Cary Estate Planning has already become one of the fastest-growing estate planning firms.
In a recent episode of Estate Planning Nightmares… and How to Avoid Them with Jon Braddock, Yokabitus shares how he built his practice from scratch to over 40 team members, how his approach is transforming the client experience, and how he’s helping other lawyers scale with confidence and purpose.
If you want to know what sets Cary Estate Planning Attorneys apart, look no further than the mindset behind the mission.
A Growth Story That Breaks the Mold
Paul Yokabitus didn’t inherit a book of business or buy into a legacy firm. He started with an idea: that estate planning should be less about fear and more about empowerment.
In the podcast, Yokabitus outlines how he:
- Launched his practice as a solo attorney
- Identified bottlenecks and immediately began building systems
- Scaled operations without sacrificing quality or client experience
- Recruited and trained a 40+ person team with shared values
His core belief? Legal services don’t need to be complicated, intimidating, or salesy to be effective—and in fact, they’re better when they’re not.
Client Experience Without the “Upsell”
One of the key takeaways from the interview is Yokabitus’s no-upsell philosophy.
“I don’t believe in selling people more than they need,” he explains. “Our job is to educate, empower, and implement what’s best for each client—not what’s best for our revenue targets.”
This approach has helped distinguish Cary Estate Planning from competitors. Instead of pushing prepackaged trusts or high-fee add-ons, the firm focuses on:
- Plain-English education and clarity
- Transparent pricing structures
- Personalized planning that adapts to life changes
- Simplified digital workflows and modern intake
It’s not just about getting documents signed—it’s about building lifelong relationships rooted in trust.
How Cary Estate Planning Built a Team of 40+
Many firms struggle to grow past the founder. Yokabitus didn’t want that. As he shared on the podcast, he began hiring early—first administrative help, then paralegals, then attorneys and specialists.
The key? Process before people.
“We built the machine first,” he said. “Then we brought in the people to run it.”
That mindset led to the development of robust workflows, tech integrations, and delegation strategies that allowed the firm to scale without burning out the team or diluting the brand.
Now with over 40 staff members across roles, Cary Estate Planning continues to grow while maintaining a high-touch, client-first experience.
Helping Other Lawyers Build Better Firms
Paul’s impact doesn’t stop with his own firm.
He’s also the founder of:
- PlanWell Legal – a growing network of estate planning attorneys offering values-based planning
- Discovery Legal Marketing – a legal marketing agency helping lawyers attract the right clients
- Elite Planner – a coaching platform for estate planning professionals who want to scale without losing their sanity
On the podcast, Jon Braddock called out this commitment to lifting up other attorneys, noting that Paul’s transparency about his growth journey has helped countless others rethink how they build their firms.
Estate Planning “Nightmares” — And How Cary Estate Planning Helps Clients Avoid Them
In the episode, Paul also addressed some of the common pitfalls families face when estate planning is done wrong—or not done at all. These “nightmares” include:
- Families stuck in probate for months or years
- Outdated wills that no longer reflect true intentions
- Generic trust plans that don’t account for unique family dynamics
- Parents unintentionally disinheriting children due to poor planning
Cary Estate Planning’s model is built to prevent those scenarios before they happen, through education-first consultations, smart technology, and systems designed for real-life flexibility.
A Firm Built for the Future — and for Families
In just a few short years, Cary Estate Planning Attorneys has become a trusted name—not because of aggressive advertising or flashy gimmicks, but because of consistent values:
- Transparency
- Empowerment
- Community focus
- Long-term relationships over short-term wins
And Paul Yokabitus isn’t stopping anytime soon. Whether it’s helping clients find peace of mind or guiding other lawyers through the maze of firm-building, he’s redefining what success looks like in the estate planning space.