how to choose a lawyer for estate planning

How To Choose The Right Estate Planning Attorney

• Choose To Hire An Attorney. ...
• Ask For Recommendations. ...
• Call First. ...
• Gather All Necessary Documents And Information. ...
• Schedule An In-Person Meeting. ...
• Ask Questions About Their Practice. ...
• Observe Each Attorney’s Behavior. ...
• Make Sure They Disclose Fees And Details In Writing. ...
• Compare Interviews. ...
• Follow Up. ...

Full Answer

What should you look for in an estate planning attorney?

Mar 10, 2020 · The attorney should specialize in estate planning, devoting their time to this area of law. An attorney that purports to specialize in estate planning but also dabbles in …

How do you find an estate planning lawyer?

Mar 13, 2022 · Every estate plan is unique, so choosing an experienced attorney who has worked with clients from different walks of life helps decrease the chances of your attorney running across something that he or she hasn’t seen before. It’s also a good idea to shop around, as some estate planning attorneys charge more than others for the same services.

How to find the right estate planning attorney?

Richard R. Gans. Finding and choosing an estate planning attorney can be intimidating. This video offers tips for finding and interviewing lawyers. Learn where you can go online to find qualified estate planning attorneys in your area from ACTEC Fellows Richard R. …

What to ask your estate planning lawyer?

Oct 05, 2009 · There is no law that prevents an attorney from calling himself an estate planner, even if he has no qualifications or experience in estate planning. If you have a very "simple" estate, perhaps two or 3 years of estate planning experience is enough; if you have a large estate or a complicated situation, your attorney should have at least 7 to 10 years of experience in …

What is estate planning?

Planning your estate involves deciding what will happen to your personal property and real estate after you die. The law provides a default scheme for disposing of property, but relying on that involves a lengthy court process and potentially hefty tax consequences for your heirs. The alternative is to plan things out ahead ...

What happens if you don't have liability insurance?

Without liability insurance, you and your heirs could lose everything.

What is the state bar association?

State bar associations often offer a lawyer referral service that enables you to meet briefly with a pre-screened attorney after answering a few general questions about your needs.

How to narrow your list of potential attorneys?

1. Have a preliminary phone consultation. Many attorneys will hold a brief interview with you over the phone. Since these take up less time and require less effort than in-person consultations, you can talk to more attorneys this way and use the phone interviews to narrow your list of possible contenders.

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 35,595 times.

How long has the attorney been practicing in the areas of Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning Law?

How long has the attorney been practicing in the areas of Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning Law?#N#Is [s]he experienced enough to have firsthand knowledge of family and business matters of concern to you?#N#There is no law that prevents an attorney from calling himself an estate planner, even if he has no qualifications or experience in estate planning.

What percentage of the attorney's practice is devoted to Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning Law?

What percentage of the attorney's practice is devoted to Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning Law?#N#An attorney simply cannot handle divorces, traffic tickets, and other matters and be an estate planning expert, too. Estate planning is a complicated and sophisticated area of legal practice.

Is the attorney certified as a specialist in Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization?

Is the attorney certified as a specialist in Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization?#N#Although there are many knowledgeable attorneys who have not been certified as specialists, passing the certification exam provides some measure of assurance that the attorney is competent to practice in this field..

Does the attorney offer free (or low-cost) initial consultations?

Does the attorney offer free (or low-cost) initial consultations?#N#Make sure you know the answer to this question so you won't be surprised at your first meeting.

How does the attorney decide what to charge?

How does the attorney decide what to charge?#N#If an attorney or firm charges by the hour, there is a built-in incentive for more office consultations and multiple drafts of documents.

What services are included in the fee?

What services are included in the fee?#N#The more office consultations and legal services that are included, the higher the fee will be.

How much should you pay for your estate plan?

How much should you pay for your estate plan?#N#You need to be careful about the too-good-to-be-true bargains. This decision is too important to look for the cheapest plan you can get. Your estate plan may have a profound effect on your loved ones' lives and well-being.

Do attorneys do estate planning?

There are many attorneys that say that they do estate planning. And of course there are many that do. The real question to ask however is “do they practice exclusively in this area of the law”? Just as there are doctors that specialize in certain areas of medicine such as general practice, cardiology or oncology, there are attorneys that are generalists and ones that limit their practices to a specific area of the law. The benefit to this is that the attorney is much more likely to be abreast of the current law and issues that surround that practice area. They are also more likely to correctly identify areas that could be problems down the road if the proper planning is not done.

How many tiers are there in law school?

Just like any other school, law schools that are harder to get into have higher standards and only accept the best students. There are four (4) tiers in the law school ranking system with the first tier being at the top and hardest to get into. Ask the attorney where he or she went to law school. 10.

What is an Estate Planning Attorney?

Seeking professional advice and guidance from an estate planning attorney is the only way to maintain control over your wealth, your future health decisions, and your peace of mind.

How to Choose the Right Trust and Estate Planning Attorney

It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to choosing the right attorney for your needs. But finding a professional who practices exclusively as a trust and estate planning attorney will help to ensure both their knowledge and their experience are up-to-date.

Estate Planning Attorney Fees: What to Expect

Fees charged by estate planning attorneys vary widely. You can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $4000 for a basic estate plan – one that incorporates a will, a power of attorney, and legally documented health care directives.

What to do before meeting with potential attorney?

Before you meet with your potential candidates in person, they may give you a list of information they need to be able to evaluate your case. It’s a good sign when your potential attorney gives you a questionnaire or goal form to send back before the meeting. This is a good indication that they take your case seriously and want to get to know you.

Do estate attorneys disclose their fees?

Sometimes attorneys won’t disclose their fees prior to your appointment with them. It may be difficult for attorneys to quote you an exact fee without knowing the particulars of your case. However, it’s not impossible for them to give you an estimated fee range, so you’re not left in the dark when it comes to what your attorney will charge you. At the same time, be careful of attorneys who quote a fixed fee without looking at your case. This is an indicator that they give everyone the same estate plan instead of meeting your personal needs.

What is an estate planning lawyer?

Your estate planning lawyer is someone that you’ll be working with, and sharing intimate details of your life with, potentially for the duration of your life, so it’s critical that you like and trust this individual. Make sure that they’re truly listening to you and are interested in what you have to say and make you feel comfortable.