how to find a lawyer for wills and estates

by Dr. Cletus Cummings 10 min read

How to Find a Lawyer for Wills and Estates

  • Your Local Attorney Referral Service. An attorney referral service makes it incredibly easy to connect with vetted, trustworthy lawyers. ...
  • Ask for References. Ask your friends, family members, and local professionals if they’ve worked with an attorney for similar concerns in the past.
  • Contact the Lawyers You Have Selected. ...
  • Conclusion. ...

Get a Referral from an Attorney or Other Advisor
Get a referral from another attorney, financial advisor or CPA whom you know. He or she will probably know someone that is a good estate planning attorney and specializes in this area of the law.

Full Answer

How do I find a trust and estates attorney?

Jun 30, 2015 · In the wills, trusts, and estates field, you will find many lawyers who have LL.M. degrees in estate planning or tax law. An attorney who has one of these degrees has had formal training in some of the more complex issues that arise in estate planning and tax matters. There are many certifications a lawyer can obtain and many membership organizations a lawyer can …

What type of attorney do I need for a will?

Attorney Colette K. Meyer has been providing estate planning and real estate legal services for over 20 years. After working in large New York firms she envisioned a more personal lawyer relationship by connecting with and helping the people behind the legal documents and developed her own firm on this principa ...

How do I choose the right attorney for my estate plan?

Apr 16, 2021 · Start by identifying what you need to accomplish with your estate plan. That information will help you determine the type of attorney you'll need. Most people need a generalist who can help draft a will, powers of attorney, and basic trusts. But some situations call for attorneys with certain specializations.

How do I hire a local will attorney?

Search for legal issues. Search for legal issues. Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select. More Options. Name Search. Browse Legal Issues. Browse Law Firms. Support. For help near (city, ZIP code or county)

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Glass Law Group, PLLC

Glass Law Group is a small boutique style practice with big firm experience! Our goal is to take the fear out of Estate Planning, put folks at ease w...

Kevin D. Purnell, PLLC

Our Law Firm provides Experineced and Expert Legal Representation in the areas of Criminal & Traffic cases including DUi's in Virginia with over ... Read More

The Law Office Of Jeffrey Dowd, PA

We are a boutique law firm that works with small and start-up businesses by saving them time and money, and helping them to avoid liabilities and pro... Read More

Victor Law Center, P. A

Ms. Danie Victor is a published author of over 300 legal books selling worldwide through amazon under “Danie Victor Books”. Danie has been prac... Read More

Meyer Law Firm

Planning for your future is about protecting and providing for the people you love. Meyer Law Firm in Jupiter, Florida guides you through the complic... Read More

Marc J. Soss, Esquire

For the past three (3) decades I have been providing legal services to individuals in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, Asset Protection, Prob... Read More

Law Office Of Annette Z.P. Ross

Attorney Ross of the Law Office of Annette Z.P. Ross, PL., has been practicing law for more than three decades. Upon graduating law school, Atto... Read More

1. Search for candidates

Start by identifying what you need to accomplish with your estate plan. That information will help you determine the type of attorney you'll need.

2. Interview your prospects

After you've narrowed your list to your top few candidates, confirm their state bar registration status, and then talk to them about an interview. An attorney may or may not charge you for an interview.

3. Understand each attorney's fees

Price is a key consideration in choosing an attorney. Keep in mind how much you can pay and find a lawyer whose fees you can afford.

How to get a lawyer?

Talk to a Few 1 Talk with several lawyers. Get a sense of their communication skills as well as their expertise. You want to be confident that they know what they’re doing professionally, but also trust your gut about how well you ‘click’ and about how well the attorney will meet your needs. 2 Check in with references. Have brief discussions with clients or colleagues who have an opinion about the lawyer's skills and trustworthiness. (You can ask each lawyer for a list of references to call.) 3 Ask who will do the work. Anticipate that the lawyer you hire may delegate some work to his or her staff. Ask about how much of the work the attorney will do, and consider whether the answer is in line with your expectations. 4 Double check promotional materials. Ask for a copy of a firm brochure and promotional materials. Crosscheck these materials against other sources and references. 5 Understand the retainer agreement. Make sure you understand and agree to the lawyer’s retainer agreement. 6 Consider any special needs you have. For example, could you benefit from an attorney who speaks a language other than English? Do you need the office to be wheelchair accessible? Do you prefer to communicate by phone, rather than email?

What to do when you die?

make a plan for what will happen your property when you die ( wills and trusts) avoid probate (living trusts, transfer-on-death tools, beneficiary designations) reduce estate taxes. plan for incapacity (powers of attorney and living wills) set up trusts for loved ones. manage ongoing trusts. help with probating estates.

Does Medicaid affect estate planning?

For example, if you're going to rewrite your will and your spouse is ill, the estate planner needs to know about how Medicaid will affect your estate plan. Unfortunately, there are some attorneys who hold themselves out as experts in trusts and estates, but who have little or no experience in this area of practice.

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