Looking for an estate lawyer to help you plan your future but don’t know where to begin? Our guide will help you find an estate planning lawyer who can help you. By following these five easy steps, you can find the best lawyer for your needs.
1. List Out the Specific Things You Need
You need to define your needs before you start looking for an estate planning lawyer. You can visit https://unitylegalservices.net/ to find out what this type of attorney does. Therefore, make a list of your unique goals for your estate plan first. It will be easy to find someone who can help you if you know what you want to achieve.
Ask yourself these questions to help you determine what you need:
- Do I want to start from scratch with my plan?
- Do I want to change or revise an old plan?
- Do I want to finish a certain part of my plan, such as choosing heirs or appointing a guardian?
- Do I need advice or help on how to lower or get rid of future tax bills for your estate and/or beneficiaries?
- Do I want to set up a trust and fund it?
- Is there anything else I’ve not considered?
2. Ask Family and Friends
Recommendations from other people can be very helpful when looking for an estate planning lawyer. Having a lawyer, you can trust can help you relax. You might feel more comfortable if you know that a close family member or friend has hired a particular lawyer in the past.
Therefore, you should make use of your network to help you generate a shortlist. Recommendations can come from family, co-workers, friends, neighbors, or anyone else you trust. Do not take recommendations from people whom you don’t have a personal relationship or connection with.
3. Search in Your Area
Thanks to the internet, you can easily run a quick Google search for an estate attorney. The mistake people make is that after running this Google search, they hire the first professional they find. They don’t even think about where the lawyer is based and the implications it will have on the arrangement.
While it might be fine to do this for some services, it’s a big mistake when it comes to estate law. It’s very important to find a lawyer who is licensed in your state and knows the laws in your area. This is important because each state has different estate planning laws.
Therefore, hiring locally guarantees that the attorney knows the local laws in your area. They are aware when there are changes in the local laws since that is where they are based. Hiring locally is the best way to ensure that your plan covers everything and protects you from future legal issues.
4. Interview Each Potential Attorney
When it comes to hiring any professional, you probably won’t go with the first name you see. At least, you need to do some research and get to know them before deciding. Interviewing the lawyers on your list is the best way to be sure you choose the right one.
The interview process doesn’t have to be long or complicated. You should be able to tell if you’ll feel safe with an attorney. Here are possible interview questions you should ask the estate planning attorney:
- What law school did you attend?
- How many years have you been practicing?
- What would be the method and frequency of communication?
- Who do I need to talk to at your office?
- How will I be kept up to date on my plan? Should I reach out myself, or will you (or someone in your office) give me feedback on a daily basis?
- How much do you charge, and what are your rates? Do you charge by the hour or a flat rate?
- Are there any other fees I should expect besides your standard rate?
- If you have any certifications, what are they?
5. Read Reviews and Testimonials
Review and testimonials about each lawyer on your shortlist should be read before you make your final choice. Online lawyer review sites often have client reviews. You can read this article to find out the best lawyer review sites you can use. These reviews can tell you a lot about a lawyer’s professionalism, how well they communicate, and how often they win cases.
Try to spot patterns in the reviews, such as constant praise for dependability or red flags about bad communication. Also, if you want to hear from real clients, ask the attorney for references from past customers. Taking this step, along with the research you did earlier, will help you make a decision that you can be sure of.
Conclusion
It can be hard to plan your estate. However, it does not have to be that way. With the right knowledge, like the one shared in this article, finding a trustworthy estate planning lawyer is quite easy. So, follow the above steps and get the much-needed help you deserve.
Also Read: The Role of a Real Estate Lawyer in Commercial Business Operations