If you have estate planning needs, chances are that you have searched online for a lawyer or have been given referrals from friends or colleagues. You are wise to be doing your research and asking around. You need to find the best lawyer possible to help protect what you have built and the people you love.
Before selecting someone to handle your estate plan, it is worth interviewing a few different attorneys so that you can make an informed decision about who you want to entrust with your estate. This post will highlight a few helpful questions to ask at the initial consultations.
Question 1: How much of your practice is spent on estate planning?
Many attorneys offer estate planning services alongside several other practice areas. However, there is truly a benefit in choosing a lawyer who devotes the majority of his or her practice to estate planning. He or she will be most familiar with the complex laws and able to create a plan that is tailored to whatever unique needs you have.
Question 2: Can you tell me about your experiences handling estates like mine?
You need to know more than where a lawyer went to law school and how long they have been in practice. You need to know if they have handled estates like yours and how they can help you accomplish your goals, such as making sure that your estate goes to your kids instead of the government or protecting a loved one with special needs.
Question 3: Are there potential legal issues that I should know about?
Every estate has its own potential legal issues that could arise and create substantial problems down the road, if they are not handled appropriately. The right estate planning attorney should be able to identify these possible red flags and explain what could happen so that you can make informed decisions about your estate.
These are just a few of the questions that can help you choose the right lawyer to get an effective estate plan in place. Your estate and your loved ones are too important to trust just anyone.