To have a solid estate plan is important. If you are ready to work on your plan, you may want to consider a lawyer. A lawyer can help provide you with guidance and ensure that your estate plan is valid, no matter what estate planning vehicle you choose. Before choosing a lawyer, here are some considerations that you should take into account.
Do Your Research
When it comes to finding a lawyer, research is probably the best tool that you have. Make sure that you look into a lawyer’s practice, his or her reviews and maybe even ask around for referrals. When you look into your lawyer’s experience, it is important that he or she has experience in estate planning. Other areas that may help are finance and business law. You want to make sure that he or she specializes, however, in estate planning.
Ask Questions
Whether you call the lawyer or set up a consultation, remember to ask questions. You should not only ask about experience, but you should ask about the process and the fees involved. Make sure that you feel comfortable around the lawyer and can ask him or her about him or herself and about estate planning law, in general. Law can be complex and tricky! If you’re speaking to an expert, you want to be sure that he or she can answer any questions that you have.
Be Open-Minded
When you have your first appointment with an estate planning lawyer, keep an open mind. Trust law is complex and to set up a valid trust can take time and effort that most people don’t recognize until its time to work on their own estate plan. You want to make sure that you understand the ins and outs because the last thing that you want is for your trust to be invalid. Keep an open mind when it comes to your estate planning lawyer’s advice. You do not necessarily want a lawyer who simply tells you what he or she thinks that you want to hear.
When you are ready to focus on your estate plan, it helps to have a lawyer that is on your side and that you can trust to navigate you through the process. It’s crucial that you feel comfortable enough with your lawyer to ask questions.