Are you looking for an attorney to handle all of your estate planning needs, but not sure where to begin with your search? If so, it will help to follow these tips for finding an estate planning attorney.
Do You Have Any Trusted Recommendations?
Consider starting your search by asking family and friends if they have personal recommendations from estate planning lawyers that they have used in the past. This is most likely the best way to get an honest review about how an estate planning lawyer performed because it will come from a source that you trust to give you advice.
Does The Lawyer Practice Exclusively With Estate Planning?
It is always important that you look at what your lawyer specializes in when selecting them. As much as you'd love to use a family member that is a lawyer, the lawyer that you really want is somebody that specializes in this area of the law. There are a ton of small nuances when it comes to estate planning, and a lawyer that is not completely familiar with that area may not be doing things to the best of their abilities in terms of estate planning.
How Many Years Of Experience Do They Have?
You should also consider how many years of experience the estate planning lawyer has in this area. If they have been practicing law for a very long time and recently switched to handling estate planning cases, ask how long they have specifically been working with estate planning. You certainly can't go wrong with selecting a lawyer that has a lot of experience in the area that you will be working in.
What Kind Of Fees Can You Expect?
Estate planning lawyers either work for a flat fee or an hourly rate, so it is worth asking about how you will be billed for their services. If you have a relatively small estate that you need help with, your lawyer may give you a flat fee for their services because they can easily estimate how much time it will take to handle your job.
Can You Schedule A Consultation?
Know that you do not blindly have to select an estate planning attorney based on the information you find online. Consider making a consultation with an estate planning attorney in your area to get to know them better. This can give you a good idea if they will be a great fit for you.