Choosing an Estate Planning Lawyer

When it comes to preparing a successful estate planning strategy, you need to hire a lawyer who is well versed in this branch of the legal profession. Planning an estate is not really something that any licensed lawyer is capable of doing. There are many different types of estate planning techniques such as living trusts, foundations and dynasty trusts. Many are complex in nature and call for the expertise of estate attorneys who understand the ins and outs of every strategy.

Every state has their own probate laws as well as wealth distribution laws. The lawyer you hire to deal with your estate planning documents must be someone who is very knowledgeable about these laws and knows how to apply them to your unique set of circumstances. Doing this can help your family members to reduce the amount of estate and probate taxes they must pay once you have passed away.

When searching for a qualified estate planning attorney, look for one who has at least 10 years experience. You also want to select one who is licensed to practice law in the state that you live in. Before you begin to work with the attorney you may wish to ask for references that you can check into. It is always wise to be safe as opposed to sorry. 

An excellent way to locate an attorney who deals with estate planning is to ask loved ones or friends who have already had an estate plan drafted. Find out which law firm they went through and find out who they would recommend. One of your best resources is someone who already has experience with these matters. You also might want to check with professional associations and organizations in your area that offer continuing education opportunities for estate lawyers. Qualified and experienced attorneys are often members of such groups.

As you peruse the options in lawyers, it helps to be aware that estate and tax laws do not remain stationary, but instead they change very often. That is why hiring a legal professional who practices this type of law and is up-to-date on all of the latest developments is so important for you. If your estate plan is drawn up by an attorney who has not practiced this kind of law in quite a while then your plan might not include any recent modifications that have occurred to laws. This could place your family in a bad situation that you could avoid.

There are plenty of attorneys to choose from, but it is the absolute best of the bunch that you want working for you. Look for someone whose primary practice or one of his or her areas of expertise is estate planning. This is your assurance that the individual knows everything there is to know and will not leave anything out or forget to bring certain things to your attention as you work through the process together step-by-step. Meet with the attorney face-to-face before you hire him. Do not hire a legal professional sight unseen. Arrange a meeting and then make your decision from there.