Creating an estate plan is crucial for anyone who wants to ensure their assets and loved ones are well taken care of after they die. This involves drafting plenty of legal documents, making it important to find an attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable in estate planning. Individuals can often identify the best attorneys for their needs by asking them the following questions.
1. What Types Of Services Do You Offer?
The scope of an estate planning attorney’s services can vary significantly, and it’s important for individuals to understand what each firm offers before deciding to work with them. Some attorneys may focus exclusively on creating trust documents, while others may also help with other aspects of an estate’s transfer, such as taxation and minimizing risks. Individuals should also make sure that their prospective lawyer has experience with the types of assets they own, such as real estate, stocks and other financial investments.
2. How Long Does It Take To Complete An Estate Plan?
The length of time that it takes to complete an estate plan can vary considerably depending on the complexity of an individual’s situation. The creation of an estate plan is usually a collaborative process, and it’s crucial for potential clients to find out how much time they can expect to spend working with their attorney. Some firms like Davis & Associates Attorneys at Law will charge a flat fee for their services, while others will bill their clients on an hourly basis. Individuals should make sure to ask prospective attorneys about their billing methods and whether or not they offer upfront estimates for their services.
3. Do You Have Any Special Research Tasks?
Some aspects of estate planning require an attorney to perform a great deal of research. This is especially true for individuals who have complex family histories or substantial assets that need to be accounted for in their plans. Finding information regarding next of kin and heirship is often difficult, as families can become estranged over the years, and ancestry records are frequently lost or improperly maintained.
4. Do You Stay Up-To-Date With Changes in Laws?
The estate planning process is a complicated one, and it’s vital for an attorney to be aware of changes in laws that might impact their clients. This can involve regularly attending continuing education courses and seminars, as well as reading legal journals and other sources of information. Many attorneys also participate in legislative advocacy programs to support changes that would benefit their clients.
5. What Are Your Options For Choosing An Executor?
One of the most important parts of an estate plan is choosing a person to manage the estate after an individual’s death. An estate planning attorney can review the various options available and recommend a choice that is in line with an individual’s goals and circumstances. They can also help their clients create effective letters of instruction that detail their preferred methods for managing an estate and how they wish to be distributed after their death.