Creating an estate plan is a simple way to take care of your loved ones when you’re no longer able to on your own. However, more than 60% of American adults don’t even have a will in place.
The sooner you can put one together, the better off your family will be.
So, where do you start? You need to find an estate planning lawyer to help you with the process. Doing so will ensure that proper planning strategies are in place when you pass away.
Here are a few key things to look for when you start searching for a lawyer to help.
Extensive Experience
When you start looking for an estate planning lawyer, one of the first things you’ll discover is that many attorneys claim to offer the service. Unfortunately, choosing the first legal professional you find isn’t always the best option.
Instead, you’ll want to make sure the attorney has extensive experience in estate planning. If you can, choose a lawyer that specializes in estate planning services.
Choosing an attorney that doesn’t have tons of experience puts you at risk of creating a plan that doesn’t work for your needs.
A Willingness to Communicate
The most qualified lawyer to help you with estate planning should be a good communicator from the very beginning. If you can, schedule consultations with several attorneys in your area and pay attention to the way they communicate.
Their support staff should be friendly and helpful when you’re scheduling appointments. The attorneys themselves should be kind and attentive to your situation. They should take the time to ask questions about your background and your concerns so they can understand the types of planning you need.
If an attorney doesn’t ask you questions or you’re not comfortable with them during the consultation, keep looking.
Convenient Locations
Ultimately, you’ll need to visit your estate planning lawyer several times throughout the process. This means you’ll need to choose a professional that has a local office that’s convenient for you and your family.
There are attorneys that serve entire states out of a single office. Though you can work with them, getting them the information they need for proper planning and scheduling meetings with them can be tough.
By working with a local estate planning lawyer, you’ll reduce the stress and hassle associated with creating a comprehensive estate plan. Even better, you’ll be able to coordinate meeting times more easily.
Look for These Traits to Ensure Proper Planning for Your Estate
Proper planning is essential if you want to leave a lasting legacy for those you love. Finding the right estate planning lawyer can help make the process much easier.
Look for legal professionals that have these key traits and make appointments with several in your area. Choose the attorney that you’re most comfortable working with.
Once you have an estate plan in place, you’ll still need to plan for your financial future. Check out our latest posts for more tips to help you make the best decisions possible.