Estate planning is an important step in protecting your future and that of your loved ones. The legal tools you can put in place with a comprehensive estate plan can do so much more than help secure the distribution you want for your assets after you pass away, which is very important in and of itself. It can also memorialize your healthcare wishes, empower a trusted individual to make critical healthcare decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated, allow you to select a guardian for your children should you pass away or become incapacitated, and put important financial plans in place to preserve wealth, shield assets, and minimize tax implications. Now that you know what can be accomplished with an estate plan, it is time to find a lawyer to help memorialize your wishes.
How to Choose an Estate Planning Attorney Near You
Choosing an estate planning attorney near you is important for several reasons. First, a nearby location is preferred for convenience sake. Meeting with your attorney in person and executing legal documents will be easier for you if he or she is located nearby. Furthermore, local attorneys will have experience with local probate judges and court procedures, which can be helpful.
When you start looking for an estate planning attorney near you, however, you may become overwhelmed by the options, even if you limit it by location. To further help narrow down your search, look for attorneys whose practices focus mostly, if not all, on estate planning. More experience matters. Those who focus their practice on estate planning are more likely to be well versed in the intricacies and unique complexities this area of the law involves. They are also more likely to make staying up to date on the current laws impacting estate planning.
Once you have further narrowed down by location and practice area, you might wish to try talking to friends and family to see if they have any personal experience with a certain attorney. You will also want to schedule a meeting with a potential attorney. Estate planning can involve personal details and will require disclosure of some delicate matters such as finances and family dynamics. You want an attorney you are comfortable with and have confidence in.
Look for an attorney that can provide you with clear answers to your questions. They should not only be able to demonstrate a command of the law but one that allows them to cut through the legal jargon and explain things in a way that can be understood, even at the most basic level, by non-lawyers. Ask about your estate planning options. Ask about what the various estate planning tools can accomplish. Ask about how much the attorney’s fees are and be clear on what expenses may be involved in the estate planning process.
Estate Planning Attorneys
Are you looking for a knowledgeable estate planning you can count on? Look no further than OC Wills & Trusts is here for you. Our team of trusted estate planning attorneys is here to serve you and your loved ones. Contact us today.
