Happy Holidays! I hope that the New Year will bring you much joy and happiness!
One of your goals in the New Year is probably to get your estate plan done (and if it isn’t, it should be. It will be easier than losing weight, trust me). And in getting around to this task, you may need some help in getting started.
First, in deciding how to choose an estate planning attorney, I would think about this scenario.
The unimaginable happens. There is an accident, and suddenly your family’s is facing a future without you. They are in a state of shock, but fortunately, they know where they can turn for help. You had planned your estate with a trusted, competent estate attorney – a person who had worked with you to identify your concerns and how to address them. A person who will now help guide your family, following YOUR wishes, and be a source of support and compassion.
Thus, when choosing your attorney, you should seek a person with whom you have built a relationship so that this person can guide and comfort your family when the unthinkable happens. It isn’t simply about getting some documents drawn up. As I have discussed in previous blogs, aspects of estate planning can be hard and you want someone whom you can ask difficult questions and help find the right answers for your family. This is not a one-size-fits all decision, so price shopping for an estate lawyer is probably not going to get you the best long-term result.
A few simple steps to help you choose the right attorney:
- Ask trusted family, friends or professionals (accountant/financial advisor) for referrals. Large firms may have you working with a paralegal and general practitioners do not focus on estate planning. The best compliment that I ever received was from a client who said that the estate planning “set in motion a friendship that I will always cherish. Her ability and knowledge to see to my best needs set my mind at ease.”
- Ask about fees, but remember price shopping is great for mattresses, not for attorneys. My clients have paid others $1500, $4000, $7000, and even $10,000 for estate plans, but the plans did not do what the clients wanted them to do. Pricing is not the most important factor. What is important is whether the lawyer is trustworthy and detailed. Do you think that the lawyer cares about you? Will the lawyer fix his/her mistakes, if any, at no charge to you?
- Ask questions: You don’t need to be afraid of asking tough questions before you choose your attorney: estate attorneys understand better than anyone what is at stake. A good attorney will appreciate your active involvement and will be willing to answer questions in advance about his/her practice. If an attorney will not take the time to answer your questions now, will he/she be available to help your family later?
I will post a follow-up blog that list some questions you should ask your attorney called “Getting Started Part II – Questions to Ask When Interviewing Estate Planning Attorneys.”
I am thankful that my clients have chosen me as their attorney, which is why I work so hard to make sure I provide quality work and that their best interests are always my focus. I cherish and take as a great privilege anyone who chooses me as their attorney.