An estate planning attorney can help you manage your estate. Read on for a full guide on how to find an estate planning attorney to help.
Did you know that only 46% of Americans have a will that describes how they want their estate handled after they die?
No one likes to think about their own deat, but without a proper estate plan in place, you’re leaving the financial future of your loved ones up to chance. That’s why it’s important to contact an estate planning attorney right away if you don’t have a will.
But exactly how do you find a good estate planning attorney? If you want to know the answer to this question, you’re in the right place.
In this guide, we’ll teach you everything about finding the right professional for your needs.
What Is an Estate Planning Attorney?
Estate laws can get complicated very quickly. Often there are multiple federal and state laws that ultimately affect what you can do with your estate.
Estate planning attorneys are qualified professionals that are familiar with the ins and outs of these laws. They’ll help you value, inventory, distribute and tax your estate in the event that you die.
When you pass away, your loved ones will need to go through the probate process. This is the legal process that distributes your estate to any heirs you’ve left behind.
Without an estate planning attorney and wills in place, probates can be drawn-out excruciating affairs. These professionals make them much easier. But let’s take a closer look at what they do specifically.
What Do These Professionals Do?
Many people think that estate planning attorneys only help you with the actual writing of your estate plan. The reality is that they have a variety of roles and services.
For example, someone might hire one of these professionals to serve as their Power of Attorney.
That means the estate planning attorney would step in for medical, financial, and other types of decisions in the event that you become incapacitated.
Here are some of the common services that estate planning attorneys offer:
- Will writing
- Help you set up Trusts
- Protect any assets you have from creditors
- Set a guardianship for your children
- Advise on tax plans that might be beneficial
- Put a plan in place that reduces the complexity of the probate process
- Establish Power of Attorney
Make sure that this estate planning attorney provides the services you want before hiring them.
Things You Should Do When Looking For an Estate Planning Attorney
There are over 800,000 lawyers in the United States, but only a handful are qualified for estate planning. Because of this, it can often be difficult to find a good one for your needs.
So to help you, we willbe reviewing the steps you should follow to locate the right type of estate planning attorney.
Make a List of Candidates
The first thing you should do is make a list of potential estate planning attorneys in your area. You can do this by making sure that they list estate planning in their practice areas.
Most people that list this area will be able to help you with basic steps like crafting a will, setting up a trust, and putting Power of Attorney in place.
However, sometimes you will need to look for estate planning attorneys with specific qualification areas. For example, if you need help setting up long-term care, or maximizing potential Medicaid benefits, look for one that specializes in elder law.
A basic internet search should help you find some candidates in your area. But we recommend asking around your network first.
Odds are someone you know has an estate planning attorney they can recommend. If not, then you can always turn to Google.
Interview Each of Them
Once you’ve found several candidates and verified their qualifications, you should plan to conduct interviews. You don’t want to go with the first estate planning attorney that you meet.
Otherwise, you might end up with someone that’s not a good fit. Instead, schedule an interview or consultation.
Most attorneys will not charge you for this initial meeting. Make sure you go in prepared. Write down some questions that are relevant to your needs. Some good ones include:
- How long have you practiced estate planning law?
- Where did you go to school?
- What’s your preferred method of communication?
- Who will be my point of contact?
- How much of my case will be handled by paralegals?
- Will you provide me with updates on the current status of my estate plan?
It’s important to trust your instinct during this attorney interview. Go with your gut feeling and if some things feel off, keep shopping around.
Estate planning can be an uncomfortable topic. So it’s vital to find an estate planning attorney that makes you feel at ease. A simple but effective rapport will make the process a lot easier.
Understand Their Fee Structure
Estate planning attorney lawyers typically have two ways of charging. One involves a flat fee that will cover all of the services you need. The other is a predetermined hourly rate.
The rates and averages for both of these price structures will vary depending on where you live. The right one for you will depend on how complicated your needs are.
A simple estate plan can usually be covered by an affordable flat fee. However, more complex plans might require hourly billing instead.
Regardless of which option you choose, you should go with an attorney that makes their fee structure as understandable as possible.
Need an Estate Planning Attorney In Omaha? Contact Husker Law
We hope this guide helped you learn how to find an estate planning attorney for your needs. The good news is that you don’t need to break the bank to get a will in place.
This is especially true if you go with an affordable legal team like the one found at Husker Law. We make sure to offer competitive pricing to our clients. That way, the process is as quick and easy as possible.
If you live in or near Omaha, give us a call at (402) 415-2525 to discuss your case. We can provide consultation about your personal injury case.
