Although many of us associate estate planning with growing old, it is important for adults in all stages of life. Thorough estate planning is more than just creating a will to decide who you will pass things on to after you die. It also includes creating a living will with medical directives, deciding on who you want to have power of attorney, designating guardianship for any children under the age of 18, and much more. This is why it is important to find the right estate planning attorney for your family. Here are a few important guidelines to keep in mind when choosing an attorney to assist with your estate planning documents.
Consider how much experience they have
One of the most important considerations to take into account when choosing an attorney to assist with your will, living will, power of attorney, and other estate planning documents is how many years of experience they have in the field. This will depend on the size of your estate. For a straightforward estate, look for an attorney with at least two to three years of experience. If your estate is more complicated, try to find someone with at least seven to ten years of experience in the field.
Make sure their pricing is fair
Another important factor to consider when choosing an attorney to assist with your estate planning documents is their pricing. As with most things in life, you don’t want to go with the cheapest option, because quality matters when creating these important documents. However, you also want to make sure your attorney is charging a fair price. We suggest discussing fees with your attorney up front, and being suspicious of anyone whose rates seem incredibly low or are flat rate. You want to know that your attorney is tailoring your services to your specific needs, so the fee should not be set in stone, but rather vary based on the details of your specific estate planning needs.
Ensure the attorney listens to your questions and makes you feel comfortable
When choosing an attorney to assist with your estate planning documents, it is important that you feel comfortable with them and that they listen to and fully answer your questions. You do not want to feel like you are being rushed out of the office and left with a million questions after your meeting. A good estate planning attorney will make you and your family feel at ease and will welcome your questions with thorough, well thought out answers.
Choosing an attorney to assist with important estate planning documents such as wills, living wills, and power of attorney is an important choice. If you are looking for an experienced attorney that will take the time to listen to your specific estate planning needs to help you create a plan that best serves your family, contact us today. As always, your family is our top priority.
- COVID-19 NOTICE - March 23, 2020
- The Complete DUI Law Guide: Everything you need to Know About DUIs - September 19, 2018
- The Criminal Defense Guide: Know How To Stay Protected If Charged - August 14, 2018