If you have decided 2023 is the year you will draft your will (or update it), let me be the first to congratulate you. It’s the right thing to do for your loved ones. Dying without a will (called dying intestate) can leave your heirs in a difficult and potentially contentious situation. The State of Ohio will step in (and who wants that?) and makes decisions about who gets what etc. And it is possible those decisions would not be the ones you would have made. And, if you have minor children, it can become very complex quickly if their other parent has already passed away. You probably know all this, though, and that’s why you’ve decided to take the step of making a will. Let’s talk about a few steps to finding a lawyer to help you with your will.
Finding an attorney in Cincinnati who can help with a will won’t be difficult.
As a first step, ask friends or relatives who they have used for estate planning, which would include creating a will. Ideally, this will generate some good recommendations. Something to keep in mind is that some lawyers maintain a general practice and provide a full range of legal services, including divorce, family, criminal, real estate, and more. Others, like myself, focus on just one or two areas, like estate planning. You may be more comfortable with an attorney whose practice concentrates just on estate planning.
You can also find a will lawyer near you by accessing some online resources such as:
· FindLaw (an online directory of attorneys by practice type and location)
· Avvo (online resource find lawyers)
· SuperLawyers
· Ohio State Bar Association
Once you have a “short list” of a few lawyers near you to help with your will, I recommend you call them to discuss your needs and discuss how they work. This will allow you to understand the process, what you’ll need to do to prepare for your first meeting, and get answers about fees, etc.
After our initial conversation, I am always honored when a prospective client becomes a new client. That means that I successfully listened to them. While knowledge and experience count for a lot, I believe my ability to listen to my clients and understand their concerns and needs is equally, if not more, important.
If 2023 is your year to make or update your will and you’re looking for a lawyer here in Cincinnati, I would be honored to be of assistance to you. Feel free to visit my website at www.davidelefton.com or call me at 513-399-7526.