Like many other professions and services, the law offers a wide range of practitioners – those specializing in a particular area, those with decades of experience (versus the brand new lawyers), and those highly regarded by clients and colleagues. If you are looking for an estate planning attorney, where do you begin, and how should you decide which one is best for you?
#1 Tip: Ask friends, family, and colleagues. There is nothing like getting first-hand referrals from those you trust. There is no need to ask for details, of course; ask if they provided satisfactory services, if they met their commitments, and if they were knowledgeable and responsive. There may be other personal factors for you, such as experience working with blended families or high-income clients.
#2 Tip: Professional Organizations. It is easy to determine if a lawyer under consideration is a member of organizations such as the American Bar Association and your state’s bar association. While there is no guarantee, it indicates if the attorney stays up-to-date with changes that can impact you and your estate plan. While looking at directories, you can confirm a lawyer’s credentials to practice in your state.
#3 Tip: Online Reviews. Most attorneys have a presence on the web now. That makes it easy to research, discover if they concentrate on one or more areas of law, and review client comments. Check out the Google reviews plus any testimonials that might appear on the site.
#4 Tip: Experience and Expertise. Often, the website will provide a great deal of information regarding their years of experience, the practice areas in which they concentrate, their education, and more. Many attorneys focus ONLY on estate planning; others are general practitioners, and it is just one of many services they provide. I chose to concentrate almost exclusively on estate planning, which I believe allows me to keep up with all the latest laws and regulations. General practitioners may or may not always be 100% up-to-date.
#5 Tip: Fees and Billing. While cost should not be the only factor when choosing an attorney to handle your will and estate plan, it is essential to understand, upfront, what the cost will be for the service you require. Just a will? An entire estate plan? Maybe an update of an estate plan you created long ago? It is also good to know, once you’ve chosen the attorney, how are future reviews handled? For example, I offer all my clients a complimentary review of their estate plan every three years. This helps to ensure the documents are all current. Sometimes, an out-of-date will can almost be worse than no will at all.
#6 Tip: Compatibility. This is very personal and can only be determined by experiencing an initial consultation. Does the attorney take the time to explain the process in terms you understand? Do you feel comfortable asking questions?
Ask about their approach to estate planning to determine if you are on the “same page.”
Of course, other factors come into play for you. Maybe you don’t want to face the traffic and hassles of going all the way downtown, for example. Only you can know some of those very personal criteria, but in general, I think if you follow the six tips I’ve provided, it will lead you to an estate planning attorney who will be the best for you. I would be honored to be your attorney and welcome a call to schedule an initial consultation at 513-399-7526 or visit my website, www.davidlefton.com, for my background, education, credentials, and more.