Have you decided it’s time to plan for the future? If so, one of the first things you need to do is find a quality, reliable estate planning attorney. This is a decision you can’t make based on advertisements alone. There are certain things you need to consider and questions you need to ask to hire the right person for the job.
Here you can learn a few tips to help make the hiring process a bit easier.
Beware of Using Internet Directories
There are countless internet directories out there that promise to help you hire the best, most qualified attorney. Unfortunately, what many don’t realize is that the majority of these directories are equivalent to a yellow pages and online. This means you are finding an attorney near you who paid to be found – there’s no consideration of ability, reliability or anything else.
If you want to use the internet to find an attorney, use a site that offers third-party verification. This means the attorneys don’t pay to be listed. Instead, they are ranked based on meeting certain criteria.
Find an Attorney Focused on Estate Planning
There are quite a few attorneys out there who may claim to do estate planning, and while they may, you should find out if they practice exclusively in this area of law.
Just like a doctor who specializes in certain types of medicine, attorneys often limit their practice to just certain areas of law. By finding someone who practices just in estate planning, they will likely have a better understanding of the current law, as well as any issues that surround the particular practice area.
Ignore Hype and Fancy Slogans
While slogans such as, “we care about you,” “we can help you avoid probate,” or “we can help protect your assets,” may seem appealing, they are just words. In fact, each of these slogans are things you should expect from any estate planning attorney you hire. As a result, don’t buy into an attorney or law firm just because of the “hype.” Dive deeper to find out about services, reliability and past client success.
Does the Attorney Have Malpractice Insurance?
Believe it or not, having malpractice insurance is actually a sign of accountability. Anyone can make a mistake, and you shouldn’t hire an attorney without proper malpractice insurance. If a lawyer doesn’t have this coverage, they aren’t providing protection for their clients. In most cases, this will be an attorney you should avoid.
Estate planning services can be complex. As a result, you need to find and hire an attorney who fully understands the law and what needs to be done to create a viable, legal estate plan. By using the tips and information here, you can successfully do just that.
Take your time and consider all the options available to you to help ensure you find the right person for the job. In the long run, this will pay off and help ensure you get the estate plan that you want and need.