If you are facing difficult family issues such as a second marriage, are an owner of multiple businesses or are planning to draw up a will, then you may need the assistance of an estate planning attorney. An estate planning attorney helps you make decisions regarding issues such as your will and inheritance in the light of the legalities involved. With the help of your accountant and financial advisor, an estate planning attorney will chalk out a plan for you.
However, choosing an estate planning attorney is a difficult decision that could only be made once you are fully aware of all the estate planning attorneys available and which suits you best. The question that most people in search of an estate planning attorney face is that how should they choose an attorney for themselves. In order to make an informed decision about your estate planning attorney, there are several things that you need to keep in mind.
Almost all estate planning attorneys have some knowledge about probate laws and estate administration. What sets a competent estate planning attorney apart from an average attorney is that a good estate planning attorney will be knowledgeable about issues such as income tax, estate tax and gift tax. All these aspects of estate planning are interlinked, which is why your estate planning attorney should have a grasp over all of these aspects.
Laws such as excise tax laws and generation skipping laws are very intricate and detailed, which is why only the best attorney with ample estate planning experience can handle these issues. To gauge an attorney’s experience in estate planning you need to look at the amount of time that they have been handling such cases for, as well as what percentage of their overall work is estate planning. Look for an attorney who has been in the field for several years and who devotes most of their time to estate planning.
Talk to other clients of the attorney, both past and present. See if they are satisfied with the attorney’s performance. Nothing speaks more about an attorney than their customer satisfaction level. If they have kept other clients happy, they will keep you happy too. Do not waste time in going to attorneys whose vision does not match yours.
Go over fees and payment deadlines with a prospective attorney. If you feel that an attorney is overcharging for their services then do not settle for such an attorney. After all, you need an attorney to look after your money, not to leave you without money. Alternatively, if an attorney is charging too little then this may be a cause for alarm too. Such attorneys often do not spend time in making a customized plan that suits you best. A good attorney will make a customized plan while charging moderately.
Estate planning is an important yet risky business. This is why you should choose an attorney who understands your needs and meets your demands. Why go to anyone but the best attorney in town? Choose an estate planning attorney who will inform you about the minute details regarding all laws that govern your estate.
