If you want to make sure that your family is protected and your property is taken care of properly if a tragic accident should take place, estate planning is an essential task. Though most people don’t know many of the estate planning basics, you don’t need to be too concerned about a lack of knowledge, because professionals are able to help. Estate planning attorneys have the skill and experience needed to not only let you know the steps you need to take, but also to provide some sound advice for asset protection. As a result, they are a great resource if you want to make sure everything is in order, even if you are currently healthy.

What to Look for in an Estate Planning Attorney

There are a few things to consider when you are trying to find a good estate planning attorney. The first thing you should look for is an attorney who focuses on estate planning, rather than other practice areas. There are lots of specific laws and rules for estate planning, and attorneys who don’t focus in that area might not be super familiar with them. Though that might not mean that they will make a mistake, necessarily, it could mean that it takes longer for them to find information or provide advice than others.

In addition, you should try to find whether or not an attorney has had success in the past. Checking their website and reading reviews might lead to some useful information, but the best way to find a good estate planning attorney who has a proven track record is to ask friends or relatives who have gone through the process before. According to estimates, 41% of people between the ages of 55 and 64 in the U.S. don’t have a will in place, but that doesn’t mean you don’t know anybody who can’t provide some insights.

The most important thing to think about is hiring a lawyer you can trust. During the estate planning process, you will need to share lots of private family information, and you’ll be better able to open up if you are working with someone you trust. While it is hard to know whether or not you completely trust an attorney before you actually spend time working with them, trusting your instincts, at least to some extent, is wise.

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Carrie Russom Quraishi, JD, CAPP
Carrie provides personalized wealth management, tax and estate planning services to clients in AR, TX & TN.