What Services Does an Estate Planning Attorney Provide?
A knowledgeable estate planning attorney can create wills and trusts that are very difficult for others to contest, can help you make plans for potential incapacitation, and can help you ensure all your loved ones are taken care of in the way you would want after your death. Estate planning attorneys can do the following:- Help you prepare a Last Will and Testament
- Help you choose your beneficiaries and determine how your assets will be distributed after your death
- Help you set up and manage a Living Trust or a charitable trust
- Ensure your estate plan is ironclad in the face of contests
- Help protect your assets from creditors
- Help you minimize the tax liabilities your heirs will face
- Help you appoint a guardian for your minor children
- Prepare an Advanced Health Care Directive that will outline your end-of-life decisions
- Prepare a durable power of attorney document for healthcare decisions
- Help you plan for the unexpected, such as the death of a beneficiary
- Help you handle assets not specifically bequeathed
How Do You Find the Right California Estate Planning Attorney for You and Your Family?
While the Internet can be useful for finding an estate planning attorney, it should never be your only source. There are many different methods of finding an estate planning attorney that is right for you, including:- Ask for referrals from family and friends
- Check with your state and local bar associations
- Ask for referrals from your financial advisor or accountant
- Check Local financial institutions
- Check attorneys used for other legal matters
- Check online Internet reviews.
- How long have you been practicing probate law and estate planning in the state of California?
- What law school did you attend?
- How will we contact one another—phone, email, text?
- Will you be the person I talk to, or will it be someone else in your office?
- Will you send me reminders and updates in the future or is this a “one and done” service?
- What are your rates, and will you charge me hourly, or do you offer a fixed rate?
- Whether your rates are hourly or fixed, are there additional charges not included?
