How to Select the Right Estate Planning Attorney for Your Needs
If you were to look for an estate planning attorney via a Google search, you’d likely find over a dozen pages of hundreds of candidates. It quickly becomes clear that simply finding someone to help you in preparing a will and trust isn’t difficult at all. The hard part is in finding an attorney that is qualified and suited to meet your particular needs.
In this article, we’ll cover key facts that you likely want to know. We’ll address questions such as:
- What are some qualifications that I should look for?
- How can I know if one attorney is better for me than another?
- Is finding the lowest price and “best deal” the right approach?
What Qualifications are Necessary?
At the most basic level, all attorneys are ethically expected to perform in a certain manner, including: providing clients with an informed understanding of their legal rights and obligations and explaining practical implications; be competent, prompt and diligent; maintain communication with the client concerning the representation; and conduct should conform to the requirements of the law, both in professional service to clients and in the lawyer’s business and personal affairs. So, you should expect those qualities from any attorney that you might consider. However, if you research some attorneys you’ll find that their review/references don’t always show high marks in these areas, such as slow-to-respond, speaking in legalese that confuses clients, lacking diligence in attending to a client’s specific needs, etc. If you have any concerns after interviewing attorneys, it is suggested that you ask for references and look at online reviews as part of your selection process.
Beyond these basics, there are differentiating qualities that you should consider. If you want a better overall, personalized experience vs. a lower-end/cheap price product, these should be important to you:
- Specialized expertise as a “Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law” by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
- Many years of experience in estate planning
- Reputation with legal colleagues
- History of satisfied clients
- Understands your needs and specific situation
- Responsiveness and attentiveness to your engagement
- Reasonable rates
In addition, you will benefit from an attorney who has a “high standard of client care” that will make the entire experience more enjoyable and satisfying for you, such as:
- Effective in day-to-day guidance, step-by-step directions
- Clear communication and terminology
- Do you feel comfortable working with them?
The Selection Process
Now that you know the qualifications that are necessary, it’s time to start the process of finding the right attorney to work with in preparing your estate plan. Here are some important steps:
- Compile a list of candidates. Ask friends, talk to professional resources (e.g., your CPA, estate planning attorney, business attorney, life insurance agent, etc.), and perform internet research to identify a list of quality candidates.
- Review qualifications (per above). You’ll want to have clear answers that make you feel confident in moving forward.
- Contact each candidate for an interview. Ask questions that are important to you. Get a sense as to whether the attorney cares about your situation and is willing to invest the time to fully satisfy your concerns.
- Make a final selection. Evaluate all finalists based on the same factors and most likely one will rise to the top, depending upon the attorney’s expertise/experience/reputation, your comfort level in working with the attorney, and rates, among any other factors that are critical to you.
How to Find the Right One
While the above steps simplify the process, it can sometimes still be difficult to sort out who is best for you … (READ THE FULL ARTICLE)
Specialized Estate Planning Expertise
At Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC we recognize that some of the most important decisions involve protecting what you have earned, and planning to provide for your loved ones. If you need legal expertise in addressing your specific estate planning needs, please contact Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC at (714) 384-6053 to make an appointment, or use our online contact form. Our website is http://www.ocestateplanning.net.
About the author:
Tamsen R. Reinheimer, Attorney, is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). She has significant experience in all aspects of estate planning, trust administration, and probate. Contact Tamsen at tamsen@ocestateplanning.net.