An estate planning attorney is an attorney who, through years of mentoring, continuing legal education and experience, understands how to advise clients on getting their affairs in order to prepare for the possibility of mental disability and eventual death.
What Qualities Should You Look For in Your Estate Planning Attorney?
Estate planning is definitely not "one size fits all," so it's important to work with an estate planning attorney who has the experience and knowledge to assist you with your unique family and financial situations. You should also feel very comfortable sharing the most intimate details of your life with your estate planning attorney, otherwise your estate plan will fall far short of your expectations.
Aside from this, your estate planning attorney should be well versed in the laws of your state that govern probate, Last Will and Testaments, and trusts, otherwise your estate plan may be invalid or simply won't work the way that you had anticipated.
Expect to Pay a Premium for Your Estate Plan
Be prepared to pay a premium to have your estate plan created, maintained and updated by an experienced and respected estate planning attorney. Why? Because you'll be paying for the estate planning attorney's expertise that has been accumulated over the years through working with a variety of different clients and taking a multitude of continuing legal education classes.
As the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for." Attorneys with limited experience in estate planning as well as non-attorneys are still out there selling Revocable Living Trusts through what the media has referred to as "Living Trust Mills," so if the cost seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Take the time to find and hire an experienced and respected estate planning attorney in your area. In the long run, you and your family will be glad you did.
