How to Pick an Estate Lawyer

Posted by Kevin Smith
7
Feb 1, 2017
96 Views
If you are thinking about the future, you probably want to plan for distributing your assets. Estate planning can be a tremendously complicated process, as it involves a complex variety of federal, state, and local laws. Fortunately, estate attorneys in Charleston have the expertise to put together a solid estate plan. Picking the right lawyer, though, can be challenging. Here are some simple steps for picking the right estate lawyer.

Find a Reputable Firm

In law, reputation matters. If a lawyer does a good job for your neighbors, he or she will probably do a good job for you. This is particularly true when it comes to estate planning. When you are looking for the right attorney, make sure you look for a reputable firm. Don’t be too shy to ask for professional references. Also, consider checking online reviews. Even better, lawyers frequently receive ratings from professional organizations. Alternatively, you might consider reaching out to the bar association or a local practice group for referrals.

Ask About Experience

Estate planning is complicated. As such, you probably don’t want to work with a lawyer that doesn’t have considerable experience with wills, trusts, and estates. When you are interviewing potential estate attorneys in Charleston, ask about specific experience. In particular, check to make sure the lawyer has worked with assets like yours. Finally, check to see whether the attorney or a paralegal will handle your case. If you are looking for the best experience, you want to work with a firm that gives you access to skilled attorneys.

Think About Licensure

If all your assets are primarily located in one state, you probably won’t have to worry about where your attorney is licensed to practice law. If your estate is spread over several jurisdictions, though, you might. Before you talk to a lawyer, think about where you have property and other assets. Discuss the geographical location of these with your attorney and make sure he or she can represent you everywhere you need representation. If not, your attorney can probably recommend someone in another jurisdiction who can help out there.

Don’t Forget Personality

Planning your estate will be a process that will take some time. You must work closely with your lawyer and his or her firm to get everything right. You do not, then, want to work with a lawyer you can’t stand. While you don’t need to be your attorney’s best friend, you should have a good working relationship with your attorney. Similarly, your attorney should care about providing great client service. He or she should return your calls and answer all your questions.

Consider Location

It seems logical, but you should think about the physical location of your attorney’s office. Since you will need to sign documents, attend meetings, and otherwise engage with your attorney’s firm, you want to be sure you don’t have far to go. Also, if you develop a good working relationship with your lawyer during the estate planning process, you might want to use his or her services on other cases in the future. Because of this, you want to be certain you can easily access the lawyer and firm.

When you are in the process of estate planning, you want the best representation possible. When searching for estate attorneys in Charleston, consider these suggestions to find the best one.
Comments
avatar
Please sign in to add comment.