FAQs about an Estate Attorney

An estate lawyer is a really important person to have on your team. They'll help you design wills and trusts, help you plan for the future, and make sure that your family gets what they deserve.

What is an estate attorney?

A lawyer who works in estate law is certified by his or her state’s bar and focuses on estate planning and drafting legal documents, including trusts and wills. Because both often work with people who are involved with an estate, family law and estate attorneys work together.

What does an Estate Attorney Do?

Estate attorneys like those at Hackard Law are experts in the laws of wills, trusts, and other uses of property. They help their clients decide who should get what from the estate, as well as how and when that distribution should take place.

How you decide to handle estate planning depends on your family's situation and that of your estate. In some cases, it is recommended that you include a provision that a trust can be formed to deal with your property or trusts can be created in your will. For example, if you have children with special needs, your estate attorney may advise you that you should give an inheritance to them before you die, or they may ask that you set up a trust or a special needs trust (often called trusts for the elderly).

A seasoned Estate Attorney has the training and experience to ensure your estate is handled properly.

Why do you need an estate attorney?

An estate attorney's responsibility is to help your family manage the estate after you are gone. They keep an eye on money you leave to them or to charities and to any charities you may have to your name. They also want to make sure your finances are taken care of in case you have a long illness or even a stroke and you can't communicate with your loved ones.

An important function of an estate attorney is often to protect your interests through a legal power of attorney.

How do I Choose an Estate Attorney?

You should never have to ask your friends and family to help you with your estate planning. You need to think of your estate attorney as more than just a lawyer. He or she is also a financial planner and a trustee. In fact, the attorney will help you set up your estate plan and will hold your hand throughout the process.

Consider these other points when you're choosing an estate attorney:

Keeps fees reasonable
Be certain you're getting good value for your money.
Don't spend more than $1,500 on your estate planning fees.

What should I expect from an estate attorney?

Among other things are reputable estate attorney will:

Help you design an estate plan that reflects your priorities and puts you first
Provide you with full representation from the moment you secure his or her services.
Present your case in your best light and fight for what you deserve.
Work with you to set up an estate plan that maximizes your potential.
Oversee your estate plan from start to finish to make sure you and your family are secure and are being protected.
Be an advocate for you and your family.

When can I expect to start using an estate attorney?

Financial insecurity can cause people to postpone estate planning. Due to the rapidly growing retirement population, estate law attorneys are in high demand. Graduating with good grades at a prestigious law along with scoring high on the bar exam are two of the most important things to look for when choosing representation.

Generally, people look for an estate attorney when:

They realize they have a problem
When they get their will
When they realize they can't do it alone

Estate law attorneys are integral to society because of the large retirement population. Which means they are in high demand.

Conclusion

Don't make the mistake of relying on your family and friends to be your last line of defense for your estate. You need a professional to help protect your family and your legacy.