how do i find an estate attorney?

• Look at biographical information, including the lawyers’ own websites. Do they appear to have expertise in the area of trusts and estates? ...
• Search the internet to learn more about prospective attorneys. Search using the name of the lawyer and his or her law firm. ...
• Ask other people if they have heard of the attorneys and what they think about them.
• Contact your state bar association or visit the bar association's Web site to find out if the lawyer is in good standing.
• Is the lawyer certified as a specialist in your state? Not every state certifies specialists in trusts and estates, or estate planning, but if your state does, selecting a lawyer ...
Check the membership directory of local, state or national associations. Is the lawyer listed? One example would be the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Read any relevant Yelp reviews.
Consider how lawyer's staff treats you when you call the office because they are a reflection of how the lawyer practices. ...
Unless there are special circumstances, you'll want to hire a lawyer with a local office.

Full Answer

How to find a good estate planning attorney?

Apr 16, 2021 · Search for candidates. Start by identifying what you need to accomplish with your estate plan. That information will help you determine the type of attorney you'll need. Most people need a generalist who can help draft a will, powers of attorney, and basic trusts.

What are the duties of an estate attorney?

Knowing how to find an estate attorney is a lot like knowing how to trust a person. You need to talk to them and get a sense of their character. You also need to see examples of how they manage their work, and whether people tend to be satisfied with it. You can reach out to us to schedule a time to speak about what you are looking for in an estate lawyer. We understand …

How to become an estate attorney?

Jan 21, 2022 · How to find an estate planning attorney. Finding an estate attorney may seem like a daunting task, but breaking the process down into smaller steps can help. 1. Create a list of potential attorneys. Here are some places to find an estate planning attorney: Referrals from friends and family. Referrals from financial advisors or accountants

What to look for in an estate planning attorney?

Ask for Referrals

The best way to find someone worth hiring to handle your final wishes is to ask around. Almost everybody should have an estate lawyer, and chances are that the people around you have done their research on theirs. Simply ask them who they went with and look into the lawyer yourself!

Research How to Find an Estate Lawyer Online

In addition to flexing your network, you may also wish to research estate lawyers online. Most law firms have reviews from actual clients either on their website or on their Google page. These reviews are usually from clients who felt compelled enough, positively or negatively, to share their experiences.

You Need an Estate Lawyer that You Can Trust

Knowing how to find an estate attorney is a lot like knowing how to trust a person. You need to talk to them and get a sense of their character. You also need to see examples of how they manage their work, and whether people tend to be satisfied with it.

What is an estate lawyer?

An estate lawyer is trained in matters related to passing on your assets after you die, and planning for situations where you can no longer care for yourself. They are experts in wills, trusts, and your local probate process. Some estate lawyers may also have specialties, like planning the succession of a business.

Who is Derek from Policygenius?

Derek is a personal finance editor at Policygenius in New York City, and an expert in taxes. He has been writing about estate planning, investing, and other personal finance topics since 2017. He especially loves using data to tell a story. His work has been covered by Yahoo Finance, MSN, Business Insider, and CNBC.

What is estate planning?

Planning your estate involves deciding what will happen to your personal property and real estate after you die. The law provides a default scheme for disposing of property, but relying on that involves a lengthy court process and potentially hefty tax consequences for your heirs. The alternative is to plan things out ahead ...

What happens if you don't have liability insurance?

Without liability insurance, you and your heirs could lose everything.

What is the state bar association?

State bar associations often offer a lawyer referral service that enables you to meet briefly with a pre-screened attorney after answering a few general questions about your needs.

How to narrow your list of potential attorneys?

1. Have a preliminary phone consultation. Many attorneys will hold a brief interview with you over the phone. Since these take up less time and require less effort than in-person consultations, you can talk to more attorneys this way and use the phone interviews to narrow your list of possible contenders.

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 35,595 times.