questions to ask when looking for an estate planning attorney

• “What percentage of your practice is devoted to Probate, Trusts, & Estate Planning Law?”
• “How long have you personally been doing estate planning?”
• “What is your estate planning process?”
• “What will you need from us?”
• Refer to an area of concern and ask about how they’d handle it. ...
• “Will you write general, financial and/or medical powers of attorney for us?”
• “Do you provide Health Care Directives?”
• “How often do you recommend that we get together to review these documents after they’re written?”
“How will I know if a change is necessary due to a change in estate or tax law?”
“How do you charge for estate planning?” (example: flat fee for the documents, hourly charges for re-titling assets)
“What do your fees include?'
“What services are not included in that fee?”
“Does your fee include a regular review of my legal documents?”
"How do you go about communicating with my other advisors (financial planner/CPA)?"

Full Answer

What should you look for in your estate planning attorney?

Jun 29, 2021 · Questions to Ask Your Estate-Planning Attorney Questions to help you find an attorney you can trust with your estate plans. By. Troy Segal. Full Bio. LinkedIn; Twitter; Troy Segal is an editor and ...

Do you really need an estate planning attorney?

Mar 01, 2022 · If you are looking for an estate planning attorney. This blog listed some questions that you should ask your estate planning attorney. Read more!

What are good questions to ask an attorney?

Dec 01, 2020 · Typically an attorney is the best asset you can use to help build a Will, Trust, or comprehensive Estate Plan that will keep your family out of probate court, saving them $10,000s in legal fees, countless hours in court, and ensure that your assets and property pass on smoothly to the people in your life you care about the most.

How to find the right estate planning attorney?

The thought of planning your estate may seem daunting. You might wonder where to start or what you should ask your attorney. To get your estate plan off on the right foot, consider the following six questions to discuss with your estate planning attorney. Use Your Time Wisely A Get-Started Guide to Seeking Sound Advice 2 3 4 5

A. When we see clients with defective Wills, Trusts, and Estate Plans, it is almost always because they purchased a fill-in-the-blank form which was not tailored to their particular needs..

This is often because the client purchased a “pre-drafted” plan online, or because they hired an attorney who did not take the time to understand the client’s needs.

A. Many law offices (and nearly all of the online do-it-yourself companies) do NOT handle one of the most important aspects of drafting a Will, Trust, or Estate Plan – the signing ceremony..

I always find this odd because there are a number of extremely complicated rules, regulations, and formalities that must be followed when signing your estate documents.

A. Most attorneys bill by the hour..

Billing rates vary anywhere from $150 per hour on the low end to $800 per hour on the high end.

Written By Chris Atallah - Founder, Rochester Law Center, PLLC

Chris Atallah is a licensed Michigan Attorney and the author of “The Ultimate Guide to Wills & Trusts – Estate Planning for Michigan Families”. Over that past decade, Chris has helped 1,000s of Michigan families and businesses secure their futures in all matters of Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning.