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19 May, 2011 by Dm
I was completely satisfied with my choice to hire Lacey Mase. She was helpful in every way and helped make the process of my divorce simple and easy to complete with no difficulty or issues. I would definitely hire her again for any other matters that may arise in the future. She was pleasant, kind, and very professional and I would definitely recommend her to anyone that may need representation. Her experience and knowledge was very much appreciated.
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15 May, 2011 by Anonymous
I hired Lacey Masey to help me with a settlement on a deed assumption. She was very attentive and kept me informed every step of the way. I was so impressed with her work, knowledge, and response that I again hired her to assist me with my last will and testament. These were two very important items in my life and I had to trust my attorney with everything. Lacey Mase met all my expectations and then some. I have since referred her to several of my colleagues for their needs. I would highly recommend Lacey Mase to anyone who is need of a highly motivated and responsive attorney who gets results.
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27 Jan, 2011 by Linda
My name is Linda G. I have pending hearings regarding my drivers license getting suspended because of an accident that I had back in May of 2010. I didn't have insurance at the time of my accident. Lacey Mase agreed to take on my case. She has kept me well informed about everything going on. I like the line of communication that she has with me. I can actually work at both of my jobs and have a peace of mind from this situation. She has been contacting the courthouse and working very closely with the DA in regards to my situation. She has even set up a reasonable payment plan. You can find a lawyer anywhere, but not with the knowledge and skills that Lacey Mase has. She truly cares about her clients situation. I am grateful that I found her.
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16 Dec, 2019 by Michelle renee
John, Jen and Bradley are an amazing team! They went above and beyond to help me with my legal needs and were able to get everything dismissed. They were always so friendly, professional and above all compassionate for what I was going through. I have nothing but high praises for them and have recommended them to everyone I know! If you ever need help with legal matters these are the guys to go to! I can't say enough how much I appreciate them and was so impressed with their work ethic and kindness. If you are trying to find help please reach out to them. I guarantee if there is anything they can do, they will give it their all :)
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13 Nov, 2015 by James
John C. Kitchens has been my outside business counsel since 2010, and he has represented us successfully in several cases (one against a Fortune 500 company) as well as handling our business legal documents and collections processes. Mr. Kitchens takes our legal interests to heart and works tirelessly to ensure a successful outcome! Very hands on, very approachable and a great communicator.
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20 Oct, 2015 by Matt
I have retained or have worked on numerous cases over the last 2 year with Mr. Kitchens and I can recommend him unequivocally.
He has 18 year experience which is made clear in his command of legal issues and precedent. Equally as important is that I have found him to be a problem solver to get issues resolved as quickly as possible, removing complexities that I've seen many other lawyers who would have used such opportunities to increase their billables.
Mr. Kitchens is straightforward, fair minded, and very competent.
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18 Aug, 2014 by Gr
Business creation was a breeze. Joey had everything lined up including great passively delivered advice. He was very friendly and made me feel very comfortable.
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18 Jul, 2012 by Barb
Mr. Miller did not simply write wills for me and my husband. He provided excellent counsel during each step of the process. His charges were reasonable and fair. His demeanor was friendly and professional at all times. I will recommend him to my friends and colleagues.
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18 Jul, 2012 by Larry
I was very impressed with the quality of work that Joey performed for me when updating my will. All documents were very professional. Everything was explained to my satisfaction. Everything was presented to me in a nice well organized binder. I also received an original document for the executor of my will. The fee charged was very fair. I would highly recommend this firm.
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04 Jun, 2024 by Pat
Julia at Nickerson Law Group recently established a living trust for me. Originally, in my first consult questionaire, I thought I needed a special needs trust. Julia was extremely paitient and detailed when she outlined my choices. Both Julia and her paralegal Kim, made sure I understood my options and took the extra time to answer all my questions. Julia is great at thinking outside of the box in order to customize my trust; my circumstances are not the norm, I have special concerns about taxes/government benefits. Julia is very knowledgeable about special needs government benefits programs (Able accounts, SSI/SSDI) and she took the extra time to ensure my needs would be protected. During my signing consult, Kim, Julia's paralegal explained in detail answers to my questions and what I was signing. Additionally, Kim was very specific about the financial steps I would need to follow. Julia's staff was extremely responsive to my further needs: sending me referrals for tax professionals. The price for all services is extremely good. Instead of hourly billing, I was charge a one-time fee, which covered all the consults I needed plus questions through email to her paralegal. Furthermore, unlike some practices who charge hourly for help after your trust signing, the Nickerson Law Group provides help for free or at a discount. Since I use a Pc screen reader, (I am visually impaired), Julia and her staff took the extra time to make sure all documents were accessible to me, something that is rare. I highly recommend the Nickerson Law Group for all estate planning needs, especially in the areas concerning special needs and disability issues. It was a total relief to find an attorney who had the experience to make a complicated legal prcess so understandable.
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03 Apr, 2013 by Ray
I contacted Julia to assist me with estate planning. She did a great job of explaining the various options, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and assisting me in choosing an option. The preparation of the documents was accurate, quick, and exactly what we discussed.
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03 Apr, 2013 by John
I used the Nickerson Law Group for my estate planning and to help me establish a revocable trust. I found them to be efficient, helpful, patient and diligent in their approach to handlng my business. I have complete peace of mind that everything I wanted was accomplished.
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04 May, 2013 by Stevie
I became associated with Adam Leiber through Hay Compere, my business attorneys & title closing company, a few years back, while working as a REALTOR. I appreciated their ability to deliver the goods, and make me look spectacular, while doing it all with a friendly, laid back Austin kind of style.
When it was time to open my own company, I knew I needed to look no further than Hay Compere, and Adam Leiber, who is my business attorney at the firm, and as expected, they have delivered and come through with flying colors!
Adam stands out in that he is not only knowledgeable about his field, which you would of course expect, but he gets Me, on my level, making it easy for us to get the work of my busnesses done. From setting up our corporations, to providing operational guidance, to protection of assets and more, Adam has been availble and accessible whenever we needed him., going the extra mile to make it work for our fledgling company.
Adam has given us important gudance as we move through our first growning pains, and has continued to provide excellent services as we have added two additional companies to our stucture. Adam speaks a language we understand, warns of any perils or pitfalls we may need to be aware of, and helps us complete the picture when looking ahead towards our future projects and growth. That said, I am quite comfortable and happy to refer and recommend Adam and Hay Compere to my family, friends, and busness associates.
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30 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
Adam helped us with the formation of our company from start to finish. He pointed us in the right direction on everything from company agreements to structuring. He was knowledgeable and professional at each turn and continues to be a valuable asset for our company.
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23 Apr, 2013 by Jessica
Adam has done a great job of keeping the emotion out of the cases presented to him by me and/or my real estate clients and does a wonderful job of keeping them informed and in the loop along the way. I have been highly impressed by my years of interactions with him.
I have posed a variety of questions and scenarios to Adam and he has always either been able to address the concern upfront or look into and provide the research and rationale as to why, how, etc.
He really shows dedication.
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12 Apr, 2016 by David
Sanjeev is a consummate professional. His exceptional legal and business knowledge were great to find. I, as a smaller contractor, had worked with a "deadbeat" general contractor that was not paying all of the other contractors on a specific project. I was not the only contractor on the project that wasn't being paid but I was able to get my money with the help of the Kumar Law Firm. It was truly an awesome experience. I learned so much by just being able to interact with Sanjeev throughout the process. I cannot say enough great things about Sanjeev and his law firm. If you find that you require the services of a very well versed and professional lawyer, I highly, highly recommend The Kumar Law Firm, PLLC in Austin, TX.
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12 Apr, 2016 by Ron
Successfully negotiated two commercial leases while advising on strategic positioning with city planners, franchisor, and landlords. Expert on protecting clients in regards to indemnification issues.
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01 Nov, 2019 by Greg
Literally, after more than 20 calls to attorneys and being bounced around like I had leprosy, Dana Rieder came swiftly to my aid and provided the legal services I needed to overcome a rather messy financial issue. Dana was the only light after many days of darkness and I am extremely grateful for her fast response and professionalism.
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07 Aug, 2018 by Russell
Dana handled a mess of a social security claim professionally and timely. (timely is an understatement). She helped me with some things that she didn't have to as well that has really helped my families overall situation. This is the lawyer you want handling you ssi/SSDI claim. Fully favorable and in the past thanks to Dana. Thanks so much my family is forever grateful.
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04 Aug, 2011 by Amalia
After the loss of my 19 yr old son, Christine was very careful to insure I knew what I was doing signing and wha tneeded to be done. Sh ekept me in the loop at al times. Was very open with me. Christine made sure I understood every step of the way.
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13 Jun, 2011 by Josie
Mrs. C. Larson and her able-bodied Receptionist Robin, worked very long and hard hours on this case. There were many documented items that needed to be followed through. The items that needed an accounting were taken care of in a timely manner so I was greatly appreciative that we did not waste.
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09 Jan, 2021 by René dorantes
John C Heal made a 2 year ordeal seamless . I had gone through 2 other attorneys who could not resolve my issue. Not only is he knowledgeable he is compassionate something that many attorneys lack. I would give him a 10 all the way! Highly Recommended
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15 Nov, 2012 by Lisa
Help me resolve issue with bank,mortgage,forclosure,sale of property,advisor to best interest of my folks. He went above and beyond to look into my parents history with all of the above. Find resolutions. Always kept in the loop with calls and personally checking in. I cannot say enough of how well I felt he cared for my folks. Thank you Mr. heal. I would and will use his services again.
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18 May, 2016 by Anonymous
John was an absolute fantastic attorney!!! He prepared all my paper work for the sale and re-purchase of my property along with all with divorce/mediation materials and instructions. Excellent in communicating to demanding family members and ironing out "fires" through difficult times.
Extremely reasonable with his fees. I would definitely recommend him to any friends or family and I would use his services again without hesitation!
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29 Apr, 2016 by Alicia
My husband and I hired Mr. Zuhosky because we needed a premarital agreement and we were glad that we did. He was very detailed oriented and provided us with our agreement quickly. I was extremely impressed with his abilities and thoroughness while working with us. I would definitely hire him again.
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12 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
I don't like cut and dry answers but this attorney answered my question with insight. I appreciate the fact that he didn't just refer me out but handled it with flair. Thank for your legal pizzas!!!
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23 Jul, 2013 by Ragen
I have known Mark since 2004 and since then I have hired him for everything from contract creation to incorporation to liability waivers and litigation, and he has always done an outstanding job. I've also referred many clients to him and every time he did top-notch work and made me look like a hero to my clients for referring him. As an operations consultant who worked for some law offices I had worked with a lot of corporate attorneys in the past, but since I started working with him Mark is the only attorney I have hired or recommended for corporate work.
Mark has that rare combination of being a brilliant lawyer who speaks plan English. He is able to understand and discuss the legal complexities of a situation at a high level, while still being able to explain complex legal situations in a way that is easily understandable to everyone involved, and I've seen him be comfortable and well received by everyone from corporate executives to blue collar sole proprietors.
I can't say this about many people, but I recommend Mark Land without reservation.
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05 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Kara has gone the extra mile at every turn. Out of state issues. Protective orders. Dead beat dad issues. Family things you could not begin to imagine. She fights for you every day!
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05 Nov, 2021 by Melanie burton
I had an unusual divorce case that was complicated. I have children with a life time order of protection against their dad. She was genuinely concerned for our well being and always ensured our safety came first. She was phenomenal. She was always available to answer my questions very thoroughly. I never had to wonder what was next. She went above and beyond my expectations. I highly recommend Kara and her law firm. I was pleased with the outcome and I will definitely use her again if I ever need any legal representation in the future.
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23 Jun, 2013 by Haley h
Carolyn went above and beyond for my case. She made sure to have all the information and facts to best represent me. She was able to make this whole process as easy as possible. Providing excellent guidance and knowledge. I know that I would not have had the same outcome with any other lawyers representation. Carolyn didn't hesitate to seek advise on very specific, yet difficult, parts of my case to insure that she represented me to the fullest existent. As challenges arose they were met head on by her willingness to go the extra mile. She was always professional and made sure to keep me informed throughout the entire case. I have full trust in her knowledge and capabilities. I would not hesitate to hire Carolyn for any legal matters in the future.
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27 Jul, 2012 by Jackie
Ms. Skogman assisted my husband and I with establishing our wills & directives.
Upon my husbands death she guided my though the court system and rewriting my will and directives.
She is very knowledgeable in working with elders.
I would highly recommend her.
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22 Apr, 2016 by Kari tamburin
Jeff and his team are wind beneath my wings. Jeff is direct, clear, and excellent to navigate the patent process without making me feel lost in the paperwork. I'm involved and part of the team. We are in the patent pending phase working through office actions. I have high confidence in our outcome. Jeff has been excellent to define expectations and costs. If you want urgency with quality results I highly recommend Jeff and his firm.
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10 Jul, 2015 by Ali
Jeff Hunt handled our global patent filings with ease and smarts. We walked through next steps with the patent office with a consummate professional leading the way. High marks!
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12 Aug, 2009 by Anonymous
Takes his time explaining everything, and gives free consulations. Such a nice man, too. Nice to deal with someone who really cares, especially concerning child custody issues. Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive, either.
Highly recommended.
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11 Aug, 2009 by Anonymous
Really caring, excellent advice and council. Not the most expensive, but not the least either. Really good initial free phone consult. Can't say enough about this laywer.
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15 Mar, 2016 by Lori kristine keaton
My landlady tried to evict me from my home of 2.5 years. She bought the house at the end of my lease and the purchase was contingent on me signing a year lease with her. Three weeks after she had assumed ownership, she gave me my first notice to vacate. I represented myself in JP court with Mr. Abarca's help. I won. She appealed. In County Court Mr. Abarca represented me and we won with a unanimous jury after only an hour of deliberation. She appealed. Mr. Abarca represented me in the Appeal and we won again.
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14 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
Working with Robby was a pleasure. I have dealt with several lawyers in the past and felt they only cared about the bottom line. Mr. Abarca was different. Not only was he knowledgeable, but he is very empathic and eager. He focused on the best interest of our child and was able to save me and my family alot of heartache and financial burden.
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30 Aug, 2016 by Pam
Emily Morris assisted me with my will preparation and estate planning. She was always prompt and patient with her responses to my many inquiries. She also always provided valuable input and was well versed with all associated legalities during this project. Additionally, she is compassionate, polite, punctual, knowledgeable, effectual, and efficient. I highly recommend her!
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08 Jan, 2013 by Ralph
I worked with Ms. Richardson on a traffic related matter through her employer, Dorothy Butler Law Firm. I was applying for an occupational driver's license and settling two open tickets which I had, and let me say that Ms. Richardson was very professional and extremely helpful in all aspects of my case. My primary means of communicating my issues was via e-mail, and I don't think that I ever had a letter go without a response. It was really refreshing to have somebody be as helpful over e-mail as Emily was.
My traffic tickets were for a city near Houston Texas, which quite a ways away from where I live in Dallas. As part of the fee I paid, the law firm and Ms. Richardson agreed to go to court in my stead, and I did in fact receive the judgement that I had been told up front I would receive - a very agreeable one! If you have any questions about the law, Dorothy Butler & Ms. Richardson provided an excellent channel of communication and were very knowledgeable about my particular situation and my case. The fee seemed well worth the expense.
In addition to two out-of-city traffic tickets, I had to apply for an occupational drivers license so I might drive at certain times of the day. The law firm provided me a document which I brought to a judge in Dallas, and everything went very smoothly. The judge seemed very appreciative that I had gone through the expense of paying an attorney to handle my case rather than trying to do it myself.
I would reccomend both Ms. Butler & Ms. Richardson for anything regarding the Texas DPS. Make sure you have a working e-mail account!
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13 Aug, 2013 by Anonymous
John was very professional and knowledgeable. He assisted me with understanding a few different contracts. You can tell that he puts a lot of effort into providing all the necessary legal information and a little more. I was very satisfied with his advisement and did not feel that something was lacking in any way. I highly recommend John Burns for anyone needing advice in his areas of expertise.
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08 Aug, 2013 by Ron
Mr. Burns helped me recently and was available THAT day in
formulating a Licensing agreement when I was pressed for time.
His response was professional,quick and he kept me well informed during the process.
I would highly recommend him and will use his expertise again when needed.
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19 Aug, 2011 by Elise
He helped me out a lot. Very smooth divorce, and I was very pleased with how things worked out.
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21 Jul, 2010 by Anonymous
I called Robert as I needed a divorce lawyer and he was on my prepaid legal service. When he called me back, he let me know right away that he was pretty booked and would not be able to take my divorce/custody battle case, but then proceeded to provide me with lots of tips on the upcoming divorce. He answered quite a few questions I had, and when I let him know I was also interviewing another lawyers, he volunteered to give me what he knew about the lawyer and did.
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21 Jun, 2016 by Donna
Amy Bloomquist has given my family excellent advice and insight into the often complex legal and financial aspects of estate planning, trusts, and related real estate issues on multiple occasions, and we could not be more pleased. She is a careful listener, asks just the right questions to get to the heart of the matter quickly, and offers effective solutions. She has a friendly, compassionate demeanor and insight into family dynamics which is very helpful, and she has a way of explaining sometimes overwhelming information and issues that makes it crystal clear, straight-forward, and less intimidating. Amy has gone out of her way to be helpful and been generous with her time and talents. It's clear why she is an award-winning attorney and has been elected a 5-star Texas Monthly wealth manager for many years running. I had previously consulted another attorney on related matters and had a satisfactory experience, but Amy Bloomquist is definitely a cut above!
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20 Feb, 2024 by Jared heine
Mrs. Kyle and her paralegal Ellen Joyce were very professional and knowledgeable. I would very highly recommend their services. Cathy was extremely competent and responsive with any questions I had. Additional kudos to Sean Swords who also helped out.
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17 Sep, 2014 by David
I am a lawyer and represented plaintiffs in a breach of contract case. We used Houchins to help w/ a half-day mediation session with good results at a reasonable price. He was good at understanding the issues, getting to the point in the short time available and bridging the gap between the parties. If I ever need another mediator in Austin, I will call him.
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13 Apr, 2017 by Carrie
Excellent Experience
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09 Nov, 2016 by James
This lawyer really work hard on my case and kept in touch with me. I win a large settlement an MY crimal cases
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05 Aug, 2015 by Sasa
Brian was recommended to us by Frank Ikard, another well known fiduciary lawyer in Austin, and we could not have been luckier to have him as our lawyer. He has stood by us through all aspects of our crazy case and believed in our fight to right a huge, huge wrong. This case was very personal and he understood that, fighting even harder because we had our whole hearts involved. Great attorney, great human being. Thank you Brian if you ever read this.
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01 Aug, 2007 by Anonymous
Frank has helped me out on various civil matters...wills, real estate and trusts. He is very sharp, seeing potential problems and inter-relationships that are very obscure but could become troublesome if not tended to before everyone "signs on the dotted line." As well as being an attorney, he's also a CPA. Highly recommended!
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26 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Andrea Schwab did a great job helping me through a disagreement with my employer. She provided great insight, strategy, and guidance that resulted in a positive outcome for me. Her experience and counsel also helped me to decide the next steps in my career. Her insight is so helpful that I run every major decision by her now.
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25 Oct, 2017 by Joe
I have known Terry for several years and he has worked on several real estate matters I hired him to work on. The many friends I have referred him to have nothing but praise for him and the work that he has done for them as well. When it comes to real estate matters you will find no one better than him.
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08 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
Trustworthy, tactile and honest. My experience with this lawyer has improved my custody situation beyond expectation the first time around, and he has provided professional and responsive support on going. Best of all he is trustworthy which is rare to find. He clearly has a strong presence in the Williamson county courts and is well respected. A genuine, nice guy.
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20 Feb, 2024 by Jared heine
Mrs. Kyle and her paralegal Ellen Joyce were very professional and knowledgeable. I would very highly recommend their services. Cathy was extremely competent and responsive with any questions I had. Additional kudos to Sean Swords who also helped out.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Estate Planning Lawyer Can Do for You
An estate planning lawyer helps individuals plan for the management and distribution of their assets after death or during incapacitation. Their services involve drafting important legal documents, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Estate planning attorneys work to ensure that your assets are transferred according to your wishes, minimize tax liabilities, and avoid probate court. They also help clients plan for potential long-term care needs and protect their estate from being diminished by healthcare costs.
By working with an estate planning lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be cared for and that your estate will be managed efficiently and according to your desires.
When Should I Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer?
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is beneficial in many situations, especially when you want to ensure that your assets are handled properly after death. Common reasons to hire an estate planning lawyer include:
- Drafting a will: If you want to clearly define how your assets will be distributed after death, an attorney can draft a legally sound will.
- Creating a trust: For those looking to avoid probate or provide for loved ones over time, setting up a trust can help manage the distribution of assets.
- Planning for incapacity: An estate lawyer can help draft powers of attorney and healthcare directives so that your financial and medical decisions are made by someone you trust if you become incapacitated.
- Minimizing estate taxes: If your estate is large, a lawyer can help create strategies to reduce or eliminate federal and state estate taxes.
- Special circumstances: If you have minor children, blended families, or complex assets like businesses, an estate planning lawyer can create tailored solutions.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: If you want to designate guardians for minor children or ensure proper care for incapacitated adults, an attorney can help.
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is especially important if your estate is complex or if you want to ensure that your wishes are properly followed.
What Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Do?
An estate planning lawyer provides a range of services designed to help you organize your affairs and ensure your estate is managed according to your wishes. They can:
- Draft wills and trusts: Creating legally binding documents that dictate how your assets will be distributed and managed.
- Create powers of attorney and healthcare directives: Appointing someone to make financial or medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
- Minimize taxes: Developing strategies to reduce estate taxes, gift taxes, and other financial liabilities for your heirs.
- Help avoid probate: Structuring your estate plan to avoid probate, which can save time and money for your beneficiaries.
- Advise on long-term care planning: Helping you plan for potential healthcare needs in the future, including Medicaid planning and protecting assets from being depleted by nursing home costs.
- Assist with beneficiary designations: Ensuring that life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other financial instruments are correctly designated.
- Handle probate and estate administration: If a loved one has passed away, an estate planning lawyer can help guide you through the probate process or act as an executor.
How Are Estate Planning Lawyers Paid?
Estate planning lawyers typically charge for their services in one of several ways, depending on the complexity of your estate and the type of services you need. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many estate planning services, such as drafting a will or trust, are charged on a flat-fee basis. The fee covers all work related to preparing the document.
- Hourly rate: For more complex planning, such as estate tax strategy or trust administration, lawyers may charge by the hour. Rates vary based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: Some lawyers require a retainer for more complex cases, such as ongoing trust management or estate administration. The retainer is an upfront payment that covers future legal services.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront to avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an estate planning lawyer depends on the complexity of your estate and the services you require. Here are some general guidelines:
- Simple wills or powers of attorney: A straightforward will or power of attorney may cost between $300 and $1,500, depending on your location and the lawyer’s experience.
- Trust creation: Establishing a trust, such as a living trust or revocable trust, can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your assets and estate planning needs.
- Comprehensive estate planning packages: Some lawyers offer packages that include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, which may range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the estate’s complexity.
- Hourly rates: For ongoing services like estate administration or tax planning, lawyers may charge hourly rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience.
Always get a clear estimate of costs during your initial consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask an Estate Planning Lawyer
Before hiring an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to ask questions to ensure they are the right fit for your needs. Here are key questions to ask during your consultation:
-
What is your experience with estate planning?
Ensure the lawyer has substantial experience drafting wills, creating trusts, and handling other estate planning services. -
How will you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or by the hour and ask for a detailed estimate of costs. -
What strategies do you recommend for my estate?
A good lawyer should be able to explain the best strategies for minimizing taxes, avoiding probate, and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. -
How often should I update my estate plan?
Ask how frequently you should revisit your estate plan, especially if your financial situation or family dynamics change. -
Do you offer ongoing support or updates?
Some lawyers provide periodic reviews or updates to ensure your estate plan stays current with changes in your circumstances or the law. -
How will you help my beneficiaries if something happens to me?
Ensure the lawyer is willing to guide your heirs through the estate administration process or help manage your trust after you’re gone.
How to Check the Credibility of an Estate Planning Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a credible estate planning lawyer, follow these steps:
- Verify their state bar license: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing, with no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for estate planning certifications: Some lawyers are certified as estate planning specialists, which indicates they have extensive knowledge in this area of law.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Online reviews on sites like Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell can provide insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and client satisfaction.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from previous clients who can speak to their expertise and client service.
- Check for membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of organizations like the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) or the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) often have a strong reputation in the field.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first meeting with an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:
- List of assets and liabilities: Provide a detailed inventory of your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, retirement funds, investments, and personal property, as well as any debts you may have.
- List of beneficiaries: Be ready to discuss who you want to receive your assets and in what proportions. This includes naming guardians for minor children if applicable.
- Existing estate documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other relevant estate planning documents.
- Questions about your estate goals: Write down your goals, such as avoiding probate, reducing taxes, or setting up charitable donations, so your lawyer can tailor a plan to meet your needs.
- Information on medical and financial decision-makers: Be prepared to discuss who you want to appoint for healthcare and financial decisions if you become incapacitated.
By being well-prepared, you can ensure a productive consultation and begin building a comprehensive estate plan that meets your needs and protects your loved ones.
