Lawyers map
>241
experienced lawyers
Filter by
24 Jun, 2019 by Klara
One of the country’s finest estate litigator and planner. Always meticulously prepared. Research is excellent. Work product superb
I’d recommend him to all in need
Ethics are important to him
Returns emails and copies you on all work product
Well versed, knowledgeable and friendly
Particularly he pays attention to you and is a great listener
Knows how honesty can work for you
Reliable and has verbal abilities that you can depend upon
Truly one of the best in Arizona
Written work product is also evident throughout proceedings
Read more
11 Mar, 2011 by Anonymous
A great professional, always caring, ethical and extremely articulate.Wonderful litigator!!
Read more
05 Oct, 2016 by Sondra
Love Jon Kitchel. He is on top of things, gets back to your emails quickly he is a great probate lawyer!!!!
Sondra
Read more
12 Aug, 2016 by Elle
We used him with an issue regarding my elderly mother and family members who had misused the fiduciary responsibility giving them. He was clear, concise and very respectful with my mother including her in dialogue. Highly recommend to individuals with senior parents. Very knowledgeable, and great follow through.
Read more
27 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
Karen has been a tremendous support to me throughout the resolution of my late parents' property issues. In a time of grieving, unfortunately, beneficiaries often need advocacy, support, and guidance to navigate the this sensitive process. Karen and her office staff are professional and warm and her communications are thorough and expedient. I've been so impressed by Karen Sinchak-Higby that I'm planning to work with her on my own personal estate matters as the current matter is coming to a close.
Read more
01 Oct, 2012 by Tracy
Marty and his team provided one of the smoothest processes to create trust and living will documents for our family. He and his staff are accessible, friendly and very responsive during and since completing our trust. We also needed his expertise as a dual licensed attorney in AZ and WI! I would highly recommend his practice to anyone!
Read more
12 Jul, 2013 by Donald
Assisted me with end of life documentation. Her approachable and human style was compassionate, sensitive and professional. I have referred her to several clients.
Read more
07 May, 2017 by Lise
Laura Stover represented my father and his estate for over 15 years. She provided invaluable assistance to him and our family as he made a series of complex decisions about his estate. She always went the extra mile and then some. Her staff members were always friendly and accommodating. I would recommend her without reservation to anyone seeking help with estate planning.
Read more
06 Sep, 2017 by Kyle hanan
I highly recommend Jon Schneider as an attorney. He handled my divorce in 2014. I was a terminal cancer patient undergoing a bone marrow transplant when my wife shockingly filed for divorce & full custody of our children. She filed a false protection order & had me evicted from our home. Jon led class, respect, honor, justice, & patience through extreme legal & health challenges. He helped me see hope during a time when death was swallowing me. It is a complete miracle I survived. Jon's level of ethics combined with wisdom of how to best handle the case was incredible. In the end I was very satisfied with the outcome & justice served. Now I am enjoying majority parenting time & good health. Rhonda & Judy were also of amazing assistance, just the best of people...in alignment with Jon. I've spent a good deal of time researching family law, & how it's practiced in Arizona. I doubt anyone would find a more experienced, expert legal team in all of Arizona.
Read more
26 Jun, 2015 by Martha
This is a very strong recommendation for Ed Ribadeneira who exceeded our expectations when we called upon him for assistance revising a contract in the wake of flood damage to our home. Time was of the essence and Ed responded immediately to our request the same day, working into the evening and early next morning to re-write the contract. Thanks to his diligent and timely efforts, all revisions were fully accepted and work began immediately. Ed is personable, responsive, insightful, and pragmatic, and he delivered truly exceptional customer service at a critical time. He couldn't have been any easier or more effective to work with. We would gratefully engage his services again in a heartbeat.
Read more
19 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
Assisted me with my legal matters, including contracts and corporate law. I have referred several friends and have been thanked overwhelmingly by them for the good deed. I highly recommend.
Read more
13 Nov, 2024 by Leland
Excellent patent applications completed . Concise and helpful in design and graphics. Knowledgeable in in writing and filing of patents.
Read more
14 Feb, 2025 by Jo
Have rung multiple time and on 4 different numbers over 5 working days and no one every answers they all end up going to message. Very frustrating
Read more
11 Feb, 2025 by Steven jenkins
Was decent in the beginning, decided to get cocky about his 250 / 5 star reviews when asking about price telling me to go find someone cheaper. That's how you lose business. My advice have a better attitude. Will never recommend this guy or his law firm!
Read more
11 Feb, 2025 by 710 snob
Zero reply to emails and calls to the son and father, we have an Aunt looking for a trust and help with real estate. No emails or calls returned
Read more
14 Feb, 2025 by Jo
Have rung multiple time and on 4 different numbers over 5 working days and no one every answers they all end up going to message. Very frustrating
Read more
11 Feb, 2025 by Steven jenkins
Was decent in the beginning, decided to get cocky about his 250 / 5 star reviews when asking about price telling me to go find someone cheaper. That's how you lose business. My advice have a better attitude. Will never recommend this guy or his law firm!
Read more
11 Feb, 2025 by 710 snob
Zero reply to emails and calls to the son and father, we have an Aunt looking for a trust and help with real estate. No emails or calls returned
Read more
14 Feb, 2025 by Jo
Have rung multiple time and on 4 different numbers over 5 working days and no one every answers they all end up going to message. Very frustrating
Read more
11 Feb, 2025 by Steven jenkins
Was decent in the beginning, decided to get cocky about his 250 / 5 star reviews when asking about price telling me to go find someone cheaper. That's how you lose business. My advice have a better attitude. Will never recommend this guy or his law firm!
Read more
11 Feb, 2025 by 710 snob
Zero reply to emails and calls to the son and father, we have an Aunt looking for a trust and help with real estate. No emails or calls returned
Read more
27 Feb, 2025 by Bryant symkowiak
I worked with Matt on a real estate issue. He was super nice, professional, and fast on helping me through this situation I was in. I highly recommend him.
Read more
22 Feb, 2025 by Jim lohman
I wish I could give these guys 10 stars! They were fast, efficient and a pleasure to work with on my 2024 motorcycle lemon law buy back. They made it so simple and I got all my money back. Thank you Hammer Law.
Read more
22 Feb, 2025 by Bruce britton
Henry and his team are awesome .happy happy how they handeled everything . They were very informative and on top of everything and always in touch .They returned my calls everytime very quickly and when you need advice and answers THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT .I HIGHLY RECOMEND HAMMER LAW
Read more
26 Jun, 2024 by Kj kelly jones
12 Aug, 2023 by L s
10 May, 2023 by Kirsten izatt
17 Oct, 2024 by Coolusername
Mr McGill is a skilled lawyer, having graduated from the University of American Samoa and working for the prestigious law firm Hamlin Hamlin & McGill. I did notice however that one of his car doors didn't match his yellow car's colour, and apparently he lives in the back of a nail salon? I think there's some chicanery going on here, and I hope he doesn't break bad in the future.
Read more
22 May, 2024 by Melissa perez
Outstanding service! When our small family business was scammed and faced a lawsuit, we were fortunate to be referred to Mr. McGill by a friend from Local First Arizona. He responded within minutes of our initial contact and made our case a priority. His professionalism, knowledge, and approachability made the entire process much smoother. We are immensely grateful for his dedication to helping our business. Thank you, Mr. McGill, for your exceptional service!
Read more
03 May, 2024 by Kathy
Greg McGill has done an excellent job representing us. He is very knowledgeable in the law, patient, kind and puts up with a lot of unnecessary emails from me. Would use his firm again.
Read more
10 Jan, 2025 by Victor segura
31 May, 2024 by Janice small
13 May, 2024 by Natalia diosdado
Did not have the best experience with Ms. Baybik. I would highly recommend anyone seeking immigration representation services from her to seek other experts prior to moving forward with her services. Best of Luck!
Read more
03 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
Attorney is atrocious. He fails to file documents, bills $400 an hour and does incomplete work.
He failed to serve all parties.
Read more
04 Jun, 2021 by Katherine
I have worked with the Mazza Law office and Bri Niro several times. I find that they are very responsive to any questions and concerns that you may have and always ask for feedback regarding decisions to be made in the case. I have recommended Mazza to several people and will continue to refer and retain Mazza for any matters I have in the future. I am a licensed fiduciary so I often have a need for an elder law attorney.
Read more
20 Jul, 2020 by Anonymous
Danny and his group are amazing! He has been a great help for what needed to be done with the trust. I couldn't have gone through this without his help. Erin is just as awesome and always there to help out. I highly recommend Mazza Law.
Read more
17 Nov, 2023 by P&l
It took us years to finish writing our trust and will. Marilee was the most patient person ever in holding our hand, understanding how emotionally draining this can be, and allowed us to take the time needed to complete this arduous process. She asked pertinent questions, gave us answers to our questions and walked us through the process. We would recommend her to anyone!
Read more
08 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
My experience with Marilee Miller Clarke, Attorney, outside of the church context I knew her in, was not what I expected. I found her approach litigious rather than mediating. What I thought was a firm quote based on an email, turned out not to be. She reduced her bill to $2,005 instead of the $800 quoted me in an email. When I questioned her fee, I received no apology, but self-justification. Mistakes I pointed out involved omissions on her part, tone, typos from her and her staff, introducing an error, and unnecessary complexities. She charged me for her time involving those changes even though I pointed out that they were her or her staff’s mistakes. She drew a legal document to correct the work of another attorney. I can only hope that it will serve its purpose if and when needed.
Read more
04 Oct, 2016 by Concerned grandmother
I recommend Marilee Miller Clarke without reservation.
Her knowledge of the law, and years of experience Practicing law in Arizona were a clear advantage to us in the legal action she helped us with. In the beginning, she explained many aspects of the legal proceedings that were not clear to us, and help us come to a strategy for proceeding. She is patient and thorough, but she will not run up the bill by speaking at length with you if she has what she needs to do the work. She answers all communications promptly, and you should be prepared to do the same for her as she has a very strong work ethic and you do not want to slow her down.
She is a strong strategic thinker, and helped us achieve our goals. In a dissolution case with contested child custody, she was able to achieve a win, in spite of many obstacles and prejudices which do not favor a win for the father. She is an excellent communicator, both written and spoken. For written court documents, she leaves no detail unattended. Her Courtroom demeanor is thorough, respectful and effective. She has an amazing ability to think quickly on her feet and adjust strategy quickly when required.
We are so grateful to her and her very professional staff, for all they have done to help our family. We hope we are done with legal stuff for now, but if not, we would rely on her in the future.
Read more
05 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Kip had a minor disadvantage in my case, he was hired approx. 45 days prior to my trial date . Another member of the same firm was the primary reason why I had to make a drastic change in the final hour . This particular lawyer did nothing for my case would constantly cancel appointments with me most of which would of been telephonic and refused to respond to emails or voice mail messages.
That said if he couldn't prepare himself for the trial, he should not of accepted the case. His lack of dedication and preparation for my case in particular created much hardship for me . My credibility was questioned over a very basic mistake on his part. Documents I sent to the firm with proof that they were received were never forwarded over to opposing firm. In fact even after the trial and the verdict was handed down, he was in receipt of a very simple agreement between the mother and I and he advised me that she was not in agreement and responded to me with in 8 minutes of receiving the email and its my opinion he never bothered to read the agreement which now I am stuck dealing with the ramifications of this . It has created a whirlwind spin on a relation that the mother and I were trying to salvage some how . I filed a motion based on his recommendation, motion was denied by the courts, in fact the courts came down heavy and hard on me for this . In typical Kip fashion he refused to accept any fault on this. If he would of actually took the time to read the agreement, he so generously charged me to read, this would of all been avoided.
If you are looking to have your case put on the back burner, be over charged and are looking to hire lawyers with lack of care or knowledge about your case or your family THEN YES HIRE THIS FIRM. they greatly do care about money, their money that is.
Read more
29 Sep, 2016 by Ruby
I, would gladly share my experience, as a former client of Kip Micuda. For one thing, I must admit, am not fond of lawyers, as a general rule. However, I am pleased to write this comment on Kip Micuda Esq. I needed some legal advice & support, regarding a personal matter. The law firm of Hildebrand Law was referred by a friend. Not knowing who I 'll discuss my situation with, I went with an open mind. Mr. Kip Micuda, met me in their conference room. He came across as very personable and professional (I am an M.D. as well) was very glad that after I laid my problems, he showed empathy, & understanding . He laid down my legal options and possible consequences of each. Aside from making me feel comfortable, his knowledge & professionalism regarding my case was obvious. With his guidance, I made my legal decisions as to how to approach my case. After he had written letters on my behalf, he followed up with me as to how matters were going. I am pleased & grateful for his empathy, knowledge & professionalism regarding my case. It was a pleasure being a client of Kip Micuda Esq.
Read more
27 Sep, 2016 by Tara
I made the right decision to hire Kip Micuda at Hildebrand Law. I interviewed several lawyers before hiring Kip. Kip and his staff are well organized. Their organization and approach to the case helped me figure out what needed to be done. Kip was very supportive and he approached the issue logically. He also did a great job at aptly protecting me from the accusations made by my ex's attorneys. Kip has the experience, knowledge and skill set to represent well. I highly recommend him.
Read more
08 Aug, 2024 by Nico pelosi
I don't write reviews often, but I had to because of how AWESOME Chuck Franklin was. I had heard about his outstanding reputation as a Scottsdale murder defense lawyer, known for his profound understanding of criminal law and exceptional skill in defending clients against serious charges, including violent crimes. When I needed legal assistance for a smaller matter, I turned to Chuck Franklin. His expertise and guidance made me feel confident and well-informed throughout the process, resulting in a successful outcome. Even in a less serious case, his commitment and knowledge were evident.
Read more
08 Aug, 2024 by Remy
This guy is completely disrespectful if you rub him the wrong way. He talks like he's a big shot and makes you a lot of promises but really he's just doing that to steal your money. He stole my money and didn't even go to work for me. Do not go with Chuck Franklin, he is horrible.
Read more
08 Aug, 2024 by Brandon lake
My wife used them and the same thing that has been mentioned previously has happened to her. Chuck told my wife to continue to get care if she is still hurting then at the deposition a lawyer (Colby) who she has never met showed up and knew nothing about the case (He had to ask her what was going on...). The proposed settlement was way lower than we were told because my wife continued to get care..thanks Chuck. We emailed him saying we were going to report to the bar because they refused to take less and said my wife was making it all up and if we took it to the bar he would win because its our word vs. his. He'll cheat you out of the money you deserve.
Read more
01 Oct, 2024 by Claudia gharai
Four years later after hiring Guymon Law to represent me in my divorce, I am still kicking myself for having made such a terrible choice. Literally all of the problems were kicked down the road for me to deal with later in the future, which is what I’ve been experiencing since hiring Guymon Law. While being represented by Guymon Law I received zero Spousal support and zero child support with two kids having gotten a divorce while unemployed.
If F- was a grade.
Read more
18 Jul, 2023 by Jasmine sarceeman
Quick to bill you but doesn’t provide proper solutions nor does she fight for your rights. The communication is nonexistent until the day of court and doesn’t give any legal advice before hand. A very sloppy and inconsistent lawyer.
Read more
30 May, 2022 by Al moreno
18 Mar, 2016 by Donna volden
I hired Mr. Martinez to help me in an estate issue. He charged me $500 for a demand letter. I was satisfied with the letter, but we didn't get the response from the other party that we needed and so we needed to move forward. He told me to set up and prepay for a phone consultation, which I did.
The consultation was to determine next steps and if we should proceed. We decided to proceed. After the call he informed me that his schedule was busy for the next month and we would proceed the next month. I waited patiently, then emailed him/called and didnt hear back. He finally reached out to me a few weeks later to tell me that he was too busy for my case. I feel mislead and never would have spent the additional $275 for a call to discuss next options. His response was that he had answered an additional email prior to the call. I spent almost $800 to bring Mr. Martinez up to speed on my case only to have to do it again with another lawyer. His point was that I was satisfied with the results of the call, so I got what I paid for. I was only satisfied with the call because we had agreed to proceed. Had I known he was too busy to take the case, I never would have proceeded with the first demand letter. I assumed part of the $500 was for him to be come familiar with the case. I am very disappointed with his lack of professionalism. There were a few red flags, that I shouldn't have ignored.
Read more
22 Dec, 2015 by Chris
We dealt with Mr Martinez for 3 years on a real estate contract between relatives. His patience and professionalism in handling this fiasco was beyond reproach considering opposing counsel and his client were anything but cooperative or professional. Not only did he keep us informed, but listened to our concerns, answered our never ending questions and met me at the airport when I had to come to AZ to take possession of the property. Without him I know this mess would not have finally been settled. I would highly recommend Mr Martinez to anyone wanting to deal with an attorney who will work hard for you and not look at a client as a dollar sign.
Read more
17 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
Adam responded in a timely manner and provided me with all of the information that I needed. Should I decide to go forward with my case I will definitely hire him.
Read more
16 Nov, 2023 by Martha fait
09 Mar, 2023 by Far bas
I called this company to do my taxes. The owner Marcie was so unprofessional. She hung out the phone on me. I thought it was disconnected. I called her back and she admitted that she hanged out the phone. For no reason.
Read more
04 Dec, 2022 by Tami harris
The most professional and efficient law firm that I have ever dealt with.
Read more
22 Jan, 2024 by Patricia
Andrew and his team are very professional. He came highly recommended by several top doctors in Arizona. His team was very thorough and gives you a great estate planning product in the end. This is his area of expertise and you don't have to have millions to get a well planned estate. Great attorney who knows trust and wills!
Read more
30 Nov, 2023 by Michael
I was very impressed with the ease of setting up my Trust. I met with Andrew via zoom, all docs were reviewed and submitted, dates scheduled to sign, the hardest part was deciding who gets what. I was very pleased with Andrew and his office performance.
Read more
01 Jul, 2022 by Laura
I had been in communication with Andrew regarding an issue and we spoke on the phone and exchanged several emails about the next steps. Then he stopped communicating, all together. I reached out multiple times and he failed to call me back. Very unprofessional. I have MetLife Legal Plans in which they will pay upon completion, if that was going to be a problem for Andrew, he never indicated that to begin with.
Read more
01 Apr, 2024 by John
Terrible attorney who should have her bar license revoked. No way to get in touch with her as nobody answers the phone or their email accounts.
Read more
27 Jun, 2012 by Jessica
Allyson did a great job of helping us prepare our estate planning documents. She was very good at explaining legal concepts so that we knew what we were doing and didn't get lost in the jargon. She kept us focused, and she and her staff followed up to make sure that we funded our trust and made all of the changes accurately.
Read more
02 May, 2019 by Jack
Perhaps Mr.Dolasinski and myself had a misunderstanding of what our needs were regarding our original trust. I was probably a little to critical of Mr. Dolasinski. Mr. Dolasinski wrote me back explaining what needed to be done. After reviewing his notes I do believe his assessment of what the actual cost would be are still to high. I would think since he is the individual who wrote our trust we would be give some consideration on the actual cost. The Health Care Power of Attorney and the Financial Power of Attorney
In my estimation, to have his para legal do this work still would not require the amount of time he suggested. There still is only a couple of lines to be changed on these documents. In my opinion, I could see no more than 3 hours or less to perform these changes. I believe the total cost should be 3 hours or less. The top end of the actual cost should be $750 or less.
Mr. Dolasinski is a capable professional and my review should not prevent clients from hiring him as a Trust Attorney. I am optimistic that we can come to a reasonable solution to take care of our trust.
Read more
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
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.
