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01 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
Aaron Jennings did not keep parties informed of the case and when asked he was rude, condescending and provided no help. There were no disputes regarding the will or probate so he had no reason to be annoyed or upset when questions were asked.
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19 Jul, 2021 by Cj
Asked for a will to be updated. Given 2 weeks for completion. 1 month 3 days, nothing. Called spoke to staff told, was given the, well lawyers are busy. Asked for will back.
Hire at your own peril
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05 Jun, 2008 by Anonymous
Doug Bratt is awful. Good luck getting him to return your calls.
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17 Sep, 2024 by Eric
I had a disappointing experience with this lawyer. Communication was poor, and I often felt neglected during my case. Important details were overlooked, leading to unnecessary complications. Despite my attempts to clarify issues, responses were slow and unhelpful. The billing seemed excessive for the level of service provided. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this lawyer if you're seeking a diligent and attentive legal representative. There are more competent options available that prioritize their clients’ needs.
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20 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
Justin failed to act in a timely manner at every part of my divorce proceeding. His communication was poor and made me feel as though my situation did not matter to him. It really did not. I wound up not getting most of my property back and was abused by the other party.
Justin was happy to participate and keep charging me to make the situation harder. I fully believe that Justin made a deal with the other attorney to just sit on the case. He said some crazy stuff to me looking back and my new attorney tho is that he has intentionally avoided getting orders enforced.
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29 Jul, 2022 by Mother in law
This law firm can't even spell the defendants name correctly. which means, whatever papers are served are invalid! No such person! If you are a client, go else were
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02 Feb, 2022 by Anonymous
Zero or even negative stars are not possible, so have to give a 1 star. First I would like to thank everyone that had left a review and helped confirmed how I felt after talking to him about my case. I felt like he was talking down to me and I was a stupid person asking stupid questions. He wouldn't even answer any of my legal questions. When you are looking for an attorney, it most of the time means you need help and are going through a stressful time. You need an attorney that can calm you down and provide you the legal advice and options you have, not some that will laugh at your questions, make you feel stupid and stress you out even more. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this guy.
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11 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
Don't waste your time with this guy - he is a disaster. His only plan is to sign you up and keep billing, billing, billing. He doesn't do any strategic planning, is generally rude and uncommunicative, doesn't even return phone calls.
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02 Aug, 2023 by Nathan
Another reviewer summarized my experience so well I am going to quote liberally from them: I worked with Steve Phillips in a civil case. Working with Steve Phillips and his paralegal was a needlessly frustrating, exhausting, and difficult experience. They made numerous mistakes, lost documents and emails, made me and my attorneys do 90% of the work, and filed significantly later than was originally promised without explanation or apology (his fee approval, however, he was VERY sure to proactively file with the court). It was terrible and it took a toll on my emotional health. During my work with him and during our hearing with the judge it became apparent that Steve knew nothing about my case or my children's situation. I only worked with him because I was required to do so by the court; if a law firm has employees that do such shoddy work I would think twice before working with anyone at this firm.
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21 May, 2023 by Keith
I had a contentious family law case a couple years back and this guy took a $150 consultation fee, told me I was unhinged and that he didn't want to take my case. Present day, won my case and no thanks to this old geezer. The guy needs to retire. Do not even consult with this guy, He has no problem taking your consultation fee and then pushing you out the door.
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19 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
Just do not hire! You will regret it. He showed up late. Was not prepared and then failed to complete my case before ending our contract as if it was complete.
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23 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
MR. Eddy does as little work as possible and believes hes entitled to full payment above and beyond. Never met anyone who gets fired and expects to be paid for being asked to withdrawal as client attorney. Do yourself a huge favor and find another attorney Mr. Eddy does what ever he can do work in his best interest not his clients. Mr. Eddy is paid by the consumer to work for the consumer which Mr. Eddy fails to realize.
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09 Dec, 2014 by Travis
I retained Mr. Loren Eddy’s services in August 2014. On 8-8-14, we were in court so I could be made Executor of my father’s estate. Even though he could have published the Notice to Creditors on 8-13-14, he refused because he said he’s superstitious and doesn’t do things like that on the 13th. It was published a week after it should have been. Once the house sold in October, I then moved to Nampa, ID on 10-10-14. On 10-14-14 I was back in Kennewick, WA and met with Mr. Eddy to discuss the plan once he received the check from the home sale. He requested an accounting and the value of the GMC Envoy that I had kept from the estate. He also told me he would send my proposal with the accounting and a waiver form to the other heirs by 11-7-14. On 10-15-14 I emailed him the accounting, and on 10-16-14 I emailed him the value of the Envoy. The house closed on 10-17-14, and the money was supposed to be deposited in an account at Gierth-Eddy. On 10-26-14 I sent Mr. Eddy an email asking him if he received my previous emails, and if he received the check and how much it was. I got no response, so I send another email on 10-31-14. Again, I didn’t receive a response. On 11-6-14, I called and left a message requesting he respond to my questions that were in emails. Nothing. I called again on 11-10-14 and still no response. In my call on 11-14-14, I left a message stating if I didn’t hear from him by 11-17-14 I would find someone else to represent me. My husband and I decided to discontinue his services, and sent him a letter certified mail on 11-17-14 notifying him of this and that I wanted the check sent to me by 12-1-14. Around 2:30pm on 11-17-14 Mr. Eddy finally called, and he commented that he had a draft letter for me to review before sending it to the other heirs. I told him it didn’t matter as I no longer required his services and that the letter he just drafted was supposed to be out no later than 11-7-14 according to the timeline we discussed on 10-14-14. I also told him he’d be receiving a certified letter notifying him of his dismissal in writing. He received the certified letter on 11-19-14.He told me I needed to sign a form saying I was no longer his client and I told him to mail it to me.
After firing Mr. Eddy, my husband looked into what would be required to close the probate on my father’s estate. We discovered that not only was probate not required, which Mr. Eddy failed to convey, but we weren’t required to send an accounting unless the other heirs requested it, which again we were not informed of.
On 12-3-14 I still hadn’t received any form to sign nor had the check arrived. On 12-3-14 Mr. Eddy finally called my husband. During this conversation, Mr. Eddy claimed he had to be dismissed by a judge and could do nothing until then. If this is true, he failed to tell me during our conversation on 11-17-14, instead only stating I needed to sign a form. According to our research, since this is not a criminal case and there are no pending court dates, a judge doesn’t have to get involved. However, if a judge is required to dismiss him, he was required to immediately send me a letter stating that he was required by law to work on my case until dismissed by a judge, which he didn’t do. My husband was polite during the conversation, but Mr. Eddy got confrontational. When my husband notified him we would be pursuing criminal charges against him, he hung up the phone on my husband.
Later on 12-3-14, my husband received a call from Allen at the Washington State Bar Association. According to Allen, he cannot hold the check and refuse to send it since I’m the Executor and have legal rights to it.
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27 Jun, 2012 by Anonymous
Hired him to be the probate lawyer of a will. For most part everything went well at first. Then now when of need of one last form to be able to close estate. He is never reachable you always leave messages either on an answering machine or with a receptionist with no return calls. Then when you finally have enough and say that is unexceptable they say you need a "phone conference" to speak to him, and its scheduled a week out even after leaving several message to have a return call over a few weeks. The "phone conference" was done and was told the we would receive the form via mail by xxx date. Needless to say we still had not received the form and are being scheduled for another phone conference. Orless you have time on your hands to wait, like poor service, and don't mind being ignored. I would go elsewhere.
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06 Jun, 2017 by William
I have used Mr. Fisher in a recent divorce settlement. He is amiable, but I was not impressed with some of his decisions during the divorce process. As a result, I did not get anything near what he promised in the beginning. Most of all, he charges, if not overcharges, for everything. He's also at the end of his career.
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18 Nov, 2010 by Anonymous
I was a client of Mr. Fisher in a divorce settlement. He recommended I sign a settlement agreement to avoid litigation. I did not avoid litigation because some of the terms to which we agreed did not make it to the final version of the agreement. In addition, the language of the agreement was vague and missing specifics on remedies if either party did not uphold the agreement. This led to still continuing legal issues that could have been avoided if Mr. Fisher had been more prepared and represented my interests adequately.
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23 Jun, 2009 by Anonymous
Fisher showed up late and unprepared for our first collaborative law four-way meeting. He quit the next day.
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17 Nov, 2017 by Anonymous
This attorney represented me in a land dispute with my deceased girlfriend’s son. I was under the impression that I could live on her property even after she passed because of a verbal agreement with her. Her son was listed as executor of her will, and she had transferred the deeds to the property and trailer into his name a couple months before she passed away of cancer. This I did not know. I hired this attorney because the son told me he was selling the place and that I had to leave. Joanne Rick assured me that the deed had been improperly filed and that I was legally entitled to the estate because of it. I’m not legally smart, so I believed her council. When it finally went to court, and thousands of dollars later, this attorney was reprimanded for bringing the case in the first place because the deed and will were legally filed and completed properly by my girlfriend and her son’s death and estate attorney. Joann Comins Rick was informed of this by certified mail but she had completely ignored it and kept the case going with continuances and delays, and soaking me the whole ride! I didn’t even know about this until the judge heard the case! The judge, after reviewing the other attorney’s case for the son, agreed and ordered that Joanne Rick and I pay the son’s legal fees for bringing a frivolous lawsuit!! My lawyer should have known better and counseled me the same legally. She was informed the other party legally owned the property and should have not brought the lawsuit. I was then am now livid! I still can’t believe it, and in hind sight, I truly believe she continued the legal proceedings after being informed by the other attorney by certified mail, in order to soak me for more money. DO NOT USE OR HIRE this attorney!! I’m not paying her a dime, because I’m broke, but also because I’m not legally obligated to after the ruling of a frivolous lawsuit. Thank God the son agreed not to extend the case with more court dates and agreed to settle with me leaving the property after losing. Thanks for NOTHING Joanne...
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11 Feb, 2010 by Anonymous
My divorce proceedings were started over 2 years ago. It is still not complete. Joanne has charged me approx $10,000 to handle the dissolution,. There has been no follow through and the settlement attained was far less than it should have been. My savings is gone and I am still struggling to pay for more "misc." charges that keep coming.
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23 Apr, 2009 by Anonymous
This attorney took over 6,000.00 of my money , which was 1,500.00 over the amount she told me would be the MOST it would cost me. Paid in full last July (2008) It is now nine months after the final day in court where I was granted a divorce and STILL no final papers. This attorney will not return a call, or answer an email, and according to her secretary Monica who I spoke to just 1 hour ago, my signed paperwork is STILL just laying on attorney's desk. I became quite fed up over all of this a few months ago and threatened to report her to the bar association. This did get a response from her office in the form of billing me an additional almost 900.00 for (so called) additional services rendered. In my opinion, especially to those people who need a divorce and have limited finances, find someone other than this one to represent you. If this could happen to me it could happen to you too.
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12 May, 2023 by Anonymous
She on more than one occasion failed to use evidence that could've helped my case and even started siding and working with my ex fiancée lawyer against me despite the outcome refuting what she said was going to happen. Much better lawyers out there than her.
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18 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Based on my personal experience she appears to be more concerned about her high fee than actually working. Again based on my experience the last thing she wants to do is solve anything quickly.
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28 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Mr. Russell handled a probate proceeding for a matter our family was involved in. He took assets that do not belong to him, lied, and filed lawsuits on behalf of a dead man without express approval from the heirs. We had to hire another attorney just to have him removed from the case judicially. He is not trustworthy and we do not recommend him for any legal matters nor would we recommend him for his CPA services either. The public should always do their research on attorneys and make sure they have never been disciplined.
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26 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
This lawyer has charged me for unknown services stretched out my case over three years ignores everything I ask him to do does everything he can to keep the case from getting settled I have paid him over 10,000 dollars and I am at ground zero do not use him he will take you for everything you got and not even do his job. I am in the process of filing a complaint and seeing what I can do to get my money back he is nothing more then a thug.
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16 Nov, 2014 by Lee
Joe hogan closed on a real estate deal for me and did not even do a disclosure statement.
I got sued because of it and lost A LOT of money thanks to him!
Would sue him but can't find an attorney that will sue another attorney!
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31 Mar, 2012 by Anonymous
This attorney took days to return phone calls. Would not meet in person before court to get the details of the case. Gave me bad advice that resulted in financial loss. Made promises regarding representation that he was not willing to keep. I would recommend you seek representation from any other attorney...save your money.
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09 Aug, 2024 by Val
Tim didn’t even reply to the other parties attorney and I lost my nursing daughter. My entire life has been ruined by his negligence. I was compelled to leave this review after seeing the other persons review. I can be found on TikTok if you search “Onestrongmother.og” and in the next few months I’ll unpack my whole story. Tim should be disbarred. I believe he made a deal with the other attorney to let me lose at the cost of my mental health, my children’s safety, disregard of the law, disregard of his ethical duties to his client and the legal field, and now I (who was never on social services prior) is costing the tax payers literal thousands every month in housing, tanf, food and other costs because of my debilitating CPTSD. Thanks, Tim. You are a criminal. Remember that story you told me about your wife lending a swimsuit to her friend and how she thought y’all were swingers? Yeah that was weird af.
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05 Jul, 2023 by Anonymous
Tim did not listen to me when I repeatedly explained the abusive relationship I was in. He did not review all the evidence I submitted and then sent illegible documentation to the judge. Because of this I not only lost my children to their abuser but I had to give up 80% of my income to support them in my house. I have since spent over $30,000.00 and the bill is still climbing. This attorney has cost me 10s of thousands of $$.
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28 Jun, 2021 by Colin
I hired Susan Donahue to represent me in my divorce. Initially she seemed knowledgeable and friendly and we went to the first court hearing. This is when everything fell apart. I was expecting her to stand up and fight for my parenting plan and instead she kind of stood there and mumbled until the judge told her that she needed to wrap it up before lunch. At this point her demeanor changed, I assume she was embarrassed but she became very rude, condescending and started lecturing me on things I needed to be doing in my personal life. When she told me things that I knew where inaccurate and I would ask a question she would snap at me. I am used to a certain level of disrespect but I have never been billed 200 dollars an hour to sit in an office and constantly take abuse. When it came time to start totaling up the assets I watched her fumble through the process, make repeated math errors in excess of 50 thousand dollars and explain things to me that I knew were not right. At this point I really began to question if she had ever done this before. After about 30 minutes of this complete incompetence, I got up and just left. She called 911 and told them that she believed I was suicidal and recommended I be put on a 72 hour involuntary hold. Luckily I knew the police officer, we chatted for a minute and headed on our separate way. This behavior was absolutely insane and I cant believe she is even allowed to practice law with such a minimal grasp of what she has chosen to do for a living. So I have paid Susan Donahue over 6 thousand dollars and I am in the same position I would have been if I had simply signed every document my ex-wife's lawyer had put in front of me. If you are looking for a competent attorney to fight for you through a divorce, keep looking. Do not make the same mistake I made, a one star rating seems too generous for this woman.
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11 Aug, 2015 by Cindy
I consulted with this lawyer, instead of listening to facts, she would jump to conclusions. She never got the facts, she assumed. She asked for an outrageous amount of money,which I would have never gave her, personally she didnt seem she could do the job, (she told me she had never done that type of work) or was even competent handle this case. This lawyer is very rude and judges a potential client on their appearance.
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23 Oct, 2022 by Chrishanthi
This guy is a thief we reported him to WA Bar association because we hired him he took 750 and did nothing and disappeared so if that is the case with you with this thief file you report with WA bar association because this kind of thieves should not allow to do any business
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29 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous
I was a client of Mr. Reid's and was very unhappy with the service that he was supposed to deliver.
He did not return my phone calls or do the job he was hired for. In the end I lost over 30 000.00 , I do not feel he would be a good lawyer to call, I would make sure you check credentials before you decide to hire this guy.
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12 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
I hired Ms. Samuel to file two separate motions. Money was being drained from my attorney trust account rather rapidly and with little to no progress on my case, so I began to inquire as to what was happening...I got the run around and no solid answers as to what was happening. After a couple inquires I received a letter of withdrawal, stating that Ms. Samuel was quitting because I clearly didn't trust her.
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05 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
He will give you 500$ for a phone but be stingy on furniture. I have nothing in my apartment not even a bed. He has told me that I am just going to have to sleep outside. Talked with family about my private matters and is overall just rude.
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09 Nov, 2020 by Darrell
The worst divorce attorney in okanogan county Washington. Never answers your call and has no experience as a divorce attorney.
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01 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
I went to see him about a real estate transaction. Unconcerned interested in me doing estate planning instead.
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24 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
Brock Stiles will not fight for you. We went in front of a judge for my SS case and he didn't bring up a couple of things he said he would and seemed lazy and didn't hardly deliberate on my behalf. I've been working with him for the past couple of years but I felt the effort on his part wasn't there.
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10 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
I hired Tanya to investigate and provide factual documentation pertaining to my estranged recently deceased father's estate (i.e. will, personal property, bank accounts). Tanya worked on it for 3 months and did not find anything more than what I had already found in the county court record. The only new info I received was a bill for over $1,100 . . . for every minute of time she spent reading my e-mails, responding to e-mails and taking my calls. Sadly, I thought I'd be safe with an attorney the bar assoc recommended . . . but I was wrong. Live and learn.
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28 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
This attorney and his firm misinformed me about my rights in a case which cost me the case and a lot of money. He mislead me into thinking that the case was being handled by another attorney and just pasted me back and forth while billing me to update each other on the case.
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13 Feb, 2015 by Dj
My personal experience with Mr. Friedman was terrible. I found him rude, demeaning, unhelpful, and extremely unprofessional. I believe he lacks customer service skills, and would absolutely not return to his practice, or recommend him to anyone else.
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26 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
He for some reason refused to file the proper paperwork which was a four page letter in which my child admitted to lying about the circumstances he stated in court to be out of his mother's house, resulting in my teenage son being placed with an adult couple he found on Facebook! Wtf?!!!
Your inaction has caused another unnecessary wedge in the fractures of our very damaged relationship. This will literally affect the rest of both our lives, and you were so careless about it
Please dear gods, don't try to "help" anymore ppl. You should probably not even be practicing law, what a disgrace
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19 Jan, 2018 by Anonymous
Don't waste your money on this cheap joke of an attorney.
None of my documents were filed properly through her or in a timely matter! This is what lost our case. Improper formatting and untimely filing. The courts considered NOTHING that she filed.
She never had any rebuttal ready when the other lawyer drug me through the mud in attempts to convince the courts I was mentally unstable. She read damn near nothing that I gave her for my DV case.
While the courts did not recognize this argument, it was still very upsetting when Renee wouldn't respond when the proof of stability was right in front of her in documents from professionals.
She lost my case so miserably, that I lost primary custody of my children after being their full time mom for 6 years. On top of it all I have been ordered to pay child support in the amount of 1128 per month on a minimum wage income. I have had a hard time finding better employment since being a stay at home mom for 6 years.
When all was said and done, Renee never apologized for her ridiculous mistakes that cost myself and my children. She was also rude to me and my family when we attempted to confront her or ask her about these atrocious oversights.
When I came to collect my things from her office, again there was no apology. She blamed the court for making mistakes, when it was clearly her own.
She made a pathetic attempt to send me off on "good terms" by showing fake sympathy for my situation and making suggestions for jobs that I could get.... as if that makes up for the current situation.
I would have represented myself better. Don't waste your time or money.
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08 Aug, 2019 by Sergay
My partner and I wanted to have a post nuptial agreement to reinforce our prenuptial agreements after almost getting divorced. She advised him that she did not think the agreement was fair, we changed the agreement some, and she still refused to sign the agreement even though he wanted to sign it. Recused herself as his attorney. She said that she does not believe these agreements need to exist, even though she advertises for them on her website. This has cause more stress and distrust in our relationship. She was unhelpful and obstructive.
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08 Feb, 2022 by Anonymous
Atty Murock charged me over $8,000 for a simple will update and living trust. Could not answer basic legal questions about holding primary residence in LLC. We received documents that were full of typos and grammatical errors, then we were charged for her time to correct her mistakes.
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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:
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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.
