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26 Oct, 2024 by Eugene
Madeline wrote our original Will a while ago. We just had her update it. She was, as before, responsive and professional. She advised us without bias while expressing her objective perspective.
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14 Oct, 2024 by Anonymous
Madeline helped us reevaluate our estate needs and determined that rewriting our old trust was not optimal. She then presented us with better and simpler options for our current situation. The process was done easily, efficiently, and with clear communication.
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09 Oct, 2024 by Dawei wang
I highly recommend Ken in need of legal representation. He helped me successfully fight a traffic violation ticket. I couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome.
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29 Jan, 2024 by Tammy quichocho
I don't even know where to begin. It's now been a little over a year since my husband and I made the call to Hallaq Law. It was the BEST decision we made and a huge burden was lifted! It was the end of 2022 and we were in so much debt after going from a 2 income household to 1 due to the pandemic. We thought we'd be able to catch up on paying our bills that was accumulated but we were stuck. I vividly remember googling Law Firms in my area and Hallaq Law was at the top of the list. After reading the reviews, my husband and I discussed our options and made the call. It took us a while to finally get the ball rolling, but Brian and Diem walked us through the whole process and was always available when we had questions. It's long over due, but I wanted to THANK Brian and Diem for their guidance during the whole process. Look no further, Brian and Diem are the best and we can't thank them enough.
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23 Dec, 2023 by Jennifer lund
A genuinely good person and an outstanding, highly knowledgable attorney. Brian has your back from the very begining. He is absolutely worth your time, you won’t need another attorney!
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13 Nov, 2023 by Sylvia wang
I have to say that working with Brian and Diem is the best decision that I have ever made. I am so happy that I don't have to worry about getting sued by collection company anymore. They acted fast and got my paper filed right away. They are my heroes.
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16 Nov, 2014 by Aaron
Most helpful and knowledgeable attorney, period! Dennis went the extra mile for me with several trust issues. He expertly navigated those legal waters dealing in compliance with government regulations that are technical and difficult. He understands personal issues, showing a "humanity" that other lawyers seem to have lost in their practices. Providing for family in the future via a trust and protecting my assets is a point of expertise that Dennis commands that covered all aspects of my requirements. Check him out.
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27 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
Dennis Brislawn is an exceptional lawyer. He is very professional and he helped me with a difficult problem I was having with a suppressor I bought while I was living in Washington state. I purchased the Bronze level trust of the GUNDOCX Trust system (which Mr. Brislawn created ) in November of 2012 and was approved by the BATFE and received my stamp in May 2013. My husband took a job transfer to Texas and we moved before I could get my suppressor so I applied for a form 20 to transport the suppressor. Things became more difficult for me when the dealer I bought the item from lost their FFL. For several months I tried to get the matter taken care of and it became more difficult since the dealer could not help me . I could do nothing on my own. Then I contacted Dennis around April of this year to see if he could help. He made phone calls and advised me on how he could handle things. He also updated my trust from the Bronze level to a Silver level since I now reside in Texas. I flew to Washington state this June and I was finally able to get my suppressor. Dennis was able to accomplish so much in a short period of time. He is very thorough and he gets the job done
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12 Apr, 2014 by Will
Without Dennis Brislawn, I wouldn't have been able to fulfill a childhood dream of owning a suppressor. I put the wheels in motion back in February of 2013 when I created a trust and applied for the stamp. About 10 months later, the ATF finally approved it and I raced down to my local dealership to pick it up. Unfortunately, during those 10 months, I fulfilled another childhood dream of changing my legal name and this barred me from getting the suppressor since it was for the trust with my former name. I had zero legal experience and no idea what to do. I even considered just eating the cost of the stamp, getting my money back, and abandoning this goal from my bucketlist. Thankfully, I got in touch with Dennis who walked me through the whole process. He knew all the right people to contact, all the forms that needed to be filled out, and he kept me in the loop the entire time. Today, I finally got to thread the suppressor onto my pistol and the smile hasn't left my face since!
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24 Jan, 2017 by Anonymous
Received help reviewing a family partnership and a power of attorney document to determine if I understood what each document said as there were multiple family members involved with differing points of view. The discussions were very contentious and so it was important that I correctly understand the options available to me. There were and remain delicate issues as family matters involving property and aging parents often are. The family partnership document was particularly challenging. Diane reviewed both documents carefully and then laid out the information in a way that a non-lawyer could understand. Phone calls were productive and her turn around time in summarizing the call and the information was nothing short of amazing. She is highly skilled, knowledgeable in her field and straightforward and honest in her assessment of the situation as spelled out in the documents. She is also kind and takes to time to get to know you. I felt that I was a person and that I mattered. I would absolutely recommend her.
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12 Oct, 2016 by Margaret
Diana has helped me navigate difficult family situations with straight forward strategies and solutions, allowing us to avoid a number of problems. She is highly skilled and experienced and I have been grateful for her wise counsel. Finally, she brings a calm, friendly manner that makes working with her a joy.
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12 Oct, 2016 by Winnie
I have known Diana and used her ‘excellent’ professional services for 17 years. During this time, my current husband and I have used her services for 12 years. She also, for the past 9 years, has provided professional services in my managing the financial and health care decisions for my incapacitated father, and now, his Estate due to his death. She has always demonstrated to be knowledgeable, compassionate, positive, an effective communicator, dependable, trustworthy, friendly, and confident. There is no one like her!
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01 Dec, 2016 by Jack and mary
We felt he was very thorough and professional. We are extremely happy with the way they put together our living will and trust and would recommend him to anyone.
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21 Jul, 2016 by Anonymous
Stephan Waltar is very knowledgeable and experienced in estate planning. He is the author of two books on the subject, both of which I read and found to be clearly written and very helpful. I felt that he wrote these books because he truly cared about people being well protected and informed.
He and his staff were easy to communicate with, any questions were answered fully and we received prompt responses to any emails.
We were provided with a 3" binder made personal for us that clearly organized all of our info and documents on our estate planning, medical directives, power of attorney, ect. A digital copy is kept securely as well.
We felt like it was money well spent to have our estate set up by a legal expert rather than a one size fits all computer program. it is complicated and it is essential that it be done properly. When we were at our bank to transfer our account, the manager had to call the legal department to walk her thru the process, as even for someone who works in the financial field it was complicated. One our side we had been provided by Mr. Waltar's office with all the correct legal documents and it was easy.
In the future as laws change it is also good to know that we have a legal expert to confer with who will keep us updated and our plans on track.
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10 Oct, 2010 by Arty
Stephen and his staff made our Estate Planning an easy task. This is something that my wife and I put off for years; and Stephen made it painless. Don't put off your Estate Planning anymore - help your loved ones to stay out of probate court!
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29 Jun, 2015 by Tonya
Jennifer is incredibly knowledgeable and very accommodating! I had procrastinated on making a will, but finally decided to get it done. I was going in for surgery in a week, and I asked Jennifer if she could complete it before the surgery...and she delivered! Within days, she had the first drafts ready for me to review. Jennifer pointed out potential problems with how I had named beneficiaries in my life insurance policy and produced forms for me to send to my insurance representative to correct the issues. She was very attentive and thorough. It was a pleasure working with her, and I highly recommend Jennifer. She is - by far- the best Attorney I've had the experience of working with!
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22 May, 2015 by Mike
When my sister who lived in the Seattle area was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I called a friend who recommended Jennifer to do the estate planning that was needed as soon as possible. Jennifer understood the critical timing of what was going on and was not only extremely professional, but very compassionate and went beyond what most attorneys would ever do. She actually came to the hospital bed to facilitate gathering the wishes of my sister and to execute the necessary documents. She was able to structure the documents for the best interest of the family in every way. Jennifer and her team followed through for the months after my sister's death to help with the complicated settling of the estate. Our entire family strongly recommends Jennifer as an honest, trustworthy, compassionate and service oriented legal professional.
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11 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
Jennifer made our will and estate planning effortless! She was a delight to deal with as well as intelligent and timely. For most people these matters are very complicated but Jennifer and her staff made things easy to undersand and painless. I would definitely use her again and tell anyone looking for a top notch attorney to call her.
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10 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
Geoff and Tom created our estate plans. They took the time (over 6 months) to answer all of our questions patiently and guided us very smoothly and pleasantly through a complex process. Our estate is large and has a a high degree of complexity.They devised a clever and creative solution.
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06 Jul, 2010 by Bruce
My relationship with Geoff began in the final weeks before the death of my dad. As a college professor, I'm a professional but not in the way of being a Successor Trustee. That loomed large as a serious undertaking. That's where Geoff came in. I was able to do all the footwork, which was enormous and time-consuming, but at every turn I was able to count on Geoff guiding me through the thicket. Amazingly, he was always responsive...never a time he failed to return my call expediently.
Initially, I was apprehensive about meeting with Geoff because of previous encounters with attorneys, but we connected immediately.
I liked this man! He was gracious, friendly, professional, easy to understand, and came across as a man sincerely eager to help me through the legal exercise he knew I faced at a time I was emotionally strained by my father's demise.
I especially want to note that where other professionals were all business, I was so impressed that Geoff stepped out of that role for a moment to be human enough in my first moment of grief to be one of the only professionals to quickly offer his condolences to me. That was kind and thoughtful. I wasn't just a client, I was a fellow pilgrim on this dusty journey called life, and he wanted to share my pain, my loss.
I should also note that his fees were incredibly fair, far less than I expected.
Bottom line, I would rate Geoff a 10 +... off the charts, really! So if you need an attorney, especially on estate matters, let me encourage you to employ the services of Geoff Garrett. I'm truly confident that you will soon sing his praises as much as I am doing here. Feel free to contact me for further verbal confirmation of all that I have outlined above.
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24 Feb, 2015 by Mike
We were referred to Craig from our corporate law firm. He was very responsive in returning our call. He spent a generous amount of time on the initial consult and was clearly knowledgeable about the subject matter. If a friend were to ask me for a reference to an elder law attorney, I would be comfortable suggesting they call Craig.
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06 Feb, 2010 by Anonymous
My family received Craig's name from 3 different sources. We needed a very experienced lawyer to handle a complicated guardianship. We ended up finding a lawyer for life. Craig was thorough, available, compassionate and did an outstanding job. He is a true professional, and an asset to his field. I couldn't recommend him more highly.
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04 Nov, 2020 by Evan
Doug is the most caring, thoughful, experienced in his field than anyone can imagine. He is a pillar and a deacon. Fair, honest, and just a real nice person.
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09 Aug, 2024 by Kierra wilcox
Did great with all my cases
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17 Apr, 2024 by Lydia lauver
I hired Andrew May at Envision Family Law after interviewing several attorneys. He was rated very highly on the Super Lawyer website and Andrew has lived up to all his reviews. He is highly skilled, precise, and most importantly Andrew is very ethical and his integrity.
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20 Mar, 2024 by Alex harrison
Chellie Anderson has been an absolute cornerstone in my experience with legal support, working alongside attorney Joshua Bruner with a level of expertise and reliability that's both impressive and deeply reassuring. She feels like a second lawyer on the legal team.
Since taking over for Donna, Chellie has been incredibly prompt, utterly professional, and someone who embodies the highest standards of what top-of-the-line legal assistance should be. If you'll click over to read my review of Donna, you'll see that replacing her was an incredibly high bar to live up to. Chellie's success in matching Donna's performance as a paralegal to Joshua Bruner makes me wonder if it isn't the strength of the paralegal team, and not the attorneys, at Envision Family Law that makes the firm so successful.
That isn't to knock attorney Joshua Bruner, who has been nothing short of magnificent. Flawless. Compelling. Powerful. An expert crafter of legal writing, interviewer, and declaration writer.
And deeply empathic to boot. He's been beyond-the-beyond good.
It's just that, in settling on Envision, we interviewed countless other firms, including all the top firms in Washington, and even paid an $8000 retainer at one, only to have it completely refunded because of the sheer complexity of our case. We experienced countless paralegal's assistance and communication through that process.
EACH of the paralegals we worked with at Envision - Donna & Chellie - are an order of magnitude better than ANY of the dozen paralegals we worked with at other firms.
Chellie's approach isn't just about being thorough - and she is remarkably thorough - it's about bringing a personal understanding to her work that genuinely makes a difference.
Josh trusts Chellie implicitly, and it's easy to see why. Her capacity to handle complex legal tasks with a calm and efficient demeanor has not only won my complete trust but also my respect. She operates with a clarity and precision that ensures everything is managed smoothly, which is something I've come to rely on.
What stands out to me about Chellie is not just her professionalism but also her genuine dedication to her clients. She responds quickly, making sure that I'm always in the loop and fully informed, while respecting our budget. This level of communication and care is something I've found to be exceptional. Chellie doesn't just meet the high standards set by the legal profession; she surpasses them, making the often daunting world of legal proceedings far more navigable and less stressful.
Working with Chellie, I've felt a strong sense of confidence in our ongoing legal matters. Her ability to work seamlessly with Joshua Bruner enhances their legal services tremendously, providing a level of support that I truly value. It's not just about the legal tasks at hand. It's about knowing there's someone as capable as Chellie looking out for your best interests, while you're out taking care of your own business and family matters.
For anyone in need of exceptional legal support, my experience says you'll be in very good hands with Chellie. She very obviously enhances the effectiveness of an already powerhouse attorney in Joshua Bruner.
Now having more than 6 months of experience with Envision, Chellie, Donna, and Bruner, I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who has to go against them in court. They are by FAR the most prepared - and talented - legal team in the courtroom, every single time. It's not even close. If you need a legal team that is going to win, even when they "shouldn't," I currently put my money - literally - on Envision, because of industry-leading performance by paralegal's like Chellie. That performance appears to just be par for the course for all parties at Envision. Deeply impressive. Easiest 5-star review ever.
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09 Aug, 2024 by Kierra wilcox
Did great with all my cases
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17 Apr, 2024 by Lydia lauver
I hired Andrew May at Envision Family Law after interviewing several attorneys. He was rated very highly on the Super Lawyer website and Andrew has lived up to all his reviews. He is highly skilled, precise, and most importantly Andrew is very ethical and his integrity.
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20 Mar, 2024 by Alex harrison
Chellie Anderson has been an absolute cornerstone in my experience with legal support, working alongside attorney Joshua Bruner with a level of expertise and reliability that's both impressive and deeply reassuring. She feels like a second lawyer on the legal team.
Since taking over for Donna, Chellie has been incredibly prompt, utterly professional, and someone who embodies the highest standards of what top-of-the-line legal assistance should be. If you'll click over to read my review of Donna, you'll see that replacing her was an incredibly high bar to live up to. Chellie's success in matching Donna's performance as a paralegal to Joshua Bruner makes me wonder if it isn't the strength of the paralegal team, and not the attorneys, at Envision Family Law that makes the firm so successful.
That isn't to knock attorney Joshua Bruner, who has been nothing short of magnificent. Flawless. Compelling. Powerful. An expert crafter of legal writing, interviewer, and declaration writer.
And deeply empathic to boot. He's been beyond-the-beyond good.
It's just that, in settling on Envision, we interviewed countless other firms, including all the top firms in Washington, and even paid an $8000 retainer at one, only to have it completely refunded because of the sheer complexity of our case. We experienced countless paralegal's assistance and communication through that process.
EACH of the paralegals we worked with at Envision - Donna & Chellie - are an order of magnitude better than ANY of the dozen paralegals we worked with at other firms.
Chellie's approach isn't just about being thorough - and she is remarkably thorough - it's about bringing a personal understanding to her work that genuinely makes a difference.
Josh trusts Chellie implicitly, and it's easy to see why. Her capacity to handle complex legal tasks with a calm and efficient demeanor has not only won my complete trust but also my respect. She operates with a clarity and precision that ensures everything is managed smoothly, which is something I've come to rely on.
What stands out to me about Chellie is not just her professionalism but also her genuine dedication to her clients. She responds quickly, making sure that I'm always in the loop and fully informed, while respecting our budget. This level of communication and care is something I've found to be exceptional. Chellie doesn't just meet the high standards set by the legal profession; she surpasses them, making the often daunting world of legal proceedings far more navigable and less stressful.
Working with Chellie, I've felt a strong sense of confidence in our ongoing legal matters. Her ability to work seamlessly with Joshua Bruner enhances their legal services tremendously, providing a level of support that I truly value. It's not just about the legal tasks at hand. It's about knowing there's someone as capable as Chellie looking out for your best interests, while you're out taking care of your own business and family matters.
For anyone in need of exceptional legal support, my experience says you'll be in very good hands with Chellie. She very obviously enhances the effectiveness of an already powerhouse attorney in Joshua Bruner.
Now having more than 6 months of experience with Envision, Chellie, Donna, and Bruner, I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who has to go against them in court. They are by FAR the most prepared - and talented - legal team in the courtroom, every single time. It's not even close. If you need a legal team that is going to win, even when they "shouldn't," I currently put my money - literally - on Envision, because of industry-leading performance by paralegal's like Chellie. That performance appears to just be par for the course for all parties at Envision. Deeply impressive. Easiest 5-star review ever.
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06 May, 2020 by Anonymous
We have worked with Irving for our estate planning on two occasions. He is very thorough, flexible to our needs, and questions what we need -- he is not just taking a cookie cutter approach for estate planning but a partner in our overall plan. He gives good insight about the pros and cons of certain options we proposed. On top of that, he's very nice to talk to. highly recommended!
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14 Jan, 2019 by Kedar
Irv did my will and a real estate transaction for us. He has an excellent grasp of legal issues in both areas. He took a 20 year view rather than just the current situation. He walked patiently through various cases. He worked on Christmas weekend since we were in a time-crunch. He notarized our documents in a short order. He is a wonderful human being with great legal expertise.
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19 Oct, 2017 by Bill
Mr. Sonkin took time to provide specific interesting information that applied for my unusual circumstances!
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09 Sep, 2024 by Amy egtvet
I have worked primarily with Dan Findley over the years. He is very responsive, thoughtful, pragmatic and explains legal matters in plain English. I recommend him regularly to people looking for sound legal advice.
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16 Jul, 2024 by Gale m
18 Aug, 2023 by Robin briggs
Molly Crouch was such a joy to work with! Thank you for everything!
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24 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
On Nick's bio page of his law firms website the very first line states how he helps transition wealth to the next generation. This is plainly untrue.
I am one of those next gen individuals with an inheritance and an estate and Nick has done nothing but the exact opposite of what he claims. Other than sitting back and billing me out of my inheritance, he also isn't moving forward with an offer submitted to the home left to me and is forcing the house into foreclosure! Why would anyone do that?
Nick has been completely unhelpful in transition the inheritance to me, is purposely slowing the process to bill more, and has been deceitful to me throughout the entire process.
I used to believe in Nick too when he help my then alive grandmother with a guardianship case but after her passing it's like he stopped caring about anything or anyone else but himself and his bank account.
I do not recommend this lawyer. If you find yourself reading this, be warned!
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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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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Trusts Lawyer Can Do for You
A trusts lawyer specializes in creating and managing trusts, which are legal entities that allow individuals to transfer assets to beneficiaries while maintaining control over how and when those assets are distributed. Trusts are used for estate planning, asset protection, tax planning, and ensuring the financial security of loved ones. Trusts lawyers help clients choose the right type of trust for their needs, draft trust documents, and advise on the administration and management of trusts.
Whether you're planning to pass on your assets to your heirs, protect your wealth from creditors, or provide for a disabled family member, a trusts lawyer can help you establish a trust that meets your financial and personal goals.
When Should I Hire a Trusts Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a trusts lawyer in various situations, particularly when you're planning for the future distribution of your assets or protecting your wealth. Common reasons to hire a trusts lawyer include:
- Estate planning: If you want to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, a lawyer can help you create a revocable or irrevocable trust to avoid probate and provide for your heirs.
- Asset protection: If you want to protect your assets from creditors, lawsuits, or potential future liabilities, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to shield your wealth.
- Special needs planning: If you have a disabled family member, a lawyer can create a special needs trust to provide for their care without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
- Tax planning: If you're looking to minimize estate taxes or manage tax liabilities, a lawyer can help you create tax-advantageous trusts, such as a credit shelter trust or charitable remainder trust.
- Charitable giving: If you want to leave a legacy through charitable donations, a lawyer can help you set up a charitable trust to ensure your donations are managed according to your wishes.
- Business succession planning: If you own a business and want to ensure a smooth transition of ownership, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to pass the business on to your heirs or chosen successors.
Hiring a trusts lawyer early in the estate planning process ensures that your assets are protected and your wishes are clearly documented, reducing the chances of disputes after your death.
What Does a Trusts Lawyer Do?
A trusts lawyer provides a variety of legal services to help individuals create, manage, and administer trusts. Their responsibilities often include:
- Drafting trust documents: Preparing the legal documents needed to create the trust, ensuring it is tailored to your specific goals and complies with state and federal laws.
- Choosing the right type of trust: Assisting clients in selecting the most appropriate type of trust for their needs, whether it's a revocable trust, irrevocable trust, living trust, or special needs trust.
- Trust administration: Guiding trustees through their legal responsibilities, including managing assets, making distributions to beneficiaries, and filing tax returns.
- Modifying or terminating trusts: Helping modify or terminate trusts if circumstances change, such as changes in tax laws, family situations, or personal preferences.
- Protecting beneficiaries' interests: Structuring trusts to protect the interests of beneficiaries, especially if there are concerns about financial management, disability, or dependency issues.
- Minimizing estate taxes: Assisting clients in structuring their trusts to minimize or avoid estate taxes, ensuring more of the estate passes to beneficiaries.
- Handling disputes: Mediating or representing clients in court if disputes arise among beneficiaries or between trustees and beneficiaries.
How Are Trusts Lawyers Paid?
Trusts lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the trust and the type of legal work involved. Common payment methods include:
- Flat fee: For drafting basic trusts, such as revocable living trusts or special needs trusts, many lawyers charge a flat fee. This can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the trust.
- Hourly rate: For more complex trust planning, ongoing trust administration, or resolving disputes, some lawyers charge by the hour. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: For long-term trust administration or complex estate planning cases, some lawyers may require a retainer, an upfront payment that covers ongoing services.
- Contingency fee (rare): In rare cases, particularly in disputes involving the administration of a trust, lawyers may work on a contingency fee basis, getting paid only if they successfully recover funds or resolve a legal dispute in your favor.
Always discuss the fee structure with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand the total cost of services.
How Much Does a Trusts Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a trusts lawyer depends on the complexity of the trust, the lawyer’s experience, and the fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Basic trust creation: For simple trusts, such as revocable living trusts, fees may range from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Complex trust creation: For sophisticated estate plans involving multiple trusts, tax planning strategies, or special needs considerations, legal fees may range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more.
- Trust administration: If you are serving as a trustee and need ongoing legal advice, hourly rates for trust administration can range from $150 to $500 or more.
- Dispute resolution: Costs for litigation or mediation in trust disputes may range from $5,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case.
Be sure to get a detailed cost estimate from your lawyer during the consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask a Trusts Lawyer
Before hiring a trusts lawyer, consider asking the following questions:
-
What experience do you have with creating trusts?
Ensure the lawyer has experience drafting trusts and managing trust administration for clients with similar goals or asset structures. -
What types of trusts do you recommend for my situation?
Ask the lawyer to explain the different types of trusts available and which ones best suit your needs. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify the fee structure and request an estimate of the total cost. -
What are the tax implications of the trust?
Ensure the lawyer can explain how the trust will affect your taxes and strategies to minimize tax liability. -
How long will it take to set up the trust?
Ask for a timeline for creating and finalizing the trust documents. -
Will you handle the trust administration?
If ongoing management is required, inquire whether the lawyer will assist with trust administration or if you'll need a separate trustee. -
Can you help resolve disputes if they arise?
Ask about the lawyer's experience in resolving trust disputes.
How to Check the Credibility of a Trusts Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable trusts lawyer, take the following steps:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and has no disciplinary actions.
- Look for trust law experience: Review their website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in estate planning and trusts.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for feedback on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google.
- Ask for references: Request references from past clients who can speak to their experience with the lawyer.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications such as Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) or memberships in organizations like the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA).
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your first consultation with a trusts lawyer, bring the following:
- List of assets: Prepare a list of all your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and personal property.
- List of beneficiaries: Provide names and contact information of individuals or organizations you want to name as beneficiaries.
- Existing estate planning documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, or other estate planning documents.
- Financial information: Bring financial statements, tax returns, and other relevant financial documentation.
- Questions for the lawyer: Prepare a list of questions about the trust creation process, fees, and how the trust will protect your assets and beneficiaries.
- Goals for the trust: Clearly outline your objectives, such as asset protection, tax minimization, or provisions for beneficiaries, so the lawyer can tailor the trust to your needs.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation effectively and receive the best possible legal advice for creating and managing your trust.
