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31 Mar, 2022 by Paige
I contacted Wade Law Group for assistance with a small claims suit. I have worked with Brett and Dave McGraw, both have been dedicated, helpful, and have gone above and beyond to meet my expectations. Dave has provided effective legal advice and detailed explanations about the process as well as developed a plan for my hearing. Dave has gave me confidence in my abilities and quelled my anxiety. If I ever need representation or consultations again in the future, Wade Law Group will always be my first and only choice.
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10 Jan, 2022 by Dave
A leader, innovator and most importantly, a terrific lawyer. No one wants to need an attorney, but when you do need one, Amiel Wade is the one to call.
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27 Jun, 2021 by Patricia cent
I hired Mr. Wade to expedite my divorce after being with an ill-prepared attorney for 1 1/2 years in which I didn't get past the discovery stage. I got quick results with Mr. Wade and my divorce was finalized after 4 months. His support staff quickly responded to all my emails and returned my calls. Mr. Wade is very experienced and knowledgeable and found an error in a filing by my ex-spouse's attorney and took immediate action on her behalf which saved me money and didn't prolong the divorce proceedings. He is involved in all the cases in his firm. Every Wednesday he conducts a meeting with his associate attorneys to consult and monitor their progress and provides them with his expert advice when necessary. Hopefully, I won't need Mr. Wade in the future but if I do, I would retain his services again because I was very pleased with his work and professionalism.
Patricia Cent
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01 Nov, 2017 by Hesham younis
Barbara Nesbet is an exceptional professional. We first attended her course about “Estate planning” in Los Gatos and we were so impressed by her professionalism and endless knowledge that we didn't think twice about hiring her to set up our will and our trust.
She guided us through the whole process with remarkable patience, explaining everything to us, giving us great advice, and making us feel secure and confident.
Our experience with her service cannot be better. Her rates are also very reasonable. She is the best and I would highly recommend her!
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22 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
Barbara is an excellent estate planning attorney. She was especially good at making sure we were informed about the factors to think about -- not just the tax and financial side, but also the personal issues -- care of children and pets, health-care issues, etc. She really does go out of her way to personalize the estate planning issues and documents for the situation, rather than the "document mills" that seem all to common these days. Her focus is making sure her clients' needs are met, and that the legal process goes smoothly after we pass away, rather than a quick one-size-fits-all approach which may cause issues for the folks left behind during what is likely to be an already difficult time.
Her rates are also quite affordable -- her priority is to provide a high-quality plan at a reasonable price, and also not nickel and dime her clients. For example, she didn't charge to notarize documents or to make copies of a plan we made with her.
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30 May, 2022 by Blue
Laurel has been an exceptional attorney for my family and for my corporation. She has helped me start and complete a living trust for my wife and kids which meant the world to us! Several years later she helped me form a corporation and has helped me write successful contracts for 5 years now! She has a basic approach and yet extensive knowledge in multiple areas of law. I highly recommend her!!
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12 Aug, 2016 by Anonymous
I used Laurel for my trust & will documents. I was very happy with my experience. She is clearly smart, knowledgable, & a real go getter. I felt confident in her abilities & would definitely recommend her to a friend.
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28 Aug, 2024 by Levi davis
Wade Law Group’s handling of my business partnership dispute was a disaster from start to finish. I sought their help when I was being pushed out and needed to recover my equity. Despite providing all the necessary documentation upfront, including the operating agreement and financial statements, their incompetence quickly became apparent.
For seven weeks, my attorney at Wade Law Group engaged in fruitless exchanges, sending threatening letters based on California law and drafting a lawsuit complaint. Only after all this time did I discover that my attorney hadn’t even read the operating agreement—a crucial document in any partnership dispute. This neglect led us to almost violate the agreement by bypassing mandatory mediation and filing the lawsuit in the wrong state. Predictably, my former business partner exploited these errors, leaving me with a much weakened case and a significant financial loss.
After incurring over five figures in legal fees, I made the decision to terminate our relationship. I requested a meeting to discuss the situation, but my attorney not only ignored my request but also responded rudely when I followed up. Eventually, the firm’s owner reached out and offered a partial refund for drafting the complaint in the wrong state. However, the amount he offered was far less than what I had actually been billed, forcing me to go line by line through the invoices and finding the correct amount was five times higher than what he claimed.
I then posted a review of my experience on Yelp, and the owner reached out and offered me a full refund of over $8K in exchange for removing the review and signing a contract agreeing not to post additional reviews about my experience with the firm. When I pointed out that this felt unethical and possibly illegal and proposed that I edit the review to give credit for the refund, he withdrew the offer, falsely claiming that I had rejected it.
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26 Aug, 2024 by Daniel feldman (daniel j feldman, phd)
These people are rude. And they can't read. I set up a consultation with them, but they canceled before even talking to me and told me that my trial is in three weeks when it's not. They didn't read anything about it, have the nerve to not even meet with me or have a discussion, followed with "best of luck on everything" which is just more insulting, absolutely insulting. i am sorry I called.
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20 Aug, 2024 by Mark shen
They provided services so poor that they even mixed up my name with the person I’m trying to sue in the demand letter, and their justification for that was “oops, but pay us”
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28 Aug, 2024 by Levi davis
Wade Law Group’s handling of my business partnership dispute was a disaster from start to finish. I sought their help when I was being pushed out and needed to recover my equity. Despite providing all the necessary documentation upfront, including the operating agreement and financial statements, their incompetence quickly became apparent.
For seven weeks, my attorney at Wade Law Group engaged in fruitless exchanges, sending threatening letters based on California law and drafting a lawsuit complaint. Only after all this time did I discover that my attorney hadn’t even read the operating agreement—a crucial document in any partnership dispute. This neglect led us to almost violate the agreement by bypassing mandatory mediation and filing the lawsuit in the wrong state. Predictably, my former business partner exploited these errors, leaving me with a much weakened case and a significant financial loss.
After incurring over five figures in legal fees, I made the decision to terminate our relationship. I requested a meeting to discuss the situation, but my attorney not only ignored my request but also responded rudely when I followed up. Eventually, the firm’s owner reached out and offered a partial refund for drafting the complaint in the wrong state. However, the amount he offered was far less than what I had actually been billed, forcing me to go line by line through the invoices and finding the correct amount was five times higher than what he claimed.
I then posted a review of my experience on Yelp, and the owner reached out and offered me a full refund of over $8K in exchange for removing the review and signing a contract agreeing not to post additional reviews about my experience with the firm. When I pointed out that this felt unethical and possibly illegal and proposed that I edit the review to give credit for the refund, he withdrew the offer, falsely claiming that I had rejected it.
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26 Aug, 2024 by Daniel feldman (daniel j feldman, phd)
These people are rude. And they can't read. I set up a consultation with them, but they canceled before even talking to me and told me that my trial is in three weeks when it's not. They didn't read anything about it, have the nerve to not even meet with me or have a discussion, followed with "best of luck on everything" which is just more insulting, absolutely insulting. i am sorry I called.
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20 Aug, 2024 by Mark shen
They provided services so poor that they even mixed up my name with the person I’m trying to sue in the demand letter, and their justification for that was “oops, but pay us”
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04 Jul, 2024 by Bobbie chavarria
Carol is great. For myself as well as my older mother. Very friendly and approachable. She made my senior mother feel at home. I highly recommend
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25 Feb, 2024 by Judi brown
Tom just helped me through a difficult negotiation. Throughout the process he took the time to explain everything in a straightforward language that made sense. Many requests were being made, and Tom took the time to point out the positives and negatives as they were presented. In the end the outcome was satisfactory and met my expectations. I will highly recommend Tom to my friends and family.
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19 Feb, 2024 by Tracey david
I retained Tom to draft my will and set up a living trust, and he was always prepared, and provided strong counsel, which I think made the process quite easy. I then retained him to help me work through an unrelated beneficiary matter where we had little information to go on. He was able to quickly understand both the legal and the emotional issues, and was a strong but calm advocate with the number of parties involved. Things resolved in a very positive manner. He is personable, highly ethical and mindful of goals and time. He communicated frequently, something that I highly value. I recommend him without reservation.
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04 Jul, 2024 by Bobbie chavarria
Carol is great. For myself as well as my older mother. Very friendly and approachable. She made my senior mother feel at home. I highly recommend
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25 Feb, 2024 by Judi brown
Tom just helped me through a difficult negotiation. Throughout the process he took the time to explain everything in a straightforward language that made sense. Many requests were being made, and Tom took the time to point out the positives and negatives as they were presented. In the end the outcome was satisfactory and met my expectations. I will highly recommend Tom to my friends and family.
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19 Feb, 2024 by Tracey david
I retained Tom to draft my will and set up a living trust, and he was always prepared, and provided strong counsel, which I think made the process quite easy. I then retained him to help me work through an unrelated beneficiary matter where we had little information to go on. He was able to quickly understand both the legal and the emotional issues, and was a strong but calm advocate with the number of parties involved. Things resolved in a very positive manner. He is personable, highly ethical and mindful of goals and time. He communicated frequently, something that I highly value. I recommend him without reservation.
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28 Aug, 2024 by Levi davis
Wade Law Group’s handling of my business partnership dispute was a disaster from start to finish. I sought their help when I was being pushed out and needed to recover my equity. Despite providing all the necessary documentation upfront, including the operating agreement and financial statements, their incompetence quickly became apparent.
For seven weeks, my attorney at Wade Law Group engaged in fruitless exchanges, sending threatening letters based on California law and drafting a lawsuit complaint. Only after all this time did I discover that my attorney hadn’t even read the operating agreement—a crucial document in any partnership dispute. This neglect led us to almost violate the agreement by bypassing mandatory mediation and filing the lawsuit in the wrong state. Predictably, my former business partner exploited these errors, leaving me with a much weakened case and a significant financial loss.
After incurring over five figures in legal fees, I made the decision to terminate our relationship. I requested a meeting to discuss the situation, but my attorney not only ignored my request but also responded rudely when I followed up. Eventually, the firm’s owner reached out and offered a partial refund for drafting the complaint in the wrong state. However, the amount he offered was far less than what I had actually been billed, forcing me to go line by line through the invoices and finding the correct amount was five times higher than what he claimed.
I then posted a review of my experience on Yelp, and the owner reached out and offered me a full refund of over $8K in exchange for removing the review and signing a contract agreeing not to post additional reviews about my experience with the firm. When I pointed out that this felt unethical and possibly illegal and proposed that I edit the review to give credit for the refund, he withdrew the offer, falsely claiming that I had rejected it.
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26 Aug, 2024 by Daniel feldman (daniel j feldman, phd)
These people are rude. And they can't read. I set up a consultation with them, but they canceled before even talking to me and told me that my trial is in three weeks when it's not. They didn't read anything about it, have the nerve to not even meet with me or have a discussion, followed with "best of luck on everything" which is just more insulting, absolutely insulting. i am sorry I called.
Read more
20 Aug, 2024 by Mark shen
They provided services so poor that they even mixed up my name with the person I’m trying to sue in the demand letter, and their justification for that was “oops, but pay us”
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17 Sep, 2023 by Nancy eiger
We did not have a good experience with Ms. Carney. It is as difficult to even speak with her. She hired another attorney to assist with my mother’s estate who was horrid. This attorney was hostile to my sister and myself and wracked up charges. I would not recommend this law firm.
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18 Jun, 2022 by Edward katz
19 Oct, 2018 by Michael
I was really in a rough situation with my Uncle. Unfortunately, he was quickly passing away and only had a few days to live. I called an attorney that the hospital case managers suggested in order to set up a trust. That attorney was not in. I asked the hospital case mgr for the name of another attorney and they gave me Janis A. Carney. Janis was in and took my call. I explained the situation to Janis over the phone. She told me she would be at my Uncles bedside with us in an hour. In approx one hour from hanging up the phone Janis came into the hospital room at Kaiser Permanente introduced herself to all family that was present and told us all to leave the room and come back in an hour. We did just that and 75 minutes later the doors to my Uncles room opened. Janis told us she had what she needed and told us she’d be back in a few hours for my Uncle to sign trust documents. She was back in a few hours and my Uncle did sign the documents. Because of Janis doing this, most of his assets will go where he wanted it to go and will not end up in probate or with people my Uncle didn’t want to have it. This gave him peace of mind and made his last 3 days with us much more bearable. We can’t thank Janis enough for making his last hours worry free. Our case is still ongoing after almost 14 months and will go on for another few months before it’s finished due to complications with other family members. However, we are confident with Janis’s help we will overcome these last hurdles and completely settle my Uncles trust as he wanted.
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5.0
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4.0
4 Reviews
17 Sep, 2023 by Nancy eiger
We did not have a good experience with Ms. Carney. It is as difficult to even speak with her. She hired another attorney to assist with my mother’s estate who was horrid. This attorney was hostile to my sister and myself and wracked up charges. I would not recommend this law firm.
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18 Jun, 2022 by Edward katz
04 Jan, 2019 by Delia
Elizabeth is very professional and detail oriented attorney. She helped us create estate planning for our family. During the process she was very professional, cooperative, flexible and wonderful! We cant be any happier with her amazing services! Thank you very much, Elizabeth!
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16 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
We recently consulted with Dawson to draft a trust in which to put our home. We reached out to him and he provided a date and time for us to do a video conference call since we couldn't meet in person due to COVID. In preparation for the call, he also provided a cloud-based google document that asked for a tremendous amount of information about our accounts, last 4 digits of our account numbers (a bit unnerving to be asked to provide this for a consult?), children's names, who we wished to leave items to, who our POA would be for our health care directives, etc. It was a lot of information to provide for a mere consultation, but we provided it.
During the actual consultation, we discussed doing POAs and wills for each of us. He also discussed what we felt was a rather complex design of creating two separate trusts, one for each of us, to cover our situation. Mind you, this was his take on the best approach for our situation. It was more complex than we had envisioned, but we are not legal professionals and can't comment if this is normal and customary.
After our consultation, Dawson said he'd get back in touch with us when he had something for us to review. A few weeks went by. Then we received the following email:
"Thank you for meeting with me via Zoom for a free estate planning consultation. It was a pleasure meeting you
After reviewing your submitted documentation, my notes from our discussion, some research, and careful consideration, your matter is not one in which I believe I can be of assistance at this time. There are many variables involved in my decision process to take on a new client, most of which are considerations of what is in the best interests of the potential client. This includes, but is not limited to, areas of laws that may fall outside my expertise, as well as overly complex legal and/or factual issues.
Good luck."
As Dawson himself was the one who had suggested the complex trust solution, we were surprised. We wrote back and said that we weren't aware of legal or factual issues on our end and asked, directly, if he had a conflict in representing us. To date he hasn't replied to this inquiry. We presume it must be the latter: a conflict.
It was and is very unnerving to be ghosted like this, without further explanation, after having shared private information with him regarding the entirety of our financial accounts and partial account numbers.
Dawson was very pleasant. However, if you hire him for your estate planning, we'd recommend sharing nothing until a business relationship is established and it is confirmed that he doesn't have a conflict in representing you or your interests.
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20 Jun, 2007 by Anonymous
Dawson Crawford is a fantastic lawyer. He will take the time to listen to your concerns and explain all your options. You will walk out of his office feeling well informed and that the matter at hand will be handled professionaly.
We have used him for a lawsuit and to set up our trust estate. He is always fully prepared.I have referred him to two other friends and they have been happy with his service. We feel like he is a trusted family member.
We will continue to use him for all our legal needs and refer him to friends and family members.
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06 May, 2018 by Erin g.
We can NOT say enough GREAT things about Douglas Barnes as a TRUST Attorney. Mr Barnes took care of our family TRUST and gave us ideas and things to think about. We had saved a "dime" YEARS ago and had some "good deal bafoon" write up a so called "Trust" that ended up not worth the paper it was written on and Attorney Douglas Barnes was able to fix this wrong, make it CORRECT, and he was worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY! Attorney Douglas Barnes is also an attorney who can go to court if our family Trust is ever questioned and he can defend our wishes, where OTHER Trust Attorneys can not always do. Something to think about when planning your Estate and wishes for after you are no longer here! GREAT GREAT GREAT hands to be in at the Offices of Douglas Barnes!
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25 Jan, 2013 by Anonymous
I had an unsatisfactory experience in estate planning with Mr. Barnes and his office. I don't feel he invested effort enough to understand my circumstances, but responded in a "cookie cutter" way with generic advice that turned out to be inappropriate for me. The estate package he crafted was far too complicated and not only failed to achieve my goals but in part contradicted and undercut them. Quality of staff work was very poor: copy and paste errors in estate documents; spelled my name wrong in documents. I found him to be unresponsive to questions either by phone or email - until my new lawyer contacted him, which received immediate response. Please note that I don't question Mr. Barnes' integrity or knowledge. Rather that he didn't work hard enough to understand what I wanted; communicated poorly; and at the time his office staff were really a problem (maybe this has been fixed since then, I can't say). By contrast I'm profoundly happy with the attorney I replaced him with.
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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.
