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20 Jan, 2025 by Jesse lares
Carmen and team are great. I am trying to help my aging folks navigate thru complicated legal issues and she was very patient and explained everything for them to understand.
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28 Nov, 2024 by Martha cervantes
Carmen Rosas, has tended to our living trust needs. She was kind, respectful and especially patient in explaining procedures and details to us. We would highly recommend her services to friends and family.
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11 Sep, 2024 by Elaine fonseca, realtor
I'm a bay area real estate broker/agent. I've referred Carmen to a few of my clients. All of which would tell me she would never return their calls or they could never connect with her. Should have learned then but instead I decided I should give her a try myself for my estate planning documents especially since we had done some events together. Never did I think my estate planning documents would take over a year to complete.
I signed our engagement letter 6/3/22, the first payment link was sent to me on 6/4/22 (quick turnaround). I had an in-person meeting with her on 7/28/22 after rescheduling on my end a few times due to personal reasons. Soon after I provided all of my documents to her and we scheduled a follow up meeting for 9/22/22.
I didn’t hear anything back from her until 11/14/22, with another payment link for another service she provided. At that moment I inquired about finalizing my trust documents, her office told me they were going to mail them to me the following week. One month goes by and I inquire again on 12/6/22. She claims she is onboarding new team members and has been understaffed. On 12/20/22 I ask her if she was able to find an attorney out of state to put my properties in the trust. She claimed she did and that she would have the deeds ready the following week. January came and went and zero communication from her or her office. I inquired again on 2/3/23 - following up on the mobile notary to sign & finalize trust documents. Another person in her office responds back and I finally get a mobile notary scheduled for 2/9/23. I assumed this was it and I was just waiting around for my executed county stamped documents to get mailed back to me. Well June comes around and I still haven’t received anything back. I inquire again on 6/6/23. She says she is checking with her assistant. No communication again until I inquire again on 6/27/23. One property was finally taken care of and confirmed received by the county on 7/11/23. The other property was finally taken care of in late Sept 2023.
My frustration is the lack of customer service/communication. I understand small businesses tend to get understaffed or are going through business changes but if my services are paid for and I have to constantly be contacting you for an update and most of the time you don’t respond, then there is something wrong! This tells me this business doesn’t value its clients. Posting this review now in case this will help others determine whether to use her services or not. I also know other small businesses that have used her & have had a similar or worser experience so that tells me I’m not the only one.
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19 Nov, 2015 by Julie
I had a probate issue and Mr. Loew was extremely generous with his time, talking to me at length on two occasions about my options and never charging me for his time. I decided not to pursue the case. I felt Mr. Loew was quite fair and rational in his discussions. I felt confident that he was providing me with the best information to make a decision.
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18 Jan, 2016 by Anonymous
After talking with Roxanne and another legal firm about my estate planning needs, I selected Roxanne because of the referral I received for her, her knowledge, her genuine and friendly rapport, and focus on getting the plan done. She did not make it a drawn out, rigorous process. She clearly presented my options in straightforward terms and kept the process moving. Her flat-rate was competitive. I enjoyed working with Roxanne and am happy to have her as a legal resource going forward. I wouldn't hesitate to use her again or refer her.
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31 Dec, 2015 by Alexander
Roxanne is great to work with. Not only does she know her stuff legally/technically, she has a wonderful way of working with you on this rather macabre topics. I mean who wants to talk about what happens after we get too sick or even pass away?! The process is clear and my responsibilities were easy to complete. We talked through various scenarios and options and I felt very comfortable and supported all the way. And everything is documented and memorialized in a binder so it's at hand when the time comes!
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17 Dec, 2015 by Vickie
Roxanne Jen was intelligent, informed, detail oriented, personable, and efficient. I ended up with a complete estate plan. I have since recommended her to others, and would definitely use her again myself.
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09 Jan, 2019 by Lauri
Trusted made protecting our family easy. Although our situation was pretty straightforward, Trusted identified and explained multiple options for us to consider in the future as the size of our estate grows. Trusted also made the whole process and clear and even kept
things moving when we were stuck on certain issues. After our plan was complete, Trusted helped guide us to make sure we funded our trust and informed our guardians. Thanks Trusted.
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25 Jan, 2018 by Brian
We asked Pamela to help us establish our trust. In our initial consultation, Pam neatly laid out all of our options. She was mindful to explain new words and complex concepts in easy-to-understand language. (And was very patient when we lost grip on a couple of them later in the process.) With little effort on our part and cost, we now have a smart living trust (advance health care directives included) and lifelong peace of mind. We also have an experienced professional we can count on for quick and affordable consultations and to make changes to our trust going forward. Thanks, Pam.
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19 Jan, 2018 by Valerie
Everyone at different times in their lives experience life changing events. I found myself on a roller coaster ride for over the past 3 years. I was blessed to meet a wonderful man who I'm proud to call my husband now. I left a career in banking of over 33 years, started my own Professional Life Coaching business, became a grandmother and sadly lost my father. During all these personal and emotional monumental moments Mrs. Pamela Cheong Bobowski has been my guiding light.
I met Pam over 5 years ago. During our first encounter I felt a genuine connection. She expressed her passion for helping people and I felt she was very sincere. As my life started to take on new meaning I called Pam for help.
Our first meeting was to discuss amending my formal trust. Pam was very professional and explained in detail the forms and paper work needed to process my request. I hired her on the spot. I knew she was the one who could help me get my life in order.
Over the years our connection has grown even stronger. There has never been a time when I've reached out to her have a felt disappointed. She has helped me navigate through this game called life.
Pam, I want to thank you for providing me with exceptional service. My trust is now complete. I'm also more knowledgeable regarding estate planning and probate laws.
I would definitely recommend Mrs BOBOWSKI. Let her be your guiding light!!!!
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20 Mar, 2019 by Cali
I recently purchased a new home and decided that it was a great time to establish a plan for the future. Honesty, I had no clue what an estate plan really was and the difference between a will, trust, etc. Loung Law came highly recommended to me by one of my friends. I contacted Mary and she was extremely responsive. She encourages open communication and was readily available to discuss my concerns and answer all my questions. The absolute BEST thing about Mary is that she was able to explain all the legal terms and conditions to me in an easy way for me to understand. She used real life examples to help me understand the in's & out's of all the different aspects of the estate planning documents. Mary was extremely efficient and within just a couple of weeks, my estate plan was finalized! I have to be honest, before I started this, I thought it was going to be a long, tedious process -- but in fact it was just the opposite! It was so much easier than I expected and it's really nice to have that sense of peace now that everything is done. Thank you Mary at Loung Law!!!!
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31 Oct, 2018 by Jeanne
Seldom do I write reviews. Mary Loung deserves this one. In addition to her true professionalism, knowledge, integrity, great communication skills, and thoroughness, she is easy to work with. She cared about our personalized outcome and guided us through this very important estate planning process with sensitivity and proficiency. We asked countless questions and she was incredibly patient. I have already highly recommended Mary and will continue to do so!
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18 Sep, 2018 by Mahsa
It was truly a pleasure to work with Mary. I had longed postponed preparing a trust for my son as I viewed the process as gruesome and challenging.
I finally made the decision to take the step and had the great fortune to connect with Mary.
Mary was not only knowledgable, organized, patient and thorough but also a delight to work with. Her charming personality and lovely humor made the process feel seamless and even enjoyable.
I highly recommend Mary to all friends and family.
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03 Aug, 2015 by Ryan
I consulted with Alex about a real estate deal I had in mind. He was very prompt and apprised me of different issues I hadn't thought of.
Alex has also helped me and my mother by explaining and interpreting a trust document in which my mom is successor trustee. We spoke over the phone and I appreciate his ability to cut through the legalese. He answered all of my questions and made sure that I understood his responses.
I feel good knowing I have someone to go to for my legal issues.
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14 Jul, 2015 by Valerie
I called Alex Biddle as a referral from my nephew since my family was looking for an attorney to review of my parents Living Trust. At the time, we were very anxious to get this done as soon as possible. Alex was very prompt at returning my call and immediately set up a time to give him copies of the trust. However, the next day my family instructed me to hold off on the review. He was very understanding of my request even though he had already spent several hours of his time. Despite my willingness to pay him, he waived his fees and also spend time scanning the lengthy documents back. When my family decides to have the trust reviewed, I will not hesitate to use his services again. It was a pleasure to work with Alex even though it was short lived. He showed his promptness and professionalism to my needs. I will have no problem recommend his services to any of my family and friends that need estate planning assistance.
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03 Mar, 2020 by Anonymous
Kevin Taheny provided excellent legal advice for my son who was dealing with an acrimonious separation. He got back to us immediately, and was able to explain the applicable laws clearly.
We took his advice and the situation is now resolved.
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05 Apr, 2008 by Anonymous
Mr. Taheny was professional, prompt and competent. His fees were extremely reasonable. I recommend him without reservation.
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18 Sep, 2024 by Carl
We talked to Larry Dugoni about a family trust issue. His office was efficient on scheduling a appointment with Mr. Dugoni and he was very generous with his time and advice that shows the many years he has been in the practice of law. Larry will be our go to lawyer whenever we have any issues requiring legal help.
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06 Oct, 2009 by Anonymous
After consulting with other lawyers, I chose Mr. Dugoni to be my estate planning lawyer. Mr. Dugoni was the obvious choice, not only because he is clearly intelligent, thorough, trustworthy and otherwise professional, but because he is a decent human being through and through. He made a naturally unpleasant process (planning for your own demise) simple and painless. That he is a CPA in addition to a lawyer provided extra reassurance that I was in good hands and getting my money's worth. I highly recommend Mr. Dugoni to anyone and everyone who wants peace of mind knowing that their loved ones will be cared for after their death.
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19 Jun, 2018 by Carmelita
Jamay was my attorney in a probate matter involving my a dispute about my cousin's will. We won at trial and she also won a motion for attorney's fees against the other party. She is very professional, knowledgeable about her area of practice, and very responsive. I would highly recommend Jamay.
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05 Oct, 2011 by Liza
I have dealt with Mr. Vale on many occasions and have found him to be extremely professional, knowledgeable, reliable and down to earth. He truly knows his stuff and has a real gift of being able to explain the complicated avenues of estate planning and trust execution in a way that anyone can understand. As a real estate professional, it is very important for me to know that who I refer my clients to will be well taken care of with the utmost professionalism & knowledge. Bob is all that and more. Personally, Bob has helped my family with our complicated estate plan and I would have no one else besides Bob handle it. Bob is a rare find and you will be lucky to have him as your lawyer. I highly recommend Robert Vale and his staff...they are the best!
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22 Nov, 2024 by Lee mendoza
Although he did not take my case, Allister spent time explaining all my options, and offered his services if I have any questions in the future.
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18 Nov, 2024 by Simone cheng
I had a great experience working with Allister on my personal injury case. From start to finish, he was incredibly attentive, always taking the time to answer my questions and provide clear, thoughtful advice. His thorough approach to the case gave me confidence, and he was genuinely helpful every step of the way. I’m grateful for his dedication and expertise in handling my case and would highly recommend him to anyone in need of a reliable and skilled personal injury lawyer.
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08 Oct, 2024 by W l
even though I didn’t use this law firm I give them 5 stars for taking the time to answer my questions concerning my mom’s accident. Allister was very patient, kind and generous with his time. Thank you so much.
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14 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
Paul Barulich represented me through one of the most complex, high-stakes probate situations in the history of San Mateo County, and in the process became my trusted advisor and advocate. The litigation was resolved successfully due to Paul's excellent guidance, and he continued to offer strategic input afterwards to the great benefit of myself and my family. I highly recommend him and his firm.
Paul's deep knowledge of the law and workings of the local court system, along with his sharp strategic guidance, creative thinking and consistently thoughtful response to my many questions along the way were invaluable to me. He treated me with the respect of an esteemed colleague while guiding me wisely past my occasionally impetuous tendencies or naive suggestions. He was adept at keeping things calm and steady in the potentially charged emotional situations that can come up in litigation.
Paul and his team were confident, assertive and bold on my behalf, but never overly aggressive. They followed my requests and concerns closely. Their counsel was based in reason and balance, and always with the highest professionalism, integrity and respectful treatment of all involved. They never lost sight of the higher, long term goals we were striving to achieve in planning for the estate and trust.
Paul brings the true meaning of "advocate" to the term. More than just representing me, he and his staff had my and my family's best interests at heart at every turn, and in the process earned my deepest gratitude.
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11 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
was referred to this firm and met with him and another attorney...paul is very intelligent and knows what he's doing but also arrogant and condescending and didn't feel comfortable with him. on the other hand, if you want a shark on your side, he's the man. he doesn't come cheap though...$565/hr! yikes...
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12 Mar, 2015 by Robin
Aprox five years or so ago, I was facing a 14601 with i think six priors. From experience, I know that S.M. Co. does NOT give leniency of any kind to these types of offenses. Especially after the first one. several years prior i got 60 days on the weekend work program for one with four priors. I was transferred from Santa Clara county after serving a couple months. I wasn't in the mood for another stretch. longer than the one i just served for a worse charge. I'm proud to say I/m no longer a menace to society, and haven't been for years. Carlos was a bit pricey for a driving on suspended case, but when He walked into the court room, the judges face lit up, compliments were exchanged, and after a minute or two this awesome legal rep that put my last lawyer, that should be on prop 36 as well. To shame. Walked up to me, and said 200.00 fine paid over 2 months, and your done. WOW. it was worth every cent. Thank You Carlos You saved my rear end.
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20 Jan, 2025 by Jesse lares
Carmen and team are great. I am trying to help my aging folks navigate thru complicated legal issues and she was very patient and explained everything for them to understand.
Read more
28 Nov, 2024 by Martha cervantes
Carmen Rosas, has tended to our living trust needs. She was kind, respectful and especially patient in explaining procedures and details to us. We would highly recommend her services to friends and family.
Read more
11 Sep, 2024 by Elaine fonseca, realtor
I'm a bay area real estate broker/agent. I've referred Carmen to a few of my clients. All of which would tell me she would never return their calls or they could never connect with her. Should have learned then but instead I decided I should give her a try myself for my estate planning documents especially since we had done some events together. Never did I think my estate planning documents would take over a year to complete.
I signed our engagement letter 6/3/22, the first payment link was sent to me on 6/4/22 (quick turnaround). I had an in-person meeting with her on 7/28/22 after rescheduling on my end a few times due to personal reasons. Soon after I provided all of my documents to her and we scheduled a follow up meeting for 9/22/22.
I didn’t hear anything back from her until 11/14/22, with another payment link for another service she provided. At that moment I inquired about finalizing my trust documents, her office told me they were going to mail them to me the following week. One month goes by and I inquire again on 12/6/22. She claims she is onboarding new team members and has been understaffed. On 12/20/22 I ask her if she was able to find an attorney out of state to put my properties in the trust. She claimed she did and that she would have the deeds ready the following week. January came and went and zero communication from her or her office. I inquired again on 2/3/23 - following up on the mobile notary to sign & finalize trust documents. Another person in her office responds back and I finally get a mobile notary scheduled for 2/9/23. I assumed this was it and I was just waiting around for my executed county stamped documents to get mailed back to me. Well June comes around and I still haven’t received anything back. I inquire again on 6/6/23. She says she is checking with her assistant. No communication again until I inquire again on 6/27/23. One property was finally taken care of and confirmed received by the county on 7/11/23. The other property was finally taken care of in late Sept 2023.
My frustration is the lack of customer service/communication. I understand small businesses tend to get understaffed or are going through business changes but if my services are paid for and I have to constantly be contacting you for an update and most of the time you don’t respond, then there is something wrong! This tells me this business doesn’t value its clients. Posting this review now in case this will help others determine whether to use her services or not. I also know other small businesses that have used her & have had a similar or worser experience so that tells me I’m not the only one.
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12 Apr, 2024 by Emilie gatfield
Had a single appointment with Marvin Firestone while looking for a medication management doctor. It wasn't a good fit, but discovered once I found a good fit that Dr Firestone had entered a "compact" in the CURES database. That prevents other doctors from prescribing my medication until the compact expires.
According to my new doctor, that's not something most doctors do regularly. Usually it's reserved for patients suspected of abusing medications. Maybe Dr Firestone, as a JD as well as MD, just does this automatically, but if so, it should have been removed as soon as I called to say I was going to keep looking.
I am neither amused, nor impressed.
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01 Mar, 2023 by James tappan
Can share goals,expectations & efficiiecy.with goal ofin6 e gratinh
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06 Oct, 2022 by Kelly sharrar, m.d.
EXCELLENT! Powerhouse attorney who is a skilled litigator, very knowledgeable, personable and very professional. I could not have been any better represented. You cannot go wrong with Firestone!
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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.
