Working with an estate planning attorney who is a good fit will be a relief; you’ll discover increased peace of mind, knowing that you, your family, and your assets are provided for. Here are 6 tips to working with your estate planning attorney.
1. Choose an estate planning attorney who is a good fit, someone you feel comfortable with. The more comfortable you feel, the more confident you’ll feel about your plan.
2. Tell your estate planning attorney everything about your family dynamics, finances, concerns, and goals. Your attorney needs this personal information to give you appropriate legal advice and design an estate plan that works.
3. Trust your estate planning attorney. As with hiring any professional, there needs to be a leap of faith. If you are working with an attorney who you are comfortable with and who focuses his or her practice on estate planning and answers your questions, your estate plan will be a good one.
4. If you have estate planning questions, call or email your attorney. Don’t take estate planning advice from bank tellers, financial advisors, CPAs, friends, neighbors, or relatives. Only your attorney has all the facts about your case and focuses on estate planning every day.
5. Do what your attorney asks you to do. For example, if your attorney gives you paperwork to sign and take to your bank to change the title on your bank accounts, do it. If your attorney asks you to come in for an estate plan review, do it. Your attorney knows what it takes to ensure your estate plan works. If you don’t understand the reasons why you’re being asked to do something, it’s okay to ask.
6. Let your trusted helpers and loved ones know that you’ve engaged in the estate planning process and provide attorney contact information so they know who to call if you become incapacitated or die.
If you follow these 6 tips to working with an estate planning attorney, you’ll be well on your way to having peace of mind and an estate plan that works.
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
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