If you are looking for an estate planning attorney and you don’t know what to look for, you may check this short article on how to find a New Jersey estate planning attorney you can work with.
At first it may appear as an overwhelming task. Some people even put off dealing with the estate plan. This should not be because estate planning is a critical part of your preparation for the future. Most importantly, this will prepare the future of your loved ones after you are gone.
What exactly are the roles of an estate planning attorney?
An estate planning lawyer is a licensed legal professional who knows thoroughly the federal and individual state laws that relate to anything that has to do with an estate. An estate planning lawyer is also called a probate attorney. Estate law attorneys can ensure that everything will be covered in terms of how the estate will be inventoried, valued, distributed, and taxed after you die.
The estate planning lawyer helps the client to understand the probate process. He or she can also advise on tax-beneficial plans that pay now and in the future. If you want to set up your estate in a solid, effective, and protective manner, hiring an estate planning lawyer is the best way to go.
Make a list of what you need
Before you start scouting for an estate planning lawyer, you must understand well what your needs are. First, you need to come up with specific goals for the estate plan. By determining your endgame, it would be easier for you to find the New Jersey estate planning attorney who can help. Here are some options on what they can do: write an entire estate plan from scratch, revise or update an existing plan, complete a part of the plan such as the guardians or the designated beneficiaries, help in setting up a trust fund, give advise on how to reduce or do away with future tax liabilities for the estate or the beneficiaries.
Find time to interview each prospect
Because the role of an estate planning lawyer is critical, it is a must to do due diligence and get to know the potential lawyer well. The best approach to this is to interview the attorney. The interview process may not be that long or too complicated. Create a list of questions that you can go through when interviewing the prospects. Some of the questions included are where did you get the law degree, how long have you been practicing estate planning, how must we communicate, and others.