Divorce Law and You

While it can be uncomfortable to have to think about your own death, estate planning in life is an essential way to protect your family and ensure that your assets are protected and properly distributed as well. The best way to ensure that this happens is by working with an estate planning attorney to draw up the proper documents and create a plan that is beneficial for you and your heirs. However, it is not a good idea to randomly select an estate planning attorney-- estate planning can be a complex and complicated process, so it is very important to hire the right attorney to assist you. Consider the following things when hiring an estate planning attorney:

Fees

The services of a reputable estate planning attorney are not inexpensive, but they are well worth the cost. However, you need to speak with an attorney about his or her fees prior to hiring him or her to draw up your estate planning documents. In most cases, estate planning attorneys will review the needs of a client and then charge a flat fee for their services. Be wary if an estate planning attorney charges by the hour, since this type of fee structure will most likely cost you a lot more than you need to pay.

Avoiding Probate

One of the main reasons people create estate plans is so their family and heirs can avoid the complicated probate process. Probate is a legal process where a probate court must review a person's assets and debts before any assets can be distributed. In addition to being costly, probate can take a long time, especially if someone has a large estate. When you interview an estate planning attorney, ask him or her how your estate can avoid probate. A good estate planning attorney will recommend a living trust for your estate, so probate will not be necessary after your death when your estate is settled.

Experience

Since estate planning can be quite complicated,  look for an attorney that has at least several years of experience in estate planning, as well as an in-depth knowledge of trusts and your state's laws. Before you hire an estate planning attorney, make sure that he or she will be the person handling your estate planning-- the last thing you want is to think that you have hired a senior partner when in reality your case will be handed over to a junior associate at the law firm. 

Visit a site like https://www.linskylaw.com for more help.