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Should a Lawyer Prepare Wills and Estate Planning Documents for Me? If So, How Do I Pick a Lawyer?
Andrew Byrnes Law Group • March 12, 2020
When it comes to estate planning, hiring a lawyer is, strictly speaking, not mandatory. For example, people sometimes do their own wills using a DIY will kit or just type up a document themselves.
However, there can be a huge difference between doing it yourself and having a lawyer prepare the documents for you with their legal expertise.
The entire process of planning your estate is complex, and things can be even more complicated if you have acquired more assets over time. Hence, it is a smart move to have an estate planning lawyer who can help you plan your estate correctly. For example, if you were to do a DIY will without legal advice, there’s a chance you could be running the risk of your beneficiaries not getting the assets you want to give them when you pass away.
When looking for the right lawyer for your estate planning, here are six practical tips below:
1. Conduct research and ask for recommendations
Performing your own “due diligence” prior to hiring an estate planning lawyer is a must. You have the options of looking online for various estate planning practices or to seek recommendations from family, friends, and colleagues. Once you have the names of lawyers or law firms, you can come up with a list of possibilities to choose from.
2. Call a few of the firms you are choosing between
It cannot hurt to call the lawyers’ offices and have brief discussion with them to see whether they are experienced in planning estates and preparing estate documents. This is a preliminary step in narrowing down your list of prospects. This doesn’t have to be time-consuming, and you don’t have to exert too much effort. Your goal is to trim down potential candidates to those specialised in estate planning.
3. If you are unsure about how to proceed, ask the lawyers at the law firms you are contacting whether they will speak with you for free
At this point, you may have narrowed down your list of prospects for estate planning lawyers. Many law firms (including ours) offer free telephone conferences, video, and face-to-face conferences. It cannot hurt to schedule a conference with a few of these lawyers. Make sure to have a list of questions and be prepared.
4. Ask questions and learn about the process and about the lawyers themselves
During the meeting, you should do what it takes to ask relevant questions about how the lawyer can assist you. You want to make sure they are experienced and competent, and you want to go with a lawyer with robust knowledge and a high level of expertise in estate planning. Finally, you want a lawyer that is diligent and effective in helping you plan your estate.
5. Do the lawyers seem easy to work with?
Another critical step is assessing how these lawyers are to work with. No matter how knowledgeable and skilful your lawyer is in estate planning, it won’t matter if it’s hard for you to work with them and get along with them. Your goal is to ensure that you can find someone you can get along with.
6. Ensure you know how much it will cost
Another crucial factor in estate planning is the cost associated with hiring a lawyer. You want to make sure that you get exactly what you pay for. Do not be afraid to ask how much the process costs as lawyers must disclose costs due to the rules that govern the legal profession.
Why pick Andrew Byrnes Law Group?
One of the key differences between Andrew Byrnes Law Group and other law firms is that not only are we are experienced in drafting estate planning documents, we have also have sped up the entire process and made it much easier for you if your estate is relatively straightforward.
For example, if you are looking to prepare a will, once you have decided on who you want to handle your affairs and what you want to happen with your assets should you pass away, you can complete a short online interview and our lawyers will send you a complete Will with tailored legal advice, all within 48 hours of your completing the interview. This process will cost you just $440.00 inclusive of GST.
We also have similar services available for other estate planning documents.
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