How to Find the Best Estate Planning Attorney for Your Needs
Nobody likes thinking about what happens after they’re gone—it’s morbid and complicated. But avoiding estate planning now is just asking for headaches later on for your loved ones.
That’s where having a skilled estate planning attorney in your corner becomes invaluable. These professionals speak the language of wills, trusts, and probate, so you don’t have to.
In most cases, an estate planning attorney is an attorney for life, through births and death, and all of life’s changes. Whether your goal is providing for your kids, leaving money to charity, or just making sure your assets go exactly where you want after you pass – a good attorney gets it done right.
While there’s no definitive “best estate planning attorney,” there is certainly the right attorney for your specific needs and situation. Here’s how to find the right fit.
Do Thorough Research on Texas Estate Planning Lawyers
Begin the search for finding the right estate planning attorney with simple research. Doing this narrows the field to the most qualified candidates.
Ask for Referrals From Your Network
Talk to professionals already working with your finances – CPAs, financial advisors, bankers, etc. They often have trusted estate planning attorney connections suited for more complex situations like yours.
Friends and family who have recently worked with estate lawyers can also offer candid insight on responsiveness, expertise, and overall working relationship.
Look for Client Testimonials and Reviews
The best indicator of quality service comes directly from a law firm’s past clients. Most attorney websites feature testimonials describing positive experiences working with that firm.
You can check independent sites as well. However, stay loyal to reviews explicitly focused on estate planning over general law practices. This expertise is necessary for your situation.
Interview Several Candidates in Your Texas Estate Attorney Search
Once you’ve identified promising options from your research, take the next step by meeting with potential estate planning lawyers in person.
Have an Initial Consultation Covering Your Specific Needs
An initial consultation lets estate lawyers hear your objectives, discuss complex asset issues, and understand relationships influencing your decisions. Take note if they actively listen and ask clarifying questions. That mindset leads to custom strategies tailored to you over-executing boilerplate documents.
Evaluate Their Communication Style and Comfort Level
You want an estate attorney who explains concepts in understandable ways, invites open dialog, and makes you feel at ease even when dealing with complex topics. Don’t ignore uneasy feelings – a disconnect in the working relationship can derail the process later.
Inquire About Their Background and Typical Clients
The best lawyers are prepared to address these questions during an initial consultation. Ask about their years working with estates, advanced certifications, and associations with professional groups.
Also, understand if their average clients match your wealth level and assets. You need someone who is used to dealing with the sophistication of your holdings.
Evaluate Their Approach to Your Unique Situation
You’re looking for a custom planning process tailored to your family dynamics and wealth legacy – not an off-the-shelf boilerplate service.
See If They Take Time to Understand Your Family and Assets
Your estate plan hinges on an intricate balance of interests across heirs, assets, businesses, and philanthropy. A dedicated lawyer will invest extensive face time grasping family relations, key inheritances, intended individual roles, and tax-efficient options.
Determine If Their Process Feels Customized
Beware of attorneys pushing one-size-fits-all estate planning documents like basic wills. Your complex mix of high-value real estate, operating businesses, investments, and heirs requires specialized trusts and tax planning. Demand a process catering to your situation.
Ensure They Clearly Explain Options and Welcome Questions
You’re entrusting major financial decisions and family legacy to this counsel. They must discuss issues in plain language you understand, so ask your questions until satisfied. Leave consultations feeling informed, at ease with recommendations, and confident in their expertise.
Understand Every Attorney’s Fee Structure
How estate lawyers charge can impact overall cost and flexibility as your plan evolves.
Ask About Flat Fees vs. Hourly Billing
Some firms charge flat rates based on the documents required and estate size. Others bill hourly, with no cap on time invested. Get free written estimates to determine the best value for now – and possible future changes.
Compare Basic Will vs. Customized Trust Packages
Advanced trusts cost more than basic wills. However, establishing trusts is crucial for asset protection now and in the future. Get transparent quotes for each tier that is appropriate for you.
Factor in Your Unique Complexity
From family dynamics to operating businesses to property holdings, your situation demands comprehensive counsel regarding testamentary documents, asset positioning, trust administration, and tax minimization. Confirm costs cover the sophisticated strategies you require.
Go with an Estate Planning Attorney Aligned with Your Values and Goals
No formula or checklist replaces instinct when assessing professional fiduciaries to handle influential life decisions for your family.
Your estate planning attorney is someone with whom you’ll share frank views on deeply personal topics like inheritors, causes to support, and distribution of specific possessions. Disclosure flows better to advisors you relate with well.
You want an estate planner who “gets” you – your family, passions, interests, and goals. Shared mindsets build rapport when navigating sensitive conversations central to naming heirs and assigning incomes.
For Trusted Texas Estate Planning, Contact The Cleverly Law Firm, PLLC
When it comes to protecting your legacy, you deserve a team of seasoned professionals in your corner. At The Cleverly Law Firm, PLLC, our estate planning attorneys have been guiding Texans through this complex process for years.
With a deep understanding of state laws and a compassionate approach, we’ll work with you to create a comprehensive, personalized plan that provides peace of mind. Whether you need assistance with drafting a will, establishing trusts, minimizing estate taxes, or any other aspect of estate planning, our firm is here to make the process as seamless as possible.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward securing your family’s future.
Author Bio
Jeremy Cleverly is the founder and principal attorney at The Cleverly Law Firm, where he brings over two decades of legal experience to help clients with estate planning and business law. As a husband, father, and successful entrepreneur, Jeremy understands the importance of protecting one’s family and legacy. His approach to estate planning goes beyond traditional methods, focusing on preserving not just assets, but also values and family stories.
As a business law attorney, Jeremy offers invaluable insights for business owners planning for formation, succession or sale. His experience as one of the few attorneys in the state to have successfully started, scaled, and sold multiple businesses sets him apart in the field. This blend of legal acumen and business savvy allow Jeremy to provide clients with comprehensive and personalized solutions to their legal needs.
