Drafting your will or trust can be a complex task and you will never be able to do it yourself. This is because, you don’t have enough knowledge of the estate planning laws. Even a minor mistake can make you pay a huge amount in the long run. That’s why, it is highly recommended to contact a Tacoma estate planning lawyer, who can assist you in the best possible way to make the right decision when it comes to your inherited property. However, you should ask the below-mentioned questions when hiring an estate planning lawyer:
How can your services help me?
Many people believe that they will be able to handle their wills and trusts themselves and don’t need to hire an attorney. They may end up creating a mess for themselves and the entire family. You should ask him if he offers estate tax planning, creates wills and trusts, power of attorney and health care directives. Depending on your needs, you should be asking him for the list of services he offers.
Fees of the estate planning attorney
Another important question at the time of hiring an estate planning attorney is his fees. You should note that they have several plans to get paid depending on the kind of service you need. For instance, if you want to get a will drafted, he may charge you a flat fee. However, if there is an ongoing task such as probate issues, he may charge you on an hourly basis. It is important to ask him about his fee structure so that you can hire the most affordable one.
What document is required at the time of initial consultation?
If you want to make your attorney aware of your case, you need to give a document explaining your marital status, properties, individual or shared assets, spouse, children and claimants. It not only gives an attorney a clear idea of the property but also saves your time and money( if he is working on an hourly basis).
Does he specialize to handle complex cases?
You might have ongoing litigation for a decade. It is important to ask him whether he specializes in handling these complex cases. In case, you want to change your previous lawyer, you should hire a new one who understands your case properly and efficiently.
It is a good idea to know his areas of expertise before hiring him for your estate planning dispute.
