What Is An Estate Planning Attorney?

An estate planning attorney is a lawyer who helps clients prepare legal documents to pass their assets on to their heirs after their death in order to preserve their wealth.

Proper estate planning should be done while you are still alive so that you can transfer your money and property to your heirs as you see fit after you pass away.

Estate planning attorneys help their clients plan for the future by helping them designate who will legally inherit their estate.

They provide guidance based on the client’s unique situation as to whether a will, trust, or some combination would be best for their estate plan.

After the plan is agreed upon by the attorney and the client, the attorney goes to work drafting all of the documents.

An Estate Planning Attorney Focuses On Estate And Probate Law

An estate planning attorney is an experienced and licensed professional lawyer who has a thorough knowledge of estate and probate law.

Estate Planning Attorneys use their knowledge and expertise to craft a customized estate plan based on your needs.

Part of what estate planning attorneys do is to help you find techniques to reduce or avoid estate tax.

A good estate planning attorney will also help you craft a plan that will help avoid probate court or legal challenges.

Everyone’s situation is different though, so it is best to consult with an attorney about the transfer of your assets.

Why Should I Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer?

There are many different reasons to seriously consider hiring an estate planning attorney.

These services can be very helpful for anyone who doesn't already have a will or trust. Even relatively young and healthy people should consider hiring one of these professionals.

It's important you speak specifically with a estate lawyer, also known as an estate planning attorney, because these are professionals who focus their legal practices on will, trust, and estate law.

It's a misconception that all lawyers practice the same type of law.

Avoid Unnecessary Complications.

If you want to avoid any complications with passing your assets to your loved ones after you die, you'll need to hire the right estate planning attorney.

They will have a working knowledge of the relevant laws to ensure that no issues arise when it comes time to distribute your estate.

These complications can make it very difficult for your family to get what you have left them in a timely manner.

Even a seemingly harmless error can be devastating to the loved ones you leave behind.

Peace of Mind.

Hiring an estate planning attorney for these services will definitely provide you with peace of mind. You will be able to rest easy knowing that your loved ones will receive everything you want them to after you die.

They Can Minimize Estate Taxes.

One of these attorneys will be able to keep the taxes imposed on your estate to a minimum. This means that your loved ones will be able to get as much of your estate as possible. In some cases it is even possible to circumvent these taxes entirely.

A Helpful Guide.

The attorney you hire will be able to explain how everything from estate taxes to probate works. These can be fairly complicated issues, so it really helps to have a knowledgeable professional by your side.

Updates to Your Will.

You will most likely decide to add onto or change your will or trust in various ways over the years. This will require the legal services of an attorney who specializes in estate planning. It is a good idea to have the same person do all of this.

It Requires Special Expertise.

The fact is that most people cannot create their own will or trust, as it is simply too complicated. Estate planning is especially difficult for non-attorneys when there are a lot of assets involved.

This is not something that you should attempt unless you have years of experience in this particular legal field.

Make sure that you find an find an attorney who specializes in estate planning.

This will greatly reduce the chances of any mistakes being made, which can affect your family in a very negative way.

Prior to meeting with an estate planning attorney you should make a list of all of your assets, collect the ownership paperwork for your assets, define your beneficiaries, and select your successor trustee.

Having all of this information ahead of time will help the attorney create a living trust that protects your family and assets.

If you are interested in drafting a living trust, give us a call at Rochester Law Center to speak with an experienced trust attorney.

We've helped 1,000s of clients in all matters of estate planning.

The Cost To Hire An Estate Planning Attorney?

There are three different methods to charge the legal process. Fees can be charged on an hourly, flat fee, or percentage of the estate basis.

Hourly Cost

Depends upon the experience of the lawyer and the size of the firm where the lawyer practices. Large organizations usually charge higher rates than the individual practitioners or small organization.

Flat Cost

Rates are not charged based on time spent creating the estate plan. An experienced estate planning attorney should know the cost it will take to create your estate plan after an initial consultation.

Percentage of the Estate Assets Cost

Value is based on the value of the estate. Sometimes this method is used when probating an estate.