Need a Will? Here’s How to Hire the Best Probate Attorney
It’s estimated that 68 percent of people die without a will. The last thing family members want to do is figure out how to distribute a loved one’s personal belongings.
Why hire a probate attorney? It makes the process easier for everyone.
It creates heartache and often rifts in the family that lasts for years. If you don’t have a will, then you need to hire a probate attorney. They help you create the will and once you’re gone often act as executors to make sure the will is followed.
Probate Attorney Consultation
The first step in finding the right one is interviewing probate attorneys in your area, asking any and all appropriate questions.
Does the will require probate? Living trusts are usually created to circumvent probate.
Find out if they work out of your county’s probate court and if they handle these types of cases. Some wills are more complex than others and require trusts and other legal areas that require expert legal help. While an attorney may be capable of drafting a basic will, not all attorneys specialize in trust agreements.
How Do They Charge?
Probate attorneys charge by the hour but depending on their involvement, they charge in fractions of an hour. For example, they may have a 10-minute phone conversation with you, and this charge for only 10 minutes and not a full hour.
How are the fees constructed? Some charge by the hour and others charge a flat fee.
What is covered in those fees? How much does it cost to hire a probate attorney?
Some states require lawyers to charge fees based on the value of the estate.
In addition to the lawyer fees, you also pay probate court fees, appraisal fees, and recording fees. This information should be provided to you before hiring the lawyer. If they don’t provide this information, then choose a different lawyer.
Find more information here about probate lawyers.
Check Our Reviews
People trust reviews from previous customers as much as a recommendation from their best friend. Check out these sites such as Yelp and see how other clients felt about the lawyer and their treatment.
You may discover the lawyer is great but has a coarse demeanor that you wouldn’t like. If there are many negative reviews, then that’s a red flag that the lawyer isn’t good at probate. Don’t only consider the negative reviews, but how they respond to them.
If the lawyers were disrespectful in responding to a negative review, then they will treat you the same way.
Find the Perfect Attorney
A probate attorney is an important part of the process both in creating and executing the will. Take time to research the right candidate and choose one that best fits your needs.
If you want to learn more about probate attorneys, then please explore our site.
