How to Find an Estate Planning Attorney in Los Angeles
If you’re thinking about planning for the future, you may be interested in finding an estate planning attorney in Los Angeles for help. It’s not always clear how to find the right attorney, so here’s a guide for your legal needs.
How to Find an Estate Planning Attorney
No one likes to think about what will happen when they die, but the reality is that it is an inevitability everyone must plan for. Without having a plan in writing, your final wishes could be overlooked, ignored, or lost among relationship clashes involving family members who can’t decide how to share or handle your estate.
Estate planning can help you create a plan and make important decisions about what happens after you die. This includes creating living trusts, strategizing to avoid estate taxes, and ensuring that any money handed down cannot be touched by your beneficiary’s creditors in the event of financial hardship. They can also help you assign an official executor of the estate, write a will, or create an advance directive (when to withhold life-saving care).
Learn about estate planning, and how to find an estate planner to help you make your own arrangements, in this short guide.
What is Estate Planning?
In order to understand how to find an estate planning attorney, you first need to know whether or not estate planning is right for you.
Estate planning is the process of making decisions and creating legally-binding documents, to protect your interests and preferences after you die. The documents created during estate planning speak for you once you can no longer speak for yourself, which can be of immense comfort. They also serve to prove the assets you hand down or bequeath are truly a part of your estate and/or part of an inheritance, which can significantly lower the amount of tax your beneficiaries pay.
There is a common misconception that estate planning is only a concern for the wealthy, the sick, the disabled, or senior Americans. Truthfully, no one can predict what the future will bring or at what age we will pass away. That’s why it’s best for all Americans to have a plan as soon as they turn 18 or reach independence.
Related: What Is An Estate Plan? (And 10 Reasons You Need One)
Find the Right Estate Planning Attorney
Although you can plan your own estate, doing so is rarely recommended. Estate and inheritance laws can be complicated and rife with loopholes that can potentially put you at risk. Issues of custody, real estate ownership and even pet ownership can make the process even harder.
Instead, you should work with an estate planning attorney to ensure your rights – and your wishes – are respected.
Finding the right estate planning attorney isn’t always easy, especially if you live in a major city where you may be faced with hundreds or even thousands of options.
Related: What Happens if You Die Without A Will?
Qualities of a Good Estate Planner
A good estate attorney is licensed, in good standing with the state bar, and well-versed in local and state law. If your needs are simple, such as if you simply need someone to certify your will, you may only need a general attorney rather than a specialist. For all other estate planning needs, it’s much more reliable to see someone who truly focuses on estate planning instead.
Ultimately, your goal is to balance your available budget with your need to work with someone who understands you and your wishes – someone who knows California estate law inside-out. You should feel comfortable and respected when talking to them; if you feel as if they talk over you or don’t listen to what you truly need, consider it a red flag. Move on to someone else.
Related: How to Find A Good Lawyer
How to Start Your Search
To find an estate planning attorney, you first need to decide whether you have any special considerations. For example, if you own one or more businesses, or have a significant amount of investment income to pass down, it may be best to speak with a lawyer who specializes in estates and business law. If you have children, someone with experience in family law and estate planning instead.
Start with an Internet search and/or a search of your local area. Make a list of all of the options you find. Include any specialties or other unique factors besides the lawyer’s name. Your local Yellow Pages directory should also have a list of estate planners you can reach out to if you’re having trouble finding info online.
The issue with this method is the sheer amount of options you’ll find if you’re even remotely close to a large city. Furthermore, it can be extremely difficult to judge whether or not the attorneys listed are reliable and trustworthy. This can feel overwhelming, but there are other options you can try to narrow it down.
Use An Attorney Referral Service
The SFVBA Attorney Referral Service is certified by the State Bar of California and meets the American Bar Association standards for lawyer referral. With a comprehensive membership of over 150 well-established attorneys in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, we can help connect you with the right attorney for your needs.
To get started, call (818) 340-4529 and tell one of our friendly Attorney Referral Consultants about your legal matter.
If you prefer contacting us via email, you can do so by completing and submitting an Attorney Referral Request form.
Contact the State Bar Association
The California State Bar Association (CSBA) also serves as a liaison for the public and can interface with you to help you in your search. As with lawyer referral services, they will ask you a series of questions to identify your needs.
Depending on the lawyer you are linked with, you may also receive a small discount on your first consultation or hour for searching via the CSBA. Assistance with your search is also free, as part of the CSBA ’s mandate is to help the public protect their rights and access to legal services.
You can also call the CSBA if you have a lawyer in mind already, but simply want to ensure they’re legitimate and have a good reputation. The organization can confirm whether or not the lawyer has been disbarred if their license is in good legal standing, and whether they have any unresolved complaints from other clients.
Ask for Referrals
Asking someone you trust for a personal or professional referral certainly isn’t foolproof, but it can be the best way to find the right attorney sometimes. For example, if you work with a tax lawyer or a family law lawyer, ask them who they recommend. Because they are essentially putting their own reputation on the line when they refer you, they’re far more likely to suggest someone who really fits.
Don’t be afraid to ask friends, family, accountants, and persons in a position of authority within your community for referrals, too. People you know and trust will often share frank and unbiased views because they want what’s best for you.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to find an estate planning attorney, you can start your search. Be sure to take your time and carefully evaluate the attorney you’re considering.
No matter how you find an estate planning attorney, you should always ask plenty of questions and have at least one consultation before you sign a retainer. The peace of mind gained from knowing your rights and wishes are protected is, after all, one of the most priceless gifts you can give yourself and your beneficiaries.
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