Illinois residents who have a family, own property, or inherited a sum of money should look into estate planning regardless of their age. The process starts with finding a good, local estate attorney who is responsive to questions and requests.
The best estate attorney in Naperville is experienced, a good communicator, and works efficiently. References from past clients also help to clarify what to expect when working together.
Steps to Making Your Estate Plan Now
It takes time to assemble the documents necessary to your estate, including a will, trusts, power of attorney, and provisions for health care and asset distribution. An attorney with the right qualifications will help legally establish your decisions that will protect your loved ones. Other benefits to working personally with an attorney include:
- Filling out forms online rather than meeting with a licensed real estate attorney may cause you to miss important changes to tax laws or other significant opportunities to shelter assets.
- Unless you are proficient with legal requirements, an error or missing document may send your estate to probate, which costs precious time and money that your heirs may need.
- Simple errors in notarization, conflicting beneficiary designations, or failure to coordinate documents for long-term care can invalidate documents and negate your final wishes for your family members.
There are several ways to locate the best estate attorney for your needs. These include:
- Using the Illinois State Bar Association directory of attorneys in good standing. That means they are licensed to practice, do not have disciplinary issues, and carry malpractice insurance.
- Estate planning attorneys have subject matter expertise established through certifications and memberships (look for national estate planning or elder law organizations named in their resumes). A specialization in estate planning and/or elder law should indicate a high level of experience with wills, trusts, probate, elder law, and long-term care planning.
- Referrals can come from professional organizations or your CPA, your financial advisor, or a fellow attorney.
- Online reviews can be helpful, but read them carefully. Avoid those that try to guarantee asset protection over evidence of actual experience. Ask yourself if the reviews sound like they were written by a real person who had actual experience with the attorney, and if they mention specific strengths through anecdotes.
The next step is to briefly interview the potential candidates. Things to ask include:
- How many years of estate planning experience do you have, and do you handle elder law or long-term care planning too?
- Do you carry malpractice insurance in case a legal error is made?
- What is the fee structure for estate planning? What is the average cost?
- Do you coordinate estate planning with other professionals like CPAs and investment brokers so accounts are aligned?
- How do you handle updating estate plans?
Getting the answers to these basic questions is important as is the attorney’s communication skills. Are they patient in explaining information in plain language? Estate planning can be complex, and often requires several interactions with the attorney you choose, so it’s important that it’s someone you feel comfortable talking to.
Why Your Heirs Will Thank You
It’s hard to find time for another project, but in the end your heirs will thank you for putting together a comprehensive estate plan with a qualified attorney. A streamlined process and clear, unambiguous long-term care planning reduces stress and opportunities for disagreements among family members.The right attorney will ensure that your estate plan is legally enforceable, complete, and accurately conveys your wishes for your family’s future. Contact Legacy & Life Law Firm for a free consultation today.