How to Find the Right Trust Attorney

July 11, 2023
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A trust is a legal document that allows you to manage and distribute your assets after your death. It can be a powerful tool for estate planning, but it’s important to choose the right trust attorney to help you create it.

Here are some tips on how to find the right trust attorney:

  1. Start with your network. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. If you know someone who has worked with a trust attorney, they can give you valuable insights into the attorney’s experience, skills, and personality.
  2. Look for an attorney who specializes in estate planning. Not all attorneys are created equal. Some attorneys may have a general practice and only handle a few estate planning cases each year. You’ll want to find an attorney who specializes in estate planning and has a lot of experience creating trusts.
  3. Check the attorney’s credentials. Make sure the attorney is licensed to practice law in your state. You can also check the attorney’s disciplinary record with the state bar association.
  4. Interview the attorney. Once you’ve found a few potential attorneys, schedule an interview with each one. This is your chance to get to know the attorney and ask questions about their experience, fees, and approach to estate planning.

Here are some questions you can ask the attorney during the interview:

  • How long have you been practicing estate planning?
  • What types of trusts do you typically create?
  • What are your fees?
  • How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
  • What happens if I need to make changes to my trust in the future?

It’s also important to trust your gut instinct. If you don’t feel comfortable with the attorney, don’t be afraid to move on to someone else.

Here are some additional resources that can help you find the right trust attorney:

  • The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a professional organization for estate planning attorneys. You can search for ACTEC members in your area on the ACTEC website.
  • The National Association of Estate Planning Attorneys (NAELA) is another professional organization for estate planning attorneys. You can search for NAELA members in your area on the NAELA website.
  • The National Law Journal publishes an annual list of the “Best Lawyers in America” in a variety of practice areas, including estate planning. You can search for estate planning attorneys in your area on the National Law Journal website.

Finding the right trust attorney is an important decision. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of finding an attorney who can help you create a trust that meets your needs.

Here are some additional tips for finding the right trust attorney:

  • Ask about the attorney’s experience with trusts that are similar to yours. If you have a complex estate or unique circumstances, you’ll want to find an attorney who has experience with trusts like yours.
  • Make sure the attorney is willing to explain the estate planning process to you in plain English. You should be able to understand the terms of your trust and how it will work.
  • Get everything in writing. This includes the terms of your trust, the attorney’s fees, and any other agreements you make with the attorney.

Creating a trust is an important decision, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult one. By following these tips, you can find the right trust attorney to help you create a trust that meets your needs.

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