Tips To Choose A Competent Estate Planning Attorney

If you want to ensure the welfare of your loved ones after your lifetime, it is best to establish an estate plan as soon as possible. To make it more effective, you can get the assistance of an estate planning attorney. In San Diego, estate planning attorneys have a complete understanding of the law and the way it influences the inventory, value and the taxes of your estate after you die. Here are some tips to find the right attorney for estate planning in San Diego,

• Specialization

Choose an attorney who offers dedicated services for estate planning. There are various specialties in the field of law. Beware of those who declare themselves to be an expert in everything. The attorney should not only be able to guide you through the entire process but also help you build plans that are perfect for your needs. If the lawyer’s forte is estate planning, then his/her advice could be extremely valuable to your estate and your beneficiaries.

• Location

As long as the attorney is licensed in your state, you don’t need to bother about how close he/she is to your place. Overall availability of the lawyer is more important than the location and size of the office. Thus, try not to limit your options based on geography alone.

• Research

Before choosing an estate planning attorney in San Diego, research well in advance. You can check the credibility of the lawyer by looking at his/her online presence. It would provide hints about his/her focus, expertise and skill.

• Initial consultation

This is one of the best times to evaluate the worth of an attorney. His/her attentiveness and thoroughness during the consultation indicates a lot about his/her efficacy. The attorney should question you extensively about your financial and family situation. This is because he/she needs to have a thorough knowledge of all your assets, tax obligations, family members, requirements of the beneficiaries etc. to formulate an effective estate plan. Also, stay away from those who quote their fees before the consultation.

• Strategy

Make sure that the attorney does not have a one-size-fits-all strategy towards estate planning. He needs to understand your individual requirements and offer solutions accordingly.

• Referrals

The best kind of referral comes from your business acquaintances like a financial advisor, family lawyer, accountant etc. They would know more about this field and can surely suggest a trustworthy estate planning attorney.

Once you have chosen the right attorney, you can rest assured that you can provide for your family even after your death.

The author has been running an accounting firm for over 7 years. He has written various articles about book keeping, finance management, tax returns and estate planning in San Diego. To know more, visit http://www.odgerslawgroup.com

Attorney Matthew W. Odgers is the owner and founder of Odgers Law Group, a firm based in San Diego, California that focuses its energy on working with small business owners in the areas of dentistry, medicine, and entrepreneurship.