If you are considering estate planning, you are taking the right step. But you should get a lawyer who specializes in family law, wills, and estate. Whether you are in your fifties or thirties, it is never too late or too early to start.
Truth be told, over 62 percent of Canadians do not have a Will. Another 11 percent have outdated wills. When they die, their families are trapped in messy legal feuds. This explains why you should hire an experienced lawyer to plan and oversee your properties. You can visit Everest Law Corporation in Kelowna to learn about choosing the right lawyer.
How to Find an Estate Attorney in Kelowna
The following tips will help you find a good estate attorney in Kelowna:
1. Be Clear on What You Want
Before you set out to look for a lawyer to manage your assets, you should be clear on what you want from them. This also involved knowing the duties of the lawyer and the type of services they render. When you have this information, it will help you to ask the right questions.
An estate attorney advises clients to organize their affairs while preparing for possible mental deterioration due to age and death. You may think that their duty is about reading a last will and testament to family members, but it transcends that. They also help in drafting living trusts and plans that can help you escape taxes. They ensure your assets are protected from the creditors of your beneficiaries after you die.
Estate planning is a complex process, so you need to hire an attorney that specializes in it. You should also have a good knowledge of the laws in Kelowna and any recent changes to those laws. You can visit this website to know more about the duties of an estate attorney.
2. Ensure the Primary Focus of the Attorney is Estate Planning
If what you want is a basic will or healthcare documents, you can simply go for a general lawyer. But if your financial situation or that of your family is complicated, or the government will require tax on your estate, then you need a specialized lawyer to help you out.
3. Ensure They Help with Revocable Living Trusts
When you have found a lawyer, you need to ask the right questions. For instance, can they help you to fund your trust? Some lawyers can plan your estate but can’t fund a trust. This becomes a problem after you pass on because your assets are not linked to your trust now that you are alive. As a result, your family will run into huge financial problems when you die.
4. Check Whether They Have Malpractice Insurance
No one wants legal mistakes, which is why you need to be sure that the lawyer has malpractice insurance. If the lawyer does, it is a good thing because you can hold them responsible for future mistakes.
Furthermore, the insurance indicates that the lawyer cares so much about clients to protect them from expensive errors. Bear in mind that not all states oblige lawyers to carry malpractice insurance, but you still need to ask.
5. Fees Disclosure
You need to make sure that the lawyer’s fees are crystal clear. Some lawyers will give you an estimate before your appointment, which may make you uncomfortable. However, it is not possible to get the exact cost of the planning process without studying the estate particulars.
On the other hand, you need to be careful because some lawyers in Kelowna offer flat fees without an in-depth examination of your case. Also, watch out for those who charge per hour because they may deliberately extend the process to make you pay more. You can visit https://www.thebalance.com/estate-planning-4073957 to learn the basics of estate planning.
Final Thoughts
We have discussed the things to consider in an attorney when you want to plan your estate. Let us keep the technical details aside, so you can really ask yourself whether you can work with the person you want to hire.
This question is very vital because the attorney will handle many of your intimate details. They need the whole picture of your assets to properly advise you. In conclusion, if the attorney you choose to hire ticks all the boxes, but you are not comfortable sharing your personal info with them, simply skip and look for another one.
