Among the many Americans who do not currently have one, only 18% believe that having one is not necessary. That means the vast majority of Americans are, at the very least, willing to acknowledge the fact that learning estate planning basics is a must. Essentially, having a good estate plan is vital for proper asset management and making sure your property, monetary assets, and other valuable items go to the proper people or groups after your death. Because many rules and regulations regarding the process can be quite complex, many will choose to get help from skilled and experienced probate attorneys. Their abilities make them a great resource for anyone who is unsure about how to make sure both their property and their family’s rights are protected should they pass away.
Any good estate planning attorney will be well-versed in the probate laws of their particular jurisdiction and are equipped to help individuals through every stage of the process. Initially, they can help you decide whether or not you need an estate plan (though the answer is usually yes) and outline how you should go about that process. Later on, they will work with family members to make sure your wishes are handled as you wanted them to be.
One thing to consider when trying to hire a probate attorney is that, not only will they need to be trained in much more than asset protection, you’ll have to be sure that you can trust them. Estate planning often involves delicate and intensely personal details that you might not feel comfortable sharing with just everyone. So while training and experience are certainly important, before hiring an attorney, you should take the time to make sure you have a good rapport with them. That can make the process much easier and less stressful.
The recent deaths of A-listers Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Walker brought to light the fact that everyone should have an estate plan in place should tragedy strike. Though both were worth millions (far more than the average American, of course), their outdated wills have lead to confusion with how their finances will be distributed and even how their children will be taken care of. In order to avoid those problems, regardless of what your net worth might be, you should find room in your schedule to sit down and talk to a probate attorney and come up with a plan you feel comfortable with. References.