Estate Planning Lawyer in Mesa

50% of Americans believe that estate planning is somewhat important, but only 33% have a living trust or will. Those that don't believe it's important think that they don't have enough assets for it to be beneficial.

This could not be further from the truth. The estate planning law and the threshold for Probate in Arizona are very low. If you own a house in Arizona it is very likely you will need to go through the probate process at a probate court if you don't have an estate planning in place. Assets you'd consider in your estate aren't just cash (bank accounts) also. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, investments, and even safety deposit boxes fall under the category of assets.

Talking to a skilled estate planning attorney in Mesa, AZ is the best way to understand why you need a last will and testament or trust. Additionally, they can help you write and revise your plan. Estate planning law is state specific. If you moved from another state to Arizona you should have an estate planning attorney review your estate plan to make sure it conforms to Arizona law and Arizona estate planning.

Keep reading to learn how to choose the right estate law attorney for your needs. You will also be able to schedule a free consultation and read about our estate planning process at the end of this blog article.

1. List Your Needs

Finding an estate planning attorney is easier when you know your exact needs. This way you can communicate what you are looking for during consultations and see how lawyers respond to you.

Make a list of your specific goals for the estate plan and schedule a free consultation. There are lawyers that can help write your entire plan from scratch, and then there are others that are better at revising or updating a plan that already exists. The estate planning attorney that you choose needs to be a good fit.

If you need a specific aspect of your plan to be completed, such as designating beneficiaries or charitable giving , you need a lawyer that has experience with these tasks.

There are also individuals who seek advice on how to reduce or eliminate tax liabilities once an estate is distributed to beneficiaries. Estate planning lawyers can work with tax lawyers to provide you with the best information. Arizona residents with a taxable estate need to carefully choose their attorney. Not all Arizona lawyers can handle a taxable estate, look for a law firm that offer estate planning services specifically to avoid legal issues in the future. Your legal documents will need to be carefully drafted in Mesa AZ.

2. Ask Family and Friends

When it comes to hiring a lawyer of any kind, recommendations from people you trust are worth gold.

Ask family and friends if they have completed estate planning in the past with a lawyer in Meza AZ that they trust. Generally, it's best to ask those in your life who share the same values and goals as you.

However, getting a list of lawyer names from people you know, regardless of their status, can help you begin your search. Use your network of people to create a shortlist of attorneys that might be a good fit.

If you don't know anyone that has been through estate planning in Mesa, take your search to the internet. Look through lawyer websites, reviews, and check with the bar association in your state. Make sure you schedule a free consultation before you decide.

If you know another attorney that doesn't work in estate law, they might be able to give you a referral for someone who does.

3. Search Locally

If you want to find a Mesa estate planning lawyer, don't just search for a lawyer on the internet and click on the first page you find. This is a waste of time.

Not only are Mesa, AZ estate planning attorneys equipped to do their job, but if you live in the area, you'll want someone near you that you can reach out to whenever needed.

When it comes to estate planning, you need an attorney in your area because they will understand the law. Estate planning law is complicated and usually vary by state.

It's really important that you can trust your lawyer to be up to date with legal implications specific to Arizona estate law to avoid legal issues. If you avoid searching locally for a lawyer, you might be left with legal hassles and headaches.

Also make sure if you are creating a living trust that your lawyer does trust administration. You will rest easy knowing that you have an attorney that can give your loved ones personal attention.

4. Interview Prospects

You wouldn't hire a random person to work for your business without interviewing them first. The same rule applies when you choose a lawyer.

The best way to ensure you select the right attorney is to interview the professionals that you are interested in working with. This is why gaining recommendations is essential to the process.

Of course, interviewing will take time, but time is worth money. Literally, in this case.

Many lawyers offer free consultations that you can schedule directly through their websites. Consider a consultation as the interview. This is when you'll be able to see if you feel comfortable with a lawyer.

Bring a list of questions to the consultation, such as:

• How long have you practiced estate law?
• How will we communicate about my plan?
• How will I receive updates about my plan?
• How long does your estate planning process takes?

The main things you'll want to find out are if you are comfortable working with the lawyer and if they are knowledgeable in estate planning law specifically. Estate planning is a long process so finding the right individual is key. Legal experience matters but it also needs to be a good fit for you family.

5. Understand Attorney Fees

It's very important to find a lawyer that you can trust and afford. During your consultation, you can discuss estate planning rates and fees with your prospects.

Fee structures for an estate plan can vary by the lawyer. Some choose to charge a flat rate and others will work by the hour. You can read more about it in our estate planning cost blog article, click here.

Flat fees are common for services that involve preparing estate planning documents, such as creating simple estate plans like a last will and testament or a family trust or a power of attorney. More complex plans are typically going to be costlier.

Hourly rates vary based on several factors, like the size of the firm and the amount of work. Hourly rate is usually common in trust administration.

Attorneys may also choose to bill you for specific tasks like copying documents, court filings, courier fees, etc. Before making your lawyer selection, ask about additional charges you might incur.

Find a Mesa, AZ Estate Planning Attorney

Finding and choosing an Mesa estate planning attorney doesn't have to be complicated, but it will take time. The right law firm matters.

Start by listing your needs and finding the person that fits those needs. Ask family and friends, search locally, and interview prospects. During your interview, talk about attorney fees until you understand them. The process matters too, estate plan should not be time consuming.

At Citadel Law Firm, estate planning is our thing. We offer estate planning services for the whole Arizona estate, either in person or virtually. Contact us to schedule a free consultation to learn how we could be the right fit for you. Our Arizona estate planning attorneys will be pleased to help you.

Call (480)565-8020 or click here to schedule you free estate planning consultation with one of our arizona estate planning attorneys. There are plenty of lawyers in Mesa but you should look for Mesa estate planning lawyers to talk about your estate planning needs.

Most of our clients want to avoid probate in Arizona. Our AZ lawyers usually design your estate plan with that goal in mind. Our legal process is also easy. We can help you with elder law and explain to your how your business entities will fit in your estate planning. An experienced attorney will take good care of your family members. Our estate planning process is not time consuming.