What to Expect When You Hire an Estate Planning Attorney

https://www.deathreadiness.com/ Hiring an estate planning attorney shouldn’t require you to figure out your estate plan before you walk through the door. You don’t need to know whether you need a Will or a trust. You don’t need to have every fiduciary selected or every beneficiary designation figured out. And you definitely don’t need to know what provisions should go into your documents. That’s part of what you’re hiring an attorney to help you determine. In this episode, Jill takes you behind the scenes of the estate planning process and explains three things you should understand before hiring an estate planning attorney: scope, cost, and process. She also walks through her own estate planning process, from the first conversation through drafting, document review, signing, implementation, and an optional Family Estate Planning Meeting—so you know what questions to ask when choosing an attorney and what a thoughtful estate planning process can look like. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The three things to understand before hiring an estate planning attorney: scope, cost, and process. What “scope of representation” actually means. Before focusing only on the price, understand exactly what the attorney has agreed to do. Does the fee include a Will or trust? Powers of attorney? Revisions? Signing? Trust funding? Beneficiary designation assistance? What to ask about legal fees. Whether an attorney charges hourly, a flat fee, or some combination, you should understand how you’ll be charged, what is included, and when additional fees might apply. Why process matters almost as much as the documents. Ask what happens after you hire the attorney. How many meetings will you have? When will you receive drafts? Will the attorney explain them? Can you request changes? What happens after signing? Why you don’t need to arrive with all the answers. You don’t need to know whether you need a revocable trust or exactly what should happen in every possible scenario. Bring information about your family, assets, concerns, and goals. Your estate planning attorney can help you work through the legal solutions. What actually goes into drafting an estate plan. Jill explains why she doesn’t start every Will with a blank Word document and how forms developed, used, and revised over approximately 14 years of practice provide a vetted foundation that can then be customized for each client’s circumstances. Why understanding your documents matters. Receiving a stack of legal documents shouldn’t be the end goal. Jill explains how she reviews documents with clients so they understand what happens at death, who is in charge, what authority they’re giving someone under a power of attorney, and how any trusts will work. Why signing doesn’t necessarily mean you’re finished. An estate plan may also require changes to asset ownership, beneficiary designations, or trust funding. Beautifully drafted documents may not accomplish what you intended if the implementation is never completed. How much should your adult children know? Jill introduces her optional Family Estate Planning Meeting for estate planning clients, which can help adult children understand the big picture of their parents’ plan, where to find important information, who is in charge, and which professionals to contact, without requiring parents to disclose financial information they want to keep private. Remember that you’re evaluating the attorney, too. Do you feel comfortable asking questions? Does the attorney explain things in a way you understand? Do you know what you’re paying for and what happens next? Do you feel heard? Choosing an estate planning attorney is a two-way decision. Resources & Links Get your copy of The Death Readiness Playbook: https://www.deathreadiness.com/playbook Tennessee Estate Planning Services with Jill Mastroianni: https://www.deathreadiness.com/estate... More episodes and resources: https://deathreadiness.com About the Podcast The Death Readiness Podcast helps families navigate wills, trusts, probate, and end-of-life preparation, without the legal jargon. Hosted by Jill Mastroianni, estate planning attorney and creator of The Death Readiness Playbook. Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance tailored to your situation.