You may think that estate planning is something you don’t need to worry about until you’re older. However, life is unpredictable and we never know what will happen from day to day. We recommend adults of all ages have a valid Last Will and Testament drawn up with the help of an elder law attorney. Having a will protects you, your family, and your assets in the event that something happens to you. It also provides your loved ones with guidance and eases financial stresses during a difficult time.
In this article, our team at SCC Legal shares five essential tips for choosing the best elder law attorney for your unique situation. We hope this guide proves helpful, and encourage you to contact us with any additional questions.
NJ estate planning: choosing the right elder law attorney
- Schedule several initial consultations with different lawyers. This gives you the chance to ask any questions, understand more about the estate planning process, and allows you to get a sense of each attorney’s personality and working style.
- Ensure they have a lot of experience with cases similar to yours. Ideally, the attorney you choose will specialize in estate planning and they’ll be an expert in NJ estate planning laws and regulations.
- Decide how you feel about their professionalism and responsiveness. You don’t want to work with someone who takes days to reply to your messages, who doesn’t explain things clearly, or who doesn’t return your calls.
- Check their client reviews. Most attorneys will happily provide you with reviews from previous clients, or you can find their client reviews online.
- Be sure they have the necessary credentials. It may seem obvious, but the attorney you choose needs to be licensed by the New Jersey State Bar Association. Additionally, you should check that they don’t have a record of any disciplinary actions taken against them.
It’s never too early to create a Last Will and Testament. The last few years have demonstrated the unpredictability of life, and being prepared is necessary in order to protect yourself and your family. If you have questions about estate planning or changing your will, or if you’d like to speak to one of our elder law attorneys, please contact our team at SCC Legal today.