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The FAQ section found in the Estate Planning Companion answers some of the questions questions people ask most frequently about estate planning and related issues.
Topics include:
- Estate Planning Issues
- Family and Personal Issues
- Health and Medical Issues
- Other Common Issues
Other Common Questions
When should I seek the advice of a lawyer?
You would usually seek the advice of any professional, whether it be a lawyer, doctor or accountant, when you need the services and expertise that only a trained professional can supply.
You can think of your legal needs much like you do your medical needs. There are times when you can take care of small ailments with over-the-counter medicines and home remedies. But there are other times when you need the skills of a surgeon or other specialist to help you with your problem. The law works much the same way. For example, you’ll need a lawyer if you want to sue someone, or if someone sues you, if you’re signing an important contract, or if you are facing criminal charges.
You should also see a lawyer at any time that you feel unsure of your legal position. We urge you to read all the supporting information about the documents in this program. If you find you have unanswered questions, you should seek legal counsel. Some people use the documents in this program as a useful starting point and then take the information they’ve gathered to their lawyer for final approval.
What kind of lawyer should I see
The law is extremely complex. There are too many different fields of law for all lawyers to be able to handle all problems. Some lawyers specialize in particular areas, like antitrust or banking law. Others specialize in criminal or personal injury law. On the other hand, some lawyers are general practitioners and can handle a variety of legal problems.
The best way to know the type of lawyer you need is to identify the kind of problem you have--whether it’s estate planning, divorce, or business for example, and then look for a lawyer who handles that kind of case. If you don’t know the category your problem falls into, you can describe it to a lawyer and he or she can help you figure it out.
How do I find a reputable lawyer?
The best way to find a good and reputable lawyer is to get recommendations from your friends, relatives, and business contacts. In addition to getting names and phone numbers, you should ask them what kind of legal problems they were having, were they satisfied with the services they received, did the lawyer do what he or she promised. Did the lawyer return phone calls? Was the fee reasonable?
You can also ask your local bar association for recommendations since many maintain lawyer referral lists by areas of practice. To be included on these lists, lawyers usually have to show the bar association that they have adequate experience in that area. You might also try contacting any law schools in your area, since many have clinics that provide some legal services.
Why can't legal documents be in a language I understand?
Sometimes lawyers simply write in “legalese” out of habit. On the other hand, many lawyers do try to write in plain English and this program is a good example. If you don’t understand a document, a term or a legal concept, consult the supplemental information you’ll find in this program for an explanation. If you still have questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney to review your questions and your specific circumstances.
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