Drafting a will to secure the future of your loved ones after your death is one of the most essential decisions. You must ensure that everything you are planning is following the legal terms. And this is why you should hire a proficient lawyer while drafting your will. But can a random person with a law degree be enough to help you? Well, no. You must look for professional wills and probate lawyers in Sydney for your wills and estate planning. Without relevant aptitude and experience, no one can advise you rightfully for drafting your wills and planning your assets. And therefore, you have to be sure that you are hiring the right person for planning your will. How? Well, below are the top 5 things that you must check when hiring a will and probate attorney for your need:
1../ The person primarily practice in the field of wills, estates and trusts fields:
The first and foremost thing you must check when hiring an attorney for drafting your wills is the practice area of the person. You may think that any lawyer can help you with your wills, but they cannot. You have to find a lawyer whose primary (at least ≥75%) practice area is wills, trusts and estates. Ask the attorney about the majority of their practice area before hiring them. And if you are hiring a law firm, ask if they have any lawyer in their team with primary practice areas on wills and estate planning.
2../ The person has relevant knowledge in wills and probates:
Will you immediately hire a lawyer who mostly practices in wills and probates? Before saying yes, you should know that there are many certifications an attorney can get and there are plenty of organisations they can join. And the most essential part is the requirements to join the firms vary greatly. Thus, you must be sure that the person you are welcoming on board has the appropriate knowledge in the field of wills and probates. Look for the credentials of the lawyers beforehand.
3../ The person is experienced as a wills lawyer:
You may have found a person who knows well about wills and probates. But does that mean that they are experienced enough? Well, no. You have to check that beforehand. Ask the lawyer about their experience as a will and probate lawyer and also ask about how many successful cases they have handled until then. And if you are hiring a law firm, make sure that the team has relevant experience in the wills and probates field with relevant numbers of cases in their background.
4../ The person is professional and up-to-date:
No matter how reputed firms or lawyers you have hired to handle your will drafting process, they must be available for you whenever you need them. Ask the attorney beforehand how they will communicate with you. If they schedule any specific time in a day/week, then make sure that it matches your schedule. Also, ensure that the lawyer/law firm you are hiring is updated with the latest rules and regulations regarding wills and probates.
5../ You are comfortable with the person:
Lastly, check the comfort level of the person you are hiring for your wills and estate planning. It is because you may have to discuss your personal information, as well as family and monetary issues with the lawyer while drafting your will. And thus, it is highly suggested to find an attorney with whom you feel comfortable talking.
Concluding with,
Finding an attorney for drafting your will can seem easy, as there are tonnes of wills and probate lawyers in Sydney. But what if the one you are hiring is not the right one? That can happen if you overlook the must-check things while hiring them. Well, we hope this blog post with the 5 above-written points can be of help.
