Many people put off scheduling a meeting with a Delaware Valley estate planning lawyer because they think they don’t need an estate plan or, more commonly, they find the whole estate planning process to be a bit daunting. We can help by removing some of the mystery from this process. Let’s start at the beginning, by explaining what you can expect at your first meeting with your estate planning lawyer.
Your first meeting with your estate planning lawyer is a time for you (and your spouse if you are married) and your lawyer to get to know one another and to exchange information about the estate planning process. After this initial meeting, you should walk away feeling comfortable that your lawyer will be creating an estate plan which is specifically tailored to your needs, wishes and goals.
At this initial meeting, your job is to be honest with your Delaware Valley estate planning attorney about your goals in creating an estate plan and to be open in sharing personal information to allow your lawyer to help you achieve those goals. Specifically, you should be prepared to share with your lawyer information pertaining to:
In addition, be prepared to discuss:
Your Delaware Valley Estate Planning Lawyer’s Role
Your lawyer will advise you of the different estate planning options available and the legal ramifications of each. For example, a Last Will and Testament and a Revocable Living Trust are two common options. A will and a trust achieve the same result in memorializing your wishes with respect to the distribution of property after death, but a will goes through probate (which makes it a public record), while a trust allows you to bypass the probate process altogether. Different financial consequences or benefits may also exist depending on whether you choose to have a will- or trust-based plan. Your Delaware Valley estate planning lawyer can help you determine the best option for your particular circumstances.
When you are ready to schedule an initial meeting with a Delaware Valley estate planning lawyer, or if you have questions about the estate planning process, contact us. You can reach us by phone, at 215-465-5575, or by email with the form on this page.
Title: What to Expect at your First Meeting with a Delaware Valley Estate Planning Lawyer
Meta description: Delaware Valley estate planning lawyer explains the issues that will be discussed at your initial meeting so you can prepare ahead of time.