An estate plan is not an off-the-shelf item. For wealthy families especially, it requires careful research and consultation. Most of all, it takes an attorney who has the expertise and experience to build a solid plan. After all, there will be no chance for a do-over if the plan turns out to be unworkable.
(PRWeb) Palo Alto, CA June 6, 2011 -- Certified estate planning and probate lawyer Janet Brewer has released a new "Guide to Choosing Your California Estate Planning Attorney”. Designed especially for families and individuals of high net worth, the guide includes a checklist that can help narrow down the choices when faced with a list of dozens of attorneys.
Brewer has focused exclusively on California probate law, estate planning, and gift-planning law since 1991. She summarizes the process required for a custom-designed estate plan, and the qualities that distinguish the most capable attorneys. Readers may be surprised to learn that any attorney can call himself an estate planner, even if he has no qualifications or experience in estate planning.
The guide also lays out a handful of scenarios, and the kinds of issues that should be dealt with in the various cases. A series of Frequently Asked Questions covers such topics as the difference between a living trust and a will, the impact of foreign citizenship, and how often an estate plan should be updated.
Professional services can’t be judged in the same way someone might compare two models of TV sets or the various options available on a new car, Brewer says. Clients need to understand what an estate planning attorney must do, and the kind of expertise needed to do it well. When the client and attorney are a good match, the family members can feel confident that their wishes will be carried out even when they are no longer there to personally supervise.
Serving Palo Alto and the surrounding region, Brewer is certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the CA State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. She writes the California Probate, Trusts, and Estate Law Blog and has authored several guides on estate planning, including:
About the Law Offices of Janet L. Brewer
Janet Brewer is a certified specialist in estate planning by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and has an advanced degree in tax law. She has practiced California estate, gift-planning, and probate law exclusively since 1991. For more information, visit the practice's website at www.calprobate.com or call (650) 325-8276.
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