Need to update my will...help

[mickeyd]

Our original will, written in a different state than we now reside, needs to be updated.  My kids are now adult and we are not getting any younger.

I have not had to use a lawyer since I have lived here and solicit your advice on how best to locate a lawyer that can help draw up a will for us.  I have yellow pages but that may not be the best way to go about it. Any suggestions?

 

[Martha]

Mickeyd, I don't know where you are located. If I did I might be able to get you more help. One option is to go to www.martindale.com. This is a major directory of lawyers. Not all lawyers are listed, but it might get you past some of the fly by nights because the listing is fairly costly. You can search by city and specialty. You would search for someone who does trusts and estates.

Another possibility is that your local bar association might have a section for probate/estate/trust lawyers and you might be able to get some names from them.

Word of mouth is excellent. I know in our community the stock brokers and accountants (from the better accounting firms) know the best estate planners. That might be a source of a recommendation.

 

[John Galt]

I have had very poor results picking attorneys
"out of the yellow pages". I have known the guy working on my will update for many years. Jury is still out on him. In my life, I had 2 attorneys that I had 100%
confidence in. Both quit practicing law in mid-career,
leaving me "at sea". The last guy quit about 1992.
I have never been able to replace him. Anyway, I no longer need as much legal work as I once did, but I
also no longer have a
'go to" guy (or gal).

JG

 

[Brat]

Mickey- give us the state in which you live.  Someone on the board may have a recommendation.

I agree- do NOT use the yellow pages as your resource.

Board members, other than personal experience with an individual, how would you vet an attorney for this purpose?

 

[Marshac]

This is OT, but remindes me of a story...

I have a friend who moved here from China about 6 years ago, and recently signed up for pre-paid legal. One of the 'benefits' is that they will write up a will for you at no charge. Never having heard of a will before, I basically told him what they do, and why you should have one. One thing he wants to put in his will (I kid you not) is that he wants to be shot through the head TWICE before being cremated... just in case he wasn't really dead. After I stoped laughing (I couldn't help it), I began to wonder.... can you put such a request in your will? Could that possibly make the executor of the estate the executioner of the estate? Anyways, I told him to give his buddies over at pre-paid a call to set up a will.... and to ask for that to be included into it.... somehow I don't think that's on the "standard" forms.

 

[sgeeeee]

.... somehow I don't think that's on the "standard" forms.

I agree. Asking to be shot in the head once may be standard . . . but twice

 

[SDY888]

Reminds me of a legal conundrum:

"You are trapped in a locked room. In there with you, there is a hungry man eating tiger, a hungry man eating aligator and a lawyer.........

You have a gun with only two bullets.......

What do you do?"



Answer? Shoot the lawyer......................................twice.



Seriously though, I maintain that the only way to find good professional services (be it legal, medical, accounting or others) is through the personal recommendation of a trusted friend, colleague or other professional.

Just my view. Good luck.