Best Probate Attorney: 10 Qualities To Look For

When you lose a loved one, dealing with the estate and everything that comes with it can be tough. The responsibilities and stressors of the probate process are often something that many people dread, but with the help of a skilled attorney, this process doesn’t have to be as difficult as most think. Fortunately, there are attorneys out there who specialize in this field, making their services perfect for those who are looking to ease the burden of dealing with an estate. When searching for a probate attorney, there are several qualities you should look for when determining whether or not they’re right for your case. These tips will help you find the best probate attorney for your needs.

10 Qualities of the Best Probate Attorney

Honesty and Transparency

Honesty and transparency are two of the most important qualities to look for when selecting the best probate attorney. You don’t want to hire someone who is going to deceive you or be secretive about things that you need to know. An attorney who is honest and transparent will always be upfront with you about all aspects of the case and will provide you with all the information you need to make informed decisions. A dishonest or secretive attorney can create issues for your case, create mistrust between you and your lawyer, and cause you to miss important deadlines and facts that could affect your case. If a potential attorney displays these qualities during your initial meeting with them, you need to walk away from the situation immediately.

Expertise

Another important quality to look for in the best probate attorney is expertise. You want to hire someone who has experience with the field, who has dealt with many cases like yours, and who has the skills to deal with them effectively. This will make the process go much more smoothly and allow you to rest easy knowing that you have someone on your side who knows exactly what they’re doing. For example, if you need to prove that your loved one was incompetent before their death, the attorney you hire needs to be qualified to handle that type of case. If they’re not, they’ll be unable to provide you with the assistance you need to move forward with the case, which can lead to major issues down the road. Look for someone who is qualified to handle your case so that you don’t run into any problems along the way.

Reputation and Track Record

Another important quality to look for in the best probate attorney is a good reputation and track record. You want to hire someone with a solid reputation for providing quality services and achieving positive results for their clients. You’ll also want to see what is written about them online. If a potential attorney has a poor reputation or negative reviews online, you’ll want to steer clear of them. You don’t want to hire someone who is likely to cause more problems than they solve, which is very likely if they have a poor reputation. A probate attorney with a solid reputation is one who has dealt with many cases like yours and is likely to get the job done right.

Responsiveness

When searching for the best probate attorney, look for someone who is responsive. You want to hire someone who will respond to your emails and phone calls in a timely manner. This shows that they are organized, responsible, and serious about the work they do. A responsive attorney will also be able to get back to you quickly when you have a question for them. If you hire an unresponsive attorney, you may find yourself waiting days or even weeks for a response. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you have important questions that need to be answered. A responsive attorney will get back to you as soon as possible and make sure you have everything you need to move forward.

Willingness to Listen

Another important quality to look for in the best probate attorney is a willingness to listen. You want to hire a lawyer who is willing to listen to what you have to say and who wants to understand your goals for the case. This will help you to work more effectively with your attorney, which will make the process much easier and less stressful. An attorney who doesn’t listen to you is one who isn’t interested in what you have to say. This can lead to poor communication between you and your attorney, which can cause major issues for your case. An attorney who is willing to listen to you is someone who is interested in your opinion and goals for the case. This will make the process much easier for everyone involved.

Accessibility

Another important quality to look for in the best probate attorney is accessibility. When you choose to hire a probate attorney, you want to make sure that they are easily accessible. This means that you should be able to reach them via phone, email, and in person with ease. It can be incredibly frustrating to try to reach your attorney and have to wait around for days or weeks before they get back to you. This only makes the process more stressful, which is something you want to avoid. An accessible attorney will always be quick to respond to your requests and will make sure you always have access to them when you need it.

Communication Skills

Another important thing to look for in the best probate attorney is their communication skills. You want to hire someone who has strong communication skills so that you can effectively work with them throughout the process. This can include everything from reading you the instructions from the court, to writing an effective and compelling letter to the judge, to communicating with your family members. Strong communication skills will make the process much smoother for everyone involved and will help you to avoid future problems as well. Communication is an important part of the process because it helps you to understand everything that is happening, which in turn allows you to make informed decisions.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is another quality that you want to look for in the best probate attorney. This refers to the ability to control one’s emotions and understand the emotions of others. A probate attorney who has high emotional intelligence will be able to deal with their clients’ difficult emotions and make the process as easy as possible for everyone involved. An attorney who has low emotional intelligence may be unable to deal with their client’s emotions and may become frustrated when dealing with them. This could lead to unprofessional conduct, which is something you want to avoid at all costs. A probate attorney with high emotional intelligence is someone who is able to understand their client’s emotions and get past them to help the process move along as smoothly as possible.

Passion for the Job

Another important quality to look for in the best probate attorney is a passion for the job. You want to hire someone who is passionate about helping people and who enjoys the work they do. This will make the attorney more likely to excel at their job and get the results you want, which is something that can only be helpful in your case. A probate attorney who is passionate about their job will be able to deal with the challenges of the job and get past the difficult emotions that come with it. They will be able to easily deal with difficult clients and make the process as easy as possible for everyone involved. This will make the process much easier for you and will help you to move through it much more quicker.

Compassion for Clients

The final quality to look for in the best probate attorney is compassion for clients. You want to hire someone who cares about their clients and who wants to make their experience as easy as possible. A probate attorney who has compassion for their clients is one who will work their hardest to make sure that you get the best results possible. A probate attorney who doesn’t care about their clients is one who only cares about winning the case and collecting their paycheck. This is something that is likely to cause issues for the case, and it will make the process more stressful for everyone involved. A probate attorney who has compassion for their clients is someone who wants to win their case, but also wants to make sure the client gets what they deserve as well.

Read more probate tips here in relation to debts.

Need the Best Probate Attorney? We Can Help

To ensure that your assets go to the right place, contact Lewman Law for the best probate attorney in Livermore and a consultation for a simple will, trust, or other estate planning vehicle. If you’ve been named the executor of an estate and need legal assistance, you can also request a consultation with the best probate attorney by clicking this link.