Answers / Estate planning and probate
What kind of lawyer do I need for estate planning and probate?
To make a will or trust, plan for incapacity, or handle a loved one’s estate after they die, you need an estate planning attorney (for planning) or a probate attorney (for administering or contesting an estate). Simple wills can be inexpensive or flat-fee; probate of a contested or large estate is more involved. The right lawyer is licensed in the state where the person lives or where the estate is being probated.
What kind of lawyer do I need for estate planning and probate?
You need an estate planning attorney to create a will, trust, power of attorney, or healthcare directive, or a probate attorney to administer or contest an estate in court. Some lawyers do both. For a disputed inheritance, look for one who handles estate or trust litigation.
How do I find a lawyer who will take my estate planning and probate case?
Find an estate planning or probate attorney licensed in the relevant state who handles your need (planning vs. probate vs. a dispute) and is accepting clients. Attorney Match matches estate and probate attorneys to your situation and jurisdiction and drafts an outreach letter.
Can I afford a lawyer for estate planning and probate?
Estate planning is often a flat fee that depends on complexity (a basic will costs far less than a trust-based plan). Probate is sometimes a flat fee, an hourly rate, or in some states a percentage of the estate. Ask how fees are calculated and whether the estate pays them.
What happens if no lawyer will take my estate planning and probate case?
For simple needs you can use court self-help forms or statutory will forms, and small estates may qualify for a simplified, lawyer-optional probate process. Senior legal-aid programs help with basic planning at no cost. For a genuine dispute, keep looking — estate litigation is too risky to handle alone.
Signs you likely need an estate planning or probate attorney
- You have minor children, significant assets, or a blended family
- A loved one died and an estate must be administered
- There is a dispute over a will, trust, or inheritance
- You need to plan for possible incapacity
Don’t wait too long
Probate and estate-claim deadlines run from the date of death or court filing, and creditor and contest windows can be short. Act within the required period.
Find an estate planning or probate attorney who will take your case
Describe your situation and Attorney Match classifies your matter, ranks attorneys whose public profiles fit an estate or probate matter and your state, and drafts an outreach letter for each one that you can edit and send yourself. One-time $10 — no subscription, no referral fees, and attorneys never pay to rank.
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Attorney advertising. This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney Match is a technology service, not a law firm, and does not practice law. Matching is not a referral guarantee or an endorsement of any attorney — results vary and no attorney is guaranteed to accept your case. Laws and deadlines differ by state; consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your specific situation.