Finding the Right Estate Planner is Crucial, so Here are Some Helpful Tips

Posted on December 12th, 2022 by under Funeral Home
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funeral homes in Berkley, MI

Estate planning is essential to ensuring that small details are taken care of before an individual passes away. Several key factors include choosing between the funeral homes in Berkley, MI, and organizing the financial portion of the estate. To correctly manage this, you need to have a professional planner because they can help organize the assets and make them more manageable. Understanding what to look for is key, so let’s take a look and add some tips for finding the right individual.

Start with Referrals

One of the best places to start is by asking friends or family members if they have any recommendations or experiences with local individuals. Checking with accountants, attorneys, and financial advisors may also be resources that can help locate the right person due to their experience with planning processes.

Look for a Specialist

Once you start narrowing down your search and have a few attorneys in mind, you want to ensure that they have experience or that their primary training is in state law and planning. In most cases, you can locate these individuals by contacting the Bar Association because they will have a list of members and their specialties.

Check Advertisements

Advertisements are another excellent resource for finding these individuals. And because of regulations, attorneys cannot make any misleading or false claims in their marketing, ensuring you have a professional to contact.

Questions to Ask

Once you have narrowed down your options, there are some essential questions to ask the individual to ensure they will meet your needs. Here are just a few examples:

What are their charges?

The cost will depend on how complex the situation is, and fees can range from $100 and go up from there, depending on how in-depth the will is.

  • How long does it take for them to complete an estate plan?

Every situation will be different, and there may be some cases where the plan needs to be completed sooner than others, so keep this in mind as the individual is being interviewed.

  • What is your area of expertise?

You will need to determine if they will be able to help you with your specific situation because some only manage complex estates while others work with families and small businesses.

  • How long have they been working in estate planning?

The length of time they have been practicing will also determine their abilities because the longer they have worked with the planning process, the more efficient and thorough they will be.

funeral homes in Berkley, MI

  • Can they help create an all-encompassing plan?

A comprehensive plan will also combine the trust and will that offers lifetime protections for finances and health care.

Our Team is Here to Help

Estate planning is just one step to help organize individuals’ assets and keep the process simpler for loved ones. Finding a qualified professional for the documents is crucial, and the same can be applied to choosing between the funeral homes in Berkley, MI. Understanding all the options available can make the process easier, and our team is here to support you, so contact us today.

Michael Lope

Co-Owner, Funeral Director Michael J. Lope is a licensed funeral director and co-owner of the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home. Mike attended American Academy McAllister Institute for mortuary school in New York City. Mike was licensed in 2006 and began working with his family at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home. He currently works at both family funeral homes in Utica and Royal Oak. In his time off Michael enjoys golfing, skiing, hiking and camping. He is a parishioner at Holy Name Catholic Church with his wife Christine and his two children Andrew and Ashlyn. He and his family are committed to maintaining a family owned and operated funeral home that is a progressive and innovative leader in burial and cremation services.

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