The average person’s understanding of a lawyer’s job is often shaped by movies and television. People like to think of lawyers as aggressive litigators arguing in the courtroom or sharp dressed corporate attorneys negotiating complex multimillion-dollar contracts. Sometimes these stories are accurate and sometimes they’re just fiction, but the truth is that there are countless other types of lawyers who practice in ways that don’t make it on stage or screen. One example of these potentially unsung attorneys is the estate planner.
Estate planning is a practice of law that assists people manage their property in situations where he or she can’t act on their behalf anymore, including after death. This is typically done with a series of documents such as a last will and testament, a financial power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, or a trust. Together these documents form a plan to manage property and empower a team of trusted people to take care of you and your loved ones.
In today’s day and age, forms for these estate planning documents can be found at little, or sometimes no, cost; which begs the question “why is an estate planning attorney even necessary?” The estate planner’s job isn’t limited to only drafting documents. A good estate planner acts as a guide and an advisor, helping people identify issues and problems that may be easily overlooked. The estate planner’s job is then to highlight these concerns and form strategies to address the situation.
Ultimately, the estate planner’s job is to act as an educator. Plans rely upon people, and the most important person to your estate plan is you. It will be your job to gather the people you trust to help in troubling times. Your job is to teach them of your wishes and the expectations you have for them when you aren’t there to guide them anymore. Your estate planner’s job is to educate you, so you are ready for this task, so your team is ready to act when the time comes.