11 Jan How do I find an estate planning attorney I can trust?

Q. How do I find an estate planning attorney I can trust?
— Jersey girl

A. We’re glad to see you’re looking for a competent professional.

There’s no single way to find an estate planning attorney, but there are plenty of places to find leads.

If you are Internet-savvy, there are a number of options. You can simply search on Google, likely using your town or county of residence and other words relating to your legal needs, said Tom Szieber, a trusts and estates attorney at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi in Roseland.

He said online platforms such as LegalMatch have search tools to assist in finding attorneys based on location and legal need, as do sites like Martindale-Hubble, FindLaw, SuperLawyers and Lawyers.com.

If you find online reviews helpful, some of these options provide reviews from satisfied — or unsatisfied — clients, he said

Your local bar association also has a lawyer referral service that you may be able to use, and there are also various Estate Planning Council chapters throughout the state, he said.

“Lastly, it is certainly worth asking other people in your personal network as well, since the endorsement of a trusted friend or family member may give you the confidence to consider a particular attorney or law firm,” Szieber said.

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This story was originally published on Jan. 11, 2023.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.