Most people do not spend much time thinking about the relationship they have with their attorney from a personal standpoint. When it comes to your estate planning attorney, however, your level of comfort and ability to communicate with him or her is much more important than you may realize.
Of course you should choose an estate planning attorney who has the experience and skills necessary to advise and assist you in creating a successful estate plan. You should also choose one with whom you are comfortable and secure on a more personal level though. The very nature of the subject matter requires this level of comfort. Estate planning is sensitive by nature. You will need to discuss personal relationships, health issues, business affairs, and maybe even delve into long buried family secrets in order to create your estate plan. Leaving something out during the planning stage can lead to disaster when it comes time for your estate plan to be put to use.
When it comes time to choose an estate planning attorney, take the time to decide how comfortable you feel when talking to a prospective attorney. Do you feel secure and at-ease talking about your personal affairs? Does he or she seem to understand complicated issues or relationships that require a delicate approach within your plan? If you are not comfortable talking to your estate planning attorney, chances are you will leave out something critical to the success of your plan.
