Planning for your estate is a great way to be prepared for the end of your life, but not knowing whom to trust to help you with your preparations can leave you worse off than when you started. The absolute best way to begin your estate planning is with the help of a qualified estate-planning attorney , like those at Harris Law , but for those who have seen or are already interested in the various will and trust products that have become increasingly popular, it pays to be aware of the deception and fraud that can often accompany them. The following tips will help you make the right decision when it comes to your estate planning .

Do not trust that someone countless miles away will have your best interests at heart. If you are receiving snail mail, emails, or phone calls advertising incredible will and trust products and offering home visits and seminars: buyer beware . Something as essential as planning for the rest of your life deserves someone local who you can get to know, trust, and who you will always be able to get in touch with or visit when you need them most.

Your life is, for the most part, unlike anyone else’s, which means you deserve equally unique estate planning options. For will and trust document sellers who only offer a “one size fits all” type of form for every client: buyer beware . A qualified estate planning attorney will be able to sit you down and explain all your best options based on what you actually need.

The bottom line is, probate and the IRS are not “evil,” not all attorneys are “sharks,” and if a will and trust document seller claims that their products are “the best,” then: buyer beware . Reputable estate planning attorneys are not salesmen; they are simply professionals who are motivated to help you do everything you need to do to be prepared for your end of life.

Always ask ahead of time how much all of your documents will cost, and remember that when trusting an expert attorney those costs include their professional expertise. Will and trust product sellers are only after a quick buck, so: buyer beware . Taking the time to just ask how much everything will cost and doing a little research might even help you discover that it’s often much less expensive to simply seek out a local attorney.

If you speak with a will and trust product seller and they relentlessly advertise their investment products: buyer beware . Don’t even bother with them. Delete their emails, tear up their letters, or hang up on them immediately. Even on the off chance that they are licensed to sell those products, it is often never a good investment. Stick with a professional estate planning attorney . If you’re in need of a legal consultation, call Harris Law today at  231.347.4444 or fill out the free consultation form in the sidebar to schedule your free personal consultation.