An experienced, relationship based Estate Planning Lawyer needs to know the truth before they can do good Estate Planning for you and your loved ones. That skilled, relational Estate Planning Lawyer needs to be able to know and understand you and your loved ones’ strengths and weaknesses, goals and concerns, and the real truth about those.
I had a friend tell me recently, “If you don’t tell someone what you want, you’re not likely to get it.” That is exactly true in Estate Planning in that if the Lawyer does not know the outcomes or goals you want to achieve, they’re not going to be achieved. Further, that Lawyer has to know and understand the strengths and weaknesses of your loved ones or beneficiaries you’re leaving your assets to or are placing in control in case you become sick, mentally disabled, or pass on.
My dad used to say, “Everyone has a sack of rocks, they just have different rocks in their sack.” Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. There is even a personality test that one can take called “StrengthFinder”. Certain people are good in certain roles, others are better in other roles. Certain people are the right people to have in control in the event you become sick, mentally disabled, or pass on. Other people create disaster or take advantage of others if they are placed in those roles.
You have to tell the Lawyer “where the bodies are buried.” We have to know the strengths and weaknesses of all the parties involved in your planning. We also need to know what your goals and concerns are. You are aware of certain concerns you have based on your experiences in life and concerns with certain people. We need to make sure that those people and situations are properly planned for. The good, experienced, relational Estate Planning Lawyer can only do that if you tell them the truth.
At the Law Firm of Steven Andrew Jackson, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, we have helped hundreds of families protect themselves and their loved ones, avoid Estate Taxes and Probate Costs, and keep their Estate Plans current with the law through The Customized Protective Estate Planning Solution™.