Lessons From Fisk: Finding an Estate Planning Attorney You Want to Work With

Lessons From Fisk: Finding an Estate Planning Attorney You Want to Work With

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi

December 22, 2023

Episode Five, Season One, of the Australian comedy Fisk pushes Helen beyond the paperwork of being an associate and into the work of client development. In the opening scene, Roz Gruber shoos Helen away from the conference table saying "Helen, why don't you go and work on bringing in some new business?" As the episode unfolds, Helen keeps her eyes open for the middle-aged people squabbling over an inheritance, which were described as the ideal client by Office Manager Roz Gruber (who is temporarily suspended from practicing law for unknown reasons). It's at the book club hosted by her Aunt and Uncle, with whom she is couch surfing, where Helen finds her first client with a squabble over a will. She ends up passing out business cards to the outstretched hands of the book club members.  

My take-away for you from this episode are the following ways you might want to connect with your own estate planning and or probate attorney rather than relying on a Google search.  Keep in mind that this area of the law delves into your family tree, personal finances, health issues and other very sensitive topics. It is critical that you trust the attorney you are working with and allow yourself to open up to them.  Then and only then can they provide the best advice because they will know the details of your life, understand your goals, and recommend the best tools to achieve them.

• Ask for a referral from the other professionals you have hired to assist in your life: accountant, financial planner, personal banker, insurance agent.  They would likely know of an attorney who has a similar communication style to the one they use with you;
• Check in with local family and friends to seek if they have an attorney who might be a good fit.  They will give you honest feed back on whether they'd recommend the attorney;
• Review the membership of organizations you attend to seek if there is an attorney who shares your values.  For example, at your place of worship, where you volunteer, or who sits on the board of your local nonprofit.

I would urge you to remember that a person can be an attorney, but not be knowledgeable in the area of estate planning and probate.  There are many doctors in our world, however, I doubt you would ask your allergist to perform your c-section.  When looking for a lawyer, it might be wise to look for one that focuses on the area of estate planning and probate. 

Thanks for reading.  A blog is meant to spark thought and reflection, it is not legal advice.  Please seek counsel from an attorney licensed in your home state for advice specific to your situation.  Check back next week for the final post of 2023 and my last take-away from Season One of Fisk.