Advanced Litigation Experience
When a serious conflict or dispute arises over a probate or estate matter, you need to be certain your attorney has the skills and knowledge necessary to protect your rights and interests every step of the way. Individuals often mistakenly believe that probate and estate litigation can be properly handled by any lawyer who works in the areas of wills, estates or trusts. While these lawyers may have a strong understanding of estate planning and the probate process, it is unlikely that they will have the litigation experience critical to successfully argue your case in probate court.
Probate litigation is emotionally charged and generally involves a fight over substantial sums of money and other critical rights and interests. These high-stakes cases require an experienced team of Southwest Florida probate lawyers with advanced litigation skills. When a probate, trust or estate dispute is likely to proceed to litigation, you need an attorney with extensive trial and courtroom experience. Therefore, your lawyer should be an experienced probate litigation attorney who knows how to prepare and try complex legal cases from start to finish.
Strong Reputation and Accomplishments
Beyond examining a lawyer’s experience, how can you best choose an attorney to represent you in a probate or estate-related dispute? The attorney’s reputation and accomplishments should be a key factor in your decision-making process. When you are searching for an attorney, you should carefully consider the attorney’s reputation among past clients, lawyers and judges throughout the local legal community.
You should also pay attention to whether the attorney has achieved any significant honors or awards. For instance, you may want to determine if the attorney has been recognized as a top lawyer by any notable publications, including being named as a Super Lawyer in your state or receiving Martindale-Hubbell’s highest honor of AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated.
When you are trying to select the best attorney to litigate your probate case, board certification as an expert or specialist is another factor to consider in the evaluation process. In many states, attorneys who have demonstrated superior expertise in a particular area of law may become board certified in their legal specialty. The Florida Bar awards Civil Trial Board Certification to lawyers who have been recognized as experts in their field based upon their ethics, professionalism, special knowledge, skills and proficiency in civil trial practice.
Personalized Service and Attention
One of the most important considerations in your decision should be whether you believe that the attorney will give you the time and attention needed to achieve a successful result in your case. When you are choosing a team of lawyers to handle your case, you should carefully consider how closely the attorneys work with their clients. You should look for a probate litigation firm that will provide you with personalized service and attention throughout the entire course of your case. The attorneys should be highly responsive to your questions and concerns and committed to developing a strong and trusting partnership with you.
While choosing an attorney to handle a complex probate or estate litigation case can be a challenging process, it is important to take the time to find a lawyer who will be the right fit for you.