As of 2019, Brisbane has an estimated population of 5.078 million, and hence, only a handful of lawyers can provide their services. A study conducted by the National Profile of Solicitors in 2018 stated that there are 76,303 practising lawyers within Australia, and 26% of that number are from Victoria. Melbourne residents only have 20,000 lawyers to rely on, so it can be difficult looking for one that suits your needs.
Remember that hiring the wrong lawyer will waste your time and money, and you usually do not have the luxury to find a replacement right away. If you want to find the best estate lawyers melbourne has to offer, keep in mind the following tips when choosing one.
Tip #1: Ask referrals from people you know of
One of the most effective choices you have at finding an estate lawyer in Melbourne is by turning to your friends, family members, or other lawyers you know. They might know an estate lawyer that will be a perfect fit for your concerns. Once you have gathered enough estate lawyers to choose from, you should be able to have enough breathing room for a while and slowly weigh out your options.
Tip #2: Never trust websites right away
Aside from asking for referrals from your friends or family members, the easiest way to find the best estate lawyers melbourne can provide is by using the internet. You can use Google to look for one, and the search engine will give you thousands of links leading you to the lawyer’s website. You should know that some websites on the internet are fake and will try to scam you for your money.
There have been many instances when clients would fall for tricks set up by scammers when looking for estate lawyers, causing them to lose a large sum of money. Always check if the website is credible by researching it. You can check if it has honest feedback from clients, and you can also ask other lawyers in Melbourne if you can trust them or not.
Tip #3: Ensure the lawyer focuses on estate planning
You should know that some lawyers in Melbourne will accept any job, especially if they have not had any clients in a while. They might also claim that they focus on estate planning even if they do not. Avoid lawyers that do not have credible evidence that they focus on estate planning if you want to avoid wasting your time.
Like with any other profession, lawyers also specialise in specific areas, and one of those is estate planning. There are various laws and issues surrounding estate planning that other lawyers in Melbourne may not know about. A professional estate planning lawyer can help you identify areas that could become a big issue in the long run without correct planning.
Tip #4: Ask if they have malpractice insurance
It is common for some lawyers to make mistakes, so they should always carry malpractice insurance to hold them accountable. Keep in mind that some states outside of Melbourne do not require lawyers to have malpractice insurance, so it is best to look for ones that have them. Make sure you find out whether they have it or not to ensure you are hiring a reliable estate planning lawyer.
You should always have the right estate planning lawyer in Melbourne if you want your assets distributed to your beneficiaries right away. You can follow the pointers above to choose from various estate lawyers melbourne offers and select the best one for your requirement. Hiring a good professional estate lawyer will simplify your work and efficiently help with your needs.