Estate Law


What is an estate?


What kinds of law makes up estate law?



Estate law is both transactional and litigation


Estate law is both proactive and reactive



Estate law is primarily state law


Who practices estate law?

Estate lawyers live and work throughout the United States. People everywhere need estate planning. Many estate lawyers live and work in small towns. Others live in big cities. Lots of people who never otherwise seek legal services use attorneys to do their estate planning. For that reason, estate lawyers find success in every corner of the country.

Many estate lawyers combine a practice in estate law with a general law practice. Estate law is a great area of law for a general practitioner who wants to work in solo practice. Estate law can provide a solid base of clients and a referral network for growing a business. The area of estate law can be a versatile addition to any practice large or small. While some attorneys focus entirely on estate planning, others use it to increase their versatility and establish a steady client base.

Estate lawyers must be qualified writers. When it comes to effective estate planning, one word can have a big meaning. To be a highly qualified estate lawyer, an attorney must be able to understand estate laws and write effectively so their client documents have the intended effect. Highly qualified estate lawyers also have outstanding interpersonal skills. They must help their clients understand the law and how their estate planning impacts them. Finally, an estate lawyer must understand local court procedure. They must know how to prepare paperwork and where to file it when clients need to bring their cases to court.

Why Become and Estate Lawyer?

Estate law can be a fulfilling area of law for many reasons. It can be rewarding to help clients plan for their future and take care of their families. For lawyers who enjoy writing and studying complex laws along with the occasional court appearance and litigation, estate law can provide a rewarding balance among varying types of law. Estate law can also provide a solid financial foundation for any size legal practice. Practicing estate law may allow a lawyer to sustain a solo practice or work as part of a large firm. Estate law may provide flexibility for an attorney to establish a lifestyle and a legal practice that suits their needs.

Helping clients plan for the present and the future

Estate law is a mixture of transactional law and litigation. Lawyers who practice estate law have a variety of skills including writing and interpersonal communication that they use to help their clients understand the law and create the best plan to meet their personal objectives. Estate lawyers help clients organize their personal affairs. Estate law helps clients reach their goals in both the present and the future.