With help from elder law attorney Margaret T. Karl, preparing your estate to include your final wishes is easier than you might think

By Patricia Nugent

If you’re considering putting your final wishes in order—and if you haven’t yet, you really should—choosing the right lawyer to handle it could make a big difference.

Besides starting your search with the obvious actions of asking friends and family for recommendations and making sure the attorneys you look at are members of the bar, there’s a lot more to consider.

What Makes a Reliable Estate Attorney?
According to Attorney Margaret T. Karl, who has worked in elder law for over 20 years, one question to ask is how responsive will an attorney be to your needs.

“There’s a difference between working with a big or small legal firm,” she says. “Sometimes an attorney might not even meet with a client to draft a will but may have someone else in the office get all the information. Then the lawyer handles it externally. To me, that opens the door to problems. I sit down with my clients and take the time to go over their estate completely. My clients only speak with me or my assistant, who runs the office and scheduling.”

She Makes House Calls
“Accessibility is another key consideration when hiring a lawyer,” she adds. “Will they call you back with questions and be available for meetings?”

To make the process of drafting wills more convenient, Margie has made countless house calls to her clients, whether at their home around their kitchen table, or at senior care facilities.

Do You Even Need a Lawyer?
“Technically, there are flat-fee, create-your-own legal documents available over the internet,” she says. “But this isn’t something you want to do in a one-size-fits-all way. This document should be customized to your unique situation. The legal language is quite complicated and people often file them incorrectly. I have to come in at the end of the process and it ends up costing the client more in the long run.”

A Natural in the Empathy Department
Margie knew from a young age that she wanted to be a lawyer, but it wasn’t until she graduated from law school that she realized how passionate she was about elder law.

It’s a natural for her. Since her father was 24 years older than her mother, she had to deal with all the legal considerations of an elderly parent sooner than most people do.

“I’m a good listener and have been through what my clients are going through in terms of preparing for final wishes,” she says. “I feel empathy toward seniors and am always responsive to their challenges. It’s an honor to represent them.”

An Easy Process
If you’re putting off drafting your will because you think it will be a time-consuming hassle, rest assured, it’s actually an easy process. Margie can accomplish it in two half-hour appointments. All she needs is an idea of your assets and the names of the people you name in the will. It’s that easy.

Once your will is prepared, Margie says it’s important to let the executor, as well as your whole family, know where you keep it and other important documents. She recommends sitting down with her every few years to keep the document updated.

Margaret T. Karl, Attorney at Law, is located at 25800 North Depot Street, Suite 102, in Olmsted Falls. Call 440-782-5051or visit OlmstedOhioLaw.com.