You Should Contact a Lawyer When…

Folks ask us when they should contact us after we’ve helped them make or update their estate plans. So, when should you contact a lawyer? You should contact a lawyer when you encounter major life events. This Article explains why you should seek legal advice before buying or selling a home or business, upon the death of a family member, or in a health crisis that requires hospitalization or nursing home care.

You Should Contact a Lawyer Before Buying or Selling a Home or Business

A home or business sale or purchase is a major life event. While buyers and sellers often feel pressured to act quickly, they should remember the old saying, “The devil is in the details.” You should contact a lawyer when buying or selling a home or business to ensure your deal runs smoothly and avoid expensive problems.

The stakes increase for a buyer or seller who has made a will or trust or whose spouse faces a health crisis. So, You should contact a lawyer BEFORE calling a realtor or lender about a sale or purchase to avoid forfeiting key rights and opportunities in your sale or purchase deal.

You Should Contact a Lawyer When a Family Member Dies

You should contact a lawyer when a family member has died. Trust and estate lawyers help navigate the complex legal process. Your trust and estate lawyer can help you manage assets, pay debts, distribute assets to beneficiaries, and avoid disputes.

You Should Contact a Lawyer in a Health Crisis

Health crises affect everyone and time is everyone’s enemy. You should contact a lawyer when you or a loved one needs hospital care to understand patients’ rights and ensure you receive and can afford the best possible care. Elder lawyers help people understand and exercise their legal rights.

You should contact a lawyer immediately if a health crisis may require nursing home care. Healthcare providers train employees to care for patients, but they don’t train employees to give asset-protection advice or help protect assets. Elder lawyers explain long-term healthcare laws and help families protect assets from long-term care costs.

Conclusion

Timing is everything because it’s hard for a busy, skillful lawyer to get involved in a matter on short notice. So, you should contact a lawyer when you first encounter these situations to give the lawyer time to help you navigate complex legal issues confidently.

About the Authors

Jeff and Jennifer are Trust & Estate Specialty Board Certified Indiana Trust & Estate Lawyers. They are also active in the Indiana State Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)’s Indiana Chapter. Jeff is also a member of the Illinois NAELA Chapter.

Both Hawkins are admitted to practice law in Indiana, and Jeff Hawkins is admitted to practice law in Illinois.

Jeff is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the Indiana Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, and served as the 2014-15 President of the Indiana State Bar Association.