When to Call a Lawyer or Planner—and What to Bring

When to Call a Lawyer or Planner—and What to Bring

Quick decision guide

• Call a lawyer if you need to create or update a will/trust, assign powers of attorney or a health-care proxy, handle guardianship, title/retitle assets across states, settle an estate (probate), or resolve disputes.

• Call a financial planner if you need help aligning accounts and beneficiaries with your plan, modeling retirement or survivor income, choosing/funding insurance, optimizing taxes with your attorney/CPA, or organizing what to do first after a major life change.

• If you’re unsure, start with a short call to either. Good professionals will redirect you to the right specialist—and Family Harbor keeps everything organized so you don’t repeat work.

When to call a lawyer (examples)

• You don’t have a will/trust, or major life events occurred (marriage/divorce, new child, move to a new state, inheritance, business change).

• You need to establish or update powers of attorney, health-care directives, HIPAA releases, or guardianship nominations.

• You own property in multiple states, a business, or have complex beneficiary wishes (special needs, blended families, private loans, gifts).

• You need probate guidance, trust administration, or court documents after a death.

• There is a dispute risk, estrangement, or unique family dynamics you want handled correctly.

What to bring to the lawyer meeting

• Government ID and contact sheet (you, partner, proposed fiduciaries).

• Existing estate docs (even if outdated): will, codicils, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directive, HIPAA release.

• Beneficiary confirmations for accounts and policies (screenshots or statements).

• Asset overview: bank/brokerage/retirement accounts, real estate (deeds), business interests, vehicles, digital assets, valuables.

• Debt list: mortgages, loans, credit lines.

• Life/disability/long-term care policy info.

• Recent tax return (last 1–2 years).

• Family and goals notes: dependents, special instructions (letters of intent), memorial preferences, charitable wishes.

• Questions list: what worries you, what you want to avoid, how to minimize conflict.

• For probate/estate administration: death certificate (when available), will/trust, asset list with approximate balances, known bills, contact info for institutions, and any court notices received.

When to call a financial planner (examples)

• You want a beneficiary audit to match your legal plan (and avoid accidental overrides).

• You need help modeling retirement, survivor income, Social Security timing, or college/family support planning.

• You’re deciding on insurance types/amounts (term life, disability, long-term care).

• You want an investment or cash-reserve plan that supports your wishes in the documents.

• After a death, you need a prioritized “what to do first” list for accounts/claims while the attorney handles legal filings.

• You want coordinated, tax-aware steps with your attorney and CPA (funding a trust, re-titling, Roth conversions, QCDs, RMD strategy).

What to bring to the planner meeting

• Account statements (bank, brokerage, retirement, HSAs) and beneficiaries for each.

• Insurance summaries (life, disability, LTC) and premium details.

• Pay stubs or income sources (pension statements, Social Security estimates).

• Annual spending snapshot and any big upcoming expenses.

• Recent tax return (last 1–2 years).

• Estate plan summary (who’s executor/trustee, special wishes), plus the attorney’s name.

• Debt list and interest rates.

• Goals and constraints: timelines, dependents, charitable plans, risk comfort.

Red flags that mean “don’t wait”

• Imminent surgery or new diagnosis and you have no advance directive/POA.

• A death has occurred and there are deadlines (claims, court filings, home security, urgent bills).

• Suspected financial exploitation or account lockouts.

• Property being sold or refinanced and title/trust language is unclear.

• Multi-state property or business interests with no plan.

How Family Harbor helps you prep in 15–30 minutes

• Use the “Where Things Are” sheet to summarize institutions, contacts, and storage locations.

• Upload or link your current will/trust/POA/health-care forms; file confirmations for beneficiaries.

• Add a simple asset list (names only; balances optional).

• Create a short questions list for the professional and store it in the meeting’s subfolder.

• Share view-only links to the meeting packet; revoke or narrow access later with your Access Map.

What to expect in the first meeting

• A brief goals/concerns intake.

• A review of current documents/beneficiaries and gaps to close.

• Clear next steps and who does what (you vs. the professional), with estimated timelines and fees.

• For probate/admin: roadmap, roles, immediate filings, and an inventory plan.

Costs and fee models (general guidance)

• Lawyers: flat fees for standard documents; hourly for complex matters, trust/estate administration, and disputes. Ask about scope, turnaround, and what counts as “included.”

• Financial planners: fee-only (flat/hourly or retainer), assets-under-management (percentage), or one-time project fees. Ask how recommendations are paid for and whether they are fiduciaries.

Questions to ask a lawyer

• Given my situation, do I need a will, a revocable trust, or both?

• How should my assets be titled to match the plan?

• Are my current beneficiary designations aligned, or do I need changes?

• Who should serve as executor/trustee/agent and what are backups?

• What are the state-specific rules or timelines I should know?

• What will your work cover, what’s my part, and what’s the expected timeline and cost?

Questions to ask a financial planner

• Do my current beneficiaries and account titles support my estate plan?

• What changes should I consider for survivor income, insurance, or taxes?

• How should I organize cash vs. investments for emergencies and goals?

• After a death, what’s the optimal order to handle claims and transfers?

• How do you get paid for advice and products—and are you a fiduciary?

After the meeting

• Upload the engagement letter, notes, and task list to Family Harbor.

• Add due dates and set weekly reminder emails until key tasks are done.

• When updates arrive (signed documents, new beneficiary confirmations), replace the older files and note the change in your “Where Things Are” sheet.

• Share view-only summaries with the people who have roles (executor/trustee/agent), not your whole document set.

FAQs

• Can I meet with a planner before I fix my will/trust?
Yes. Planners often identify beneficiary/title issues to discuss with your lawyer; you’ll move faster with both perspectives.

• Do I need to share account balances?
Usually high-level totals or ranges are enough at first. Share details later, privately, as needed.

• Can Family Harbor recommend a lawyer or planner?
We can provide neutral checklists and selection tips. In the future, we may list partner directories by location; for now, ask your network or state bar/CFP Board listings.