Estate Planning & Probate Attorneys

226,536 verified estate planning attorneys across the United States. An estate planning attorney prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to protect your family and pass on your assets.

Estate planning is how you decide — instead of state law deciding for you — who inherits your property, who raises your children, who makes medical decisions if you cannot, and how to minimize taxes and probate cost. A qualified estate planning attorney builds an integrated plan around your goals, family structure, and asset profile.

Core documents in a complete plan

Last will and testament — directs the distribution of your probate assets
Revocable living trust — avoids probate, manages assets during incapacity, controls distribution timing
Durable financial power of attorney — names someone to handle finances if you cannot
Healthcare proxy / power of attorney — names a medical decision-maker
Living will / advance directive — records end-of-life treatment preferences
HIPAA authorization — lets family access your medical information
Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, transfer-on-death accounts
Guardianship nominations for minor children

Trusts: when and why

A revocable living trust is often the centerpiece of a modern estate plan. Benefits include avoiding probate (faster, private, less expensive), seamless management during incapacity, and the ability to control distribution to children or beneficiaries with special needs. Irrevocable trusts serve more specialized purposes including asset protection, Medicaid planning, and estate-tax reduction.

When to update your plan

Marriage, divorce, or death of a spouse
Birth or adoption of a child or grandchild
Significant change in net worth
Move to a new state
Major change in tax law
Beneficiary or fiduciary changes

Atty. Paul Vincent Boetto

Joliet 45 years 5.0

Paul Vincent Boetto is a lawyer practicing probate, real estate, debtor and creditor and 4 other areas of law. Paul received a B.S. degree from Villan...

Debtor and Creditor Probate Real Estate Bankruptcy & Debt Criminal Defense +2

Atty. Charles Applebaum

Montclair 53 years 5.0

Charles Applebaum is a lawyer practicing litigation, leases and leasing, real estate and 10 other areas of law. Charles received a B.A. degree from Un...

Leases and Leasing Litigation Real Estate Commercial Corporate +8

Atty. Brien Thomas Brockway

Kalamazoo 6 years 5.0

Brien Thomas Brockway is a lawyer practicing veteran disability and benefits law, disability compensation, disability pension and 27 other areas of la...

Disability Compensation Disability Pension Veteran Disability and Benefits Law 38 CFR 3.310 and 4.124a 38 CFR 3.310 and 4.125 and 4.130 +25

Atty. Joe W. Hayes

Amarillo 54 years 5.0 Free consult

Mr. Joe W.

Oil And Gas Litigation Oil and Gas Transactions Real Estate Transactions Commercial Real Estate Contracts +7

Atty. Thomas L. Frenn

Milwaukee 50 years 5.0 Free consult

Atty. Thomas L.

Bankruptcy Real Estate Small Business Law Business Litigation Nonprofit Tax Law +1

Atty. Gregory Kevin Lachona

Chico 14 years 5.0

Gregory Kevin Lachona is a lawyer practicing trusts & estates, estate planning, probate and 2 other areas of law. Gregory received a degree from Golde...

Estate Planning Probate Trusts Estates Litigation Trusts

Atty. Matthew William Wood

Evanston 43 years 5.0

Matthew William Wood is a lawyer practicing shopping center leasing, real estate, contracts and 2 other areas of law. Matthew received a B.A. degree f...

Contracts Real Estate Shopping Center Leasing Business Law Wills, Estates and Probate

Atty. Suzanne Lea Capriotti

Gaithersburg 24 years 5.0 Free consult

Suzanne Lea Capriotti is a lawyer practicing assault and battery, business formation, business organization and 27 other areas of law. Suzanne receive...

Assault And Battery Business Formation Business Organization Citizenship Commercial Contracts +25

Atty. Teunis Gerbrand Wyers

Hood River 15 years 5.0

Mr. Teunis Gerbrand Wyers is a lawyer practicing business, real estate, probate and 6 other areas of law.

Business Probate Real Estate Contracts Corporate +4

Atty. Jaime Roberto Mendez

St. Louis 30 years 5.0

Jaime Roberto Mendez is a lawyer practicing estate planning, probate law, tax exempt organizations and 3 other areas of law. Jaime received a M.B.A. d...

Estate Planning Probate Law Tax Exempt Organizations Closely Held Business Law Partnership Law +1

Atty. David G Keller

Eagan 46 years 5.0

David G Keller is a lawyer practicing debt relief, general real estate law, estate planning and 2 other areas of law. David received a B.A. degree fro...

Debt Relief Estate Planning General Real Estate Law Business State, Local And Municipal Law

Atty. Thomas Grant Draper, Jr.

New York 58 years 5.0

Thomas Grant Draper, Jr. is a lawyer practicing estate planning, trusts and estates, taxation and 5 other areas of law. Thomas received a B.A. degree ...

Estate Planning Taxation Trusts and Estates Complex Fiduciary Accounting Estate Tax Elections +3

Atty. William S. Sturges

Le Mars 73 years 5.0

William S. Sturges is a lawyer practicing probate, trusts and estates, wills and 2 other areas of law.

Probate Trusts and Estates Wills General Practice Real Estate

Atty. Jerome R. Vainisi

Chicago 57 years 5.0

Jerome R. Vainisi is a lawyer practicing business & commercial transactions, estate planning & wealth preservation.

Business & Commercial Transactions Estate Planning & Wealth Preservation

Atty. Brandon Scott Craig

Sebring 16 years 5.0

Brandon Scott Craig is a lawyer practicing elder law, probate & trust, real property, probate law and 1 other area of law. Brandon has been licensed f...

Elder Law Probate & Trust Real Property, Probate Law Real Property

Atty. James C Sidou

Lakeland 20 years 5.0

James C Sidou is a lawyer practicing real estate, estate planning, probate and 8 other areas of law. James received a B.A. degree from Grand Valley St...

Estate Planning Probate Real Estate Business City/County/Local Government +6

Atty. Michael C Jordan

Battle Creek 55 years 5.0 Free consult

Michael C Jordan is a lawyer practicing adoptions, breach of contract, buying and selling of businesses and 47 other areas of law. Michael received a ...

Adoptions Breach of Contract Buying and Selling of Businesses Child Custody Child Support +45

Atty. Randal B. Short

San Francisco 54 years 5.0

Randal B. Short is a lawyer practicing corporate, mergers and acquisitions, family owned, closely-held businesses and family offices and 8 other areas...

Corporate Family Owned, Closely Held Businesses And Family Offices Mergers And Acquisitions Emerging Company & Venture Capital Food And Beverage +6

Atty. Dan S. Boyd

Dallas 51 years 5.0

Mr. Dan S.

Business Litigation Intellectual Property Legal Malpractice Antitrust Appeals +12

Atty. Andrew J Newman

Newton 57 years 5.0

Andrew J Newman is a lawyer practicing real estate, business law, energy and 1 other area of law. Andrew received a B.A. degree from Cornell Universit...

Business Law Energy Real Estate Trusts and Estates

Atty. John R. Higgins

Grand Island 48 years 5.0

John R. Higgins is a lawyer practicing bankruptcy: debtor, bankruptcy: creditor, business and 14 other areas of law.

Bankruptcy Debtor Bankruptcy Creditor Business Bankruptcy Banruptcy- Creditor +12

Atty. Tracy Lee Allen

Grosse Pointe Farms 46 years 5.0

Tracy Lee Allen is a lawyer practicing alternative dispute resolution, taxation, commercial and 8 other areas of law. Tracy received a B.A. degree fro...

Alternative Dispute Resolution Commercial Taxation Business Law Business Planning +6

Atty. Gene Clack

Crane 50 years 5.0

Gene Clack is a lawyer practicing trusts and estates, family law, real estate and 1 other area of law. Gene received a B.A. degree from Baylor Univers...

Family Law Real Estate Trusts and Estates Commercial Real Estate

Atty. Russell Ronald Sanders

Pittsburgh 44 years 5.0

Russell Ronald Sanders is a lawyer practicing bankruptcy, commercial, public entity liability and 4 other areas of law. Russell received a B.A. degree...

Bankruptcy Commercial Public Entity Liability Creditors Rights Insolvency +2

Atty. Donald Franklin Medsker

Littleton 60 years 5.0

Donald Franklin Medsker is a lawyer practicing automobile accidents and injuries, torts, wills and estates and 2 other areas of law. Donald received a...

Automobile Accidents And Injuries Torts Wills And Estates Estate Planning General Practice

Atty. Ira Daniel Weizel

Houston 38 years 5.0

Mr. Ira Daniel Weizel is a lawyer practicing administrative, business, business sales & acquisitions and 12 other areas of law.

Administrative Business Business Sales & Acquisitions Buy Sell Agreements Contract Negotiations +10

Atty. James E Toups, Jr

Baton Rouge 60 years 5.0

Mr. James E Toups, Jr is a lawyer practicing banking, probate, estate planning and 1 other area of law.

Banking Estate Planning Probate Real Estate

Atty. Guy Jeffry Coons

San Francisco 30 years 5.0

Guy Jeffry Coons is a lawyer practicing estate planning, environmental/toxic tort, green technology & climate change and 1 other area of law. Guy rece...

Environmental Toxic Tort Estate Planning Green Technology & Climate Change Employment Law

Atty. Samuel G. Weiss, Jr.

Lebanon 55 years 5.0

Samuel G. Weiss, Jr. is a lawyer practicing wills and estate planning, real estate, municipal law and 3 other areas of law.

Municipal Law Real Estate Wills And Estate Planning Business Law Personal Injury +1

Atty. Laurence I. Burshtyn

48 years 5.0

Mr. Laurence I.

Corporate & Commercial Transactions Probate & Estate Planning Matters Tax Business Elder +5

Atty. Dan W. Foster

Austin 27 years 5.0

Mr. Dan W.

Civil Litigation Eminent Domain Real Estate Litigation

Atty. Martin Howard Hersh

Liberty 45 years 5.0

Martin Howard Hersh is a lawyer practicing elder law including medicaid/asset preservation strategies, wills, trusts and estate planning and 3 other a...

Elder Law Including Medicaid/Asset Preservation Strategies Trusts And Estate Planning Wills Estate And Trust Administration Guardianships +1

Atty. James R. Cripe

Janesville 65 years 5.0

Atty. James R.

Elder Law Estate Planning Law Probate Law Family

Atty. John F. Prusiecki

Chicago 51 years 5.0

John F. Prusiecki focuses his practice on tax structuring matters, including structuring and restructuring of entities, capital structures, financial ...

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Real Estate Tax Tax Restructuring & Special Situations

Atty. Dominic Vincent Perry

Cleveland 46 years 5.0

Dominic Vincent Perry is a lawyer practicing taxation, estate planning, probate and 2 other areas of law. Dominic received a B.S. degree from The Ohio...

Estate Planning Probate Taxation Communications & Media Real Estate

Atty. Clinton T. Barkdoll

Waynesboro 28 years 5.0

Clinton T. Barkdoll is a lawyer practicing business, estate planning, criminal defense and 6 other areas of law.

Business Criminal Defense Estate Planning Child Custody Corporations +4

Atty. Martin C. Butler, Esq.

Covington 49 years 5.0

Martin C. Butler, Esq. is a lawyer practicing commercial real estate, real estate, finance and 35 other areas of law.

Commercial Real Estate Finance Real Estate Acquisitions Advertising +33

Atty. Patrick M. Ryan

Denver 54 years 5.0

Patrick M. Ryan is a lawyer practicing estate planning, wills, trusts and 7 other areas of law.

Estate Planning Trusts Wills ERISA Mergers And Acquisitions +5

Atty. Robert Michael McCarthy

Bethesda 46 years 5.0

Mr. Robert Michael McCarthy is a lawyer practicing real estate, collections, trusts and estates and 4 other areas of law.

Collections Real Estate Trusts and Estates Criminal Law Elder And Disability Rights +2

Atty. Joseph P. Macnabb

Newnan 57 years 5.0

Hon. Joseph P.

Business Law Estate Planning School Law Civil Litigation Estate Law +2

Atty. Thomas J Kliebert, Jr

Gramercy 45 years 5.0

Thomas J Kliebert, Jr is a lawyer practicing personal injury, real estate, estate planning. Thomas received a B.B.A. degree from Loyola University in ...

Estate Planning Personal Injury Real Estate

Atty. Michele Marlene Mulrooney

Los Angeles 41 years 5.0

Michele Marlene Mulrooney is a lawyer practicing tax and wealth planning, wealth planning, trusts & estates and 1 other area of law. Michele received ...

Tax And Wealth Planning Trusts Estates Wealth Planning Family Law

Atty. Bethany Christine Canfield

Grafton 16 years 5.0

Atty. Bethany Christine Canfield is a lawyer practicing estate planning, real estate, business.

Business Estate Planning Real Estate

Atty. Jeanne Yendrek Jagow

Littleton 41 years 5.0

Jeanne Yendrek Jagow is a lawyer practicing estate planning, wills, living wills and 7 other areas of law. Jeanne received a B.A. degree from Sangamon...

Estate Planning Living Wills Wills Bankruptcy Estates of Deceased Persons +5

Atty. John C. Joyner

Decatur 60 years 5.0

Mr. John C.

Estate Administration Estate Planning Guardianship Charitable Organizations Law Fiduciary Law

Atty. Charles L Spencer

Baton Rouge 51 years 5.0

Mr. Charles L Spencer is a lawyer practicing communications law, contracts, corporate law and 2 other areas of law.

Communications Law Contracts Corporate Law Commercial Estate Planning

Atty. Ellen Susan Finkelberg

Los Angeles 49 years 5.0

Ellen Susan Finkelberg is a lawyer practicing social security disability, trusts & estates, estate planning and 2 other areas of law. Ellen received a...

Estate Planning Social Security Disability Trusts Estates Criminal Law Litigation

Atty. John F Fuzak

Venice 53 years 5.0

John F Fuzak is a lawyer practicing insurance defense, real estate, estate planning and 1 other area of law. John received a B.A. degree from Alma Col...

Estate Planning Insurance Defense Real Estate Probate

Atty. David R. Shumate

Laveen 35 years 5.0

Dr. David R.

Mortgage Foreclosure Real Estate Wills And Estates

Atty. David Brown Blankenship

Huntsville 57 years 5.0

Mr. David Brown Blankenship is a lawyer practicing civil practice, family law, probate law and 1 other area of law.

Civil Practice Family Law Probate Law Mediation

Atty. David R. Mason

Cedar Falls 57 years 5.0

David R. Mason is a lawyer practicing litigation, mergers and acquisitions, estate planning and 2 other areas of law.

Estate Planning Litigation Mergers And Acquisitions Corporate Law Real Estate

Atty. Velda R. Faulkner

Houston 37 years 5.0

Ms. Velda R.

Appellate: Civil Appellate: Criminal Business Consumer Contracts +11

Atty. Robert H. Wood

Jacksonville 37 years 5.0 Free consult

Robert H. Wood is a lawyer practicing marital/family, alimony, child support and 24 other areas of law.

Alimony Child Support Marital/Family Adoption Adoptions +22

Atty. Jason Joseph Kovacs

Kingston 22 years 5.0

Jason Joseph Kovacs is a lawyer practicing mortgages and foreclosures, collections and repossessions, consumer bankruptcy and 28 other areas of law. J...

Collections and Repossessions Consumer Bankruptcy Mortgages and Foreclosures Bankruptcy Litigation Child Support +26

Atty. Forrest Wayne Lewis

Golden 52 years 5.0

Forrest Wayne Lewis is a lawyer practicing trial practice in all state and federal courts, criminal defense, personal injury law and 6 other areas of ...

Criminal Defense Personal Injury Law Trial Practice In All State And Federal Courts Commerial Litigation Criminal Law +4

Atty. Michael D. Poulos

Evanston 46 years 5.0 Free consult

Michael D. Poulos is a lawyer practicing general practice, civil litigation, litigation and 39 other areas of law.

Civil Litigation General Practice Litigation Appellate Practice Arbitration +37

Atty. Brian W. Crozier

Austin 41 years 5.0

Order of the Coif. Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 1981.

Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations Private Foundations Tax Exempt Organizations Charitable Giving Charitable Trusts And Foundations +4

Atty. Charles Waugh Mahan

Dayton 55 years 5.0

Charles Waugh Mahan is a lawyer practicing business planning, real estate, government contracts and 10 other areas of law. Charles received a B.S. deg...

Business Planning Government Contracts Real Estate Administrative Law Construction Claims +8

Atty. Amy Scott Lowndes

Winter Park 33 years 5.0

Ms. Amy Scott Lowndes is a lawyer practicing commercial litigation, probate litigation, guardianship litigation.

Commercial Litigation Guardianship Litigation Probate Litigation

Atty. Michael R. Marsh

Honolulu 53 years 5.0

Law Clerk to Judge Norito Kawakami, First Circuit Court, State of Hawaii, 1974. Deputy Attorney General, State of Hawaii, 1975-1977.

Construction / Development Real Estate Litigation Trademark Infringement Copyright Infringement Employment Law

Frequently Asked Questions about Estate Planning

Do I really need an estate plan if I am not wealthy?

Yes. Estate planning is not primarily about taxes — it is about who controls your assets if you die or become incapacitated and how your family avoids probate costs and delays. Even modest estates benefit substantially from a basic will, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designation review.

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

A will directs distribution of assets through probate court after you die. A revocable living trust holds assets during your life and distributes them to beneficiaries after your death without probate. Trusts also provide privacy, faster administration, and incapacity planning.

How much does estate planning cost?

A basic will-based plan typically costs $400 to $1,500. A more comprehensive revocable trust-based plan ranges from $2,000 to $5,000. Highly customized plans involving business succession, irrevocable trusts, or estate-tax planning cost more.

What is probate and why avoid it?

Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will and distributing assets. It is public, can take 6 to 18 months, and typically costs 3% to 7% of the gross estate in fees and costs. Probate avoidance through trust planning or beneficiary designations saves time, money, and family privacy.

Can I do my own estate plan with online forms?

Online forms work for very simple situations, but they typically miss state-specific execution requirements, fail to coordinate beneficiary designations with the document plan, and provide no help during the administration phase. Estate disputes triggered by DIY documents often cost the family far more than a lawyer would have charged up front.

What is the federal estate tax exemption?

As of 2026, the federal estate-tax exemption is $13.99 million per individual ($27.98M per couple with portability). The exemption is scheduled to drop by roughly half at the end of 2025 unless Congress extends it. State estate-tax exemptions are often much lower.

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