Thinking about your own mortality can be painful, but it’s a necessary part of the estate planning process. The right estate plan can grant you the peace of mind that only comes with knowing your family’s future is secure. Before you can create a personalized estate plan, though, you’ll need to find a Denver estate planning law firm to suit your needs.
Finding the best estate planning attorney for you is often more challenging (and more time-consuming) than many people realize. Here’s everything you need to know about how to find an estate planning attorney.
Know What You Want Help With Before Contacting an Attorney
When you’re choosing an estate planning lawyer in Denver, it’s important to look at each potential choice’s background and legal experience. However, it’s equally essential to take the time to clarify the services you’re looking for to help streamline your search.
Before hiring an estate planning lawyer, think about which of these services you may need:
Drafting Wills
For most people, a will, also called a last will and testament, is the cornerstone of their estate plan. Any estate planning lawyer in Colorado should be able to help you draft and execute a will according to state law.
Creating and Maintaining Trusts
A trust is a legal entity you can create to “hold” assets. Some, like revocable living trusts, make it easier to keep assets out of probate. Others, particularly irrevocable trusts, come with tax advantages and may help you shield assets from creditors.
Certain trusts require ongoing maintenance, so if you think you may need one, finding an attorney with trust experience is crucial.
Incapacity Planning
Estate planning is about more than wills and trusts. Many attorneys can help you create a medical durable power of attorney (MDPOA), which lets you appoint someone to make medical decisions for you if you can’t communicate. A related document called a living will lets you specify what kinds of treatment you do and do not consent to.
Most estate planning lawyers can also help you prepare other types of power of attorney (POA) documents. These documents can name specific people to handle your business, finances, or other areas of your life if you suffer an emergency or are otherwise incapacitated.
Strategies to Avoid Probate
Probate is the court process of “proving” a will. It can be long and expensive, and it’s also a matter of public record. Many estate planning lawyers can help you use trusts and other strategies to keep your estate out of probate.
Estate Tax Avoidance
Colorado doesn’t have an estate tax at the state level. However, if there’s a chance your estate will exceed the federal lifetime gift and estate tax exemption, you may need the help of an attorney experienced with estate tax issues. For 2026, the lifetime gift and estate tax exemption is $15 million for individuals and $30 million for married couples.
Where to Find Qualified Estate Planning Attorneys in Your Area
Many people wondering how to find an estate planning attorney fall into a common trap: searching for “estate planning attorney near me” and just selecting the first law office that comes up.
While there’s nothing wrong with starting with web searches, that’s not the only place you can find qualified estate planning lawyers. These are a few other ways you can begin your search:
Leverage Your Personal and Professional Networks
Online reviews and recommendations can be helpful when you’re looking for an attorney, but recommendations from people you know are often more valuable. If you have friends, loved ones, or professional contacts who have consulted with estate planning lawyers, ask about their experiences.
Talking to people you trust can help you identify local lawyers you’d like to work with, but it can also help you determine who to avoid.
Contact Professional Associations
The Colorado Bar Association can help you connect with nearby attorneys based on practice area. Other professional associations, including the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC), make it possible for you to search for lawyers with specific professional designations nearby.
Check Online Directories
Some online law directories are more reputable than others. SuperLawyers, Justia, AVVO, and Martindale-Hubbell are a few good places to check.
How to Evaluate an Attorney’s Background and Professional Experience
If you’re wondering, “How do I choose an estate planning attorney?” it’s important to understand how to verify a lawyer’s professional background. The following steps can help you do so:
- Use the Colorado Supreme Court’s attorney search to verify their license and check their disciplinary history
- Look into any awards or accolades listed on the lawyer’s website, as some may be paid memberships, not awards based on merit
- Look for professional designations like Accredited Estate Planner® that indicate a proven focus in this practice area
Not all attorneys who offer estate planning legal services have an in-depth understanding of this area of law. Make sure to verify that a law office has adequate experience from the beginning.
Questions to Ask During an Initial Consultation
In many cases, understanding how to choose an estate planning attorney comes down to knowing how to ask the right questions. Here are a few questions to ask an estate planning attorney to determine whether they’re a good fit for you:
How Long Have You Been Practicing?
Look for a lawyer with significant experience in estate planning. If you expect your personal estate plan to be complex or to deal with significant assets, the answer to this question becomes even more critical.
What Percentage of Your Work Is Focused on Estate Planning?
Be wary of lawyers who dedicate only a small percentage of their practice to estate planning. Look for a boutique law firm where partners focus exclusively on estate planning, probate, and elder law, ensuring your documents aren’t just an afterthought.
Will You Be the One Working on My Estate Plan, or Do You Have a Team?
Before you decide to begin working with a given attorney, you deserve to know whether other people, like paralegals, will be handling your estate planning as well. Some clients don’t mind having a team work on their case, but others prefer that their entire estate plan be handled by one attorney.
Will You Contact Me About Regular Plan Updates, or Will I Need to Contact You First?
This is a key question that many people forget to ask. Most estate planning lawyers suggest revisiting your estate plan every three to five years, even if no major life changes have occurred. Find out whether your attorney will reach out to schedule updates or if you’ll need to take the initiative to do so.
Comparing Law Firms Beyond Cost Alone
If you find an experienced estate planning attorney you’d like to work with, you should always ask about the fee structure they use before you commit. Many estate planning lawyers in Colorado use one of three billing structures:
- Flat fee (usually for basic, specific documents)
- Hourly billing (usually for complex documents or ongoing work)
- A combination of both
Your lawyer should be transparent about their fee structure. Generally, a simple estate plan will cost about $1,000 to $2,500, but a complex estate plan may cost $5,000 or more. But if you’re seeking estate planning legal advice, it’s critically important not to choose a law firm based on cost alone.
Why? Many bargain-basement estate planning lawyers rely on generic templates and don’t take the time to fully understand your needs. That can lead to a variety of unexpected consequences, including:
- Expensive probate and legal fees
- Surprise tax liabilities
- Legal disputes
- Asset distribution to the wrong beneficiaries
Often, cutting corners on attorney fees leads to much more significant expenses down the line.
However, this doesn’t mean that the most expensive law firm is automatically the best one. Focus on finding an attorney who you think will meet your specific legal needs.
Red Flags to Watch for During the Selection Process
If you want to protect yourself, your family, and your assets, you need to understand how to spot potential issues with estate planning law firms. These are a few red flags to watch for:
They Aren’t Licensed
Many would-be clients make the mistake of assuming that if someone advertises themselves as an attorney, they must be licensed. Always make sure an attorney is licensed before you begin working with them.
Estate Planning Is a Small Part of What They Do
If a law firm seems to practice every type of law (like divorce, criminal defense, and business law), they may only be equipped to handle very basic wills. Truly complex estates—especially those involving business succession, digital assets, or potential family disputes—require attorneys who understand both advanced drafting and probate litigation.
You Notice Communication Issues
Many attorneys are busy, but they should still be responsive to potential and current clients. If an attorney takes weeks to return a call or email, that’s not a good sign.
They Use Pressure Tactics
An attorney who pressures you to sign anything or hand over money before you’re ready may not be someone you should agree to work with.
They Were Recommended by Someone Who May Benefit From Your Estate Plan
Most people think their loved ones would never use any kind of pressure or deception for personal gain. However, it’s generally wise to be wary of attorney recommendations from anyone who stands to inherit assets from your estate.
Signs You’ve Found an Attorney You Can Trust
A trusted estate planning attorney can make the emotionally and logistically difficult process of estate planning feel a little easier. So while it’s important to understand how to spot red flags over the course of your search, it can also be useful to know how to determine whether you’ve found someone you can trust.
They Take Time to Address Your Questions and Concerns
Trustworthy attorneys understand that the process of creating an estate plan can be emotionally difficult, and they’re willing to spend significant time with their clients. If an attorney is happy to discuss your concerns and thoroughly answer your questions, that’s a good sign.
They’re Willing to Coordinate With Other Professionals
A skilled estate planning lawyer knows that the planning process doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If an attorney is willing to coordinate with your financial advisor, your tax planning professional, and other important people, that’s a good indicator that they’re truly committed to building customized estate plans for their clients.
They Emphasize the Importance of a Long-Term Relationship
Some attorneys offer one-off services, like drafting a will or helping you create a power of attorney document. But dedicated estate planning lawyers understand that estate planning is an ongoing process, not a one-time transaction.
They Have a Strong Local Reputation
If a law firm or individual attorney is established and respected in your local community, you can likely trust them to prepare your estate plan and keep it updated.
Online reviews can help give you a sense of a law office’s standing in the community. Make sure you read independent estate planning attorney reviews, though, and not just testimonials published on the law firm’s website.
Why Local Knowledge Matters When Choosing an Estate Planning Attorney
If a friend or family member recommends an estate attorney a few states over, you might be seriously considering scheduling a consultation. Many people don’t realize how critical local knowledge is when it comes to creating a complete estate plan, however.
Local Attorneys Have a Deep Understanding of Local Laws
Estate law can vary considerably from state to state. A Denver estate planning lawyer does more than help you make important decisions about asset distribution. They also understand how to make sure every document you create during the estate planning process is properly executed.
That matters more than many people know. If a court finds that a will or other document was improperly executed according to Colorado law, it may be declared legally invalid.
They Thoroughly Understand the Nuances of Probate Court
Each county’s probate court has its own specific procedures. When your attorney has worked with your local probate court for years or even decades, they can help you avoid expensive and time-consuming legal errors and missed deadlines.
Preparing for Your First Meeting With an Estate Planning Attorney
Once you’ve found an estate planning lawyer in Colorado you feel is right for you, it’s time to prepare for your first meeting. Before your first estate planning consultation, take the time to do the following:
Take Inventories of Your Assets and Debts
Without a clear picture of your finances, creating an estate plan can be very difficult. You don’t have to know the value of your bank accounts and other assets down to the dollar, but if you have a general idea of how much each is worth, it can help your estate attorney guide your decisions.
Think About the Important People in Your Life
You don’t create an estate plan in a vacuum. Many estate planning documents allow you to name a trusted person (or more than one) to help ensure your wishes are carried out. These are a few examples:
- In your will, you may appoint an executor for your estate as well as guardians for minor children and pets
- Your MDPOA lets you choose someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you’re unable to
- Other power of attorney documents allow you to select someone to handle your finances and other affairs if you’re unable to
You should also think about your intended beneficiaries. Who do you want to inherit your property after your death? You don’t have to have definite answers before your meeting with your estate planning attorney, but having some options can be very helpful.
Gather Key Documents
Ideally, you should bring important financial and legal documents to your meeting so your estate planning lawyer can review them. Some examples include:
- Existing estate planning documents, like wills, trust documents, powers of attorney, and living wills
- Deeds to any real property
- Financial statements for bank accounts, retirement accounts, and investment portfolios
- Insurance policies, like life insurance and long-term care policies
This list isn’t an exhaustive one, and some Colorado estate planning lawyers may want you to bring different types of documents. When in doubt, always ask.
Wondering How to Find an Estate Planning Attorney?
If you’re looking for the best estate planning attorney in Denver, you should know that the best lawyer for one person may not be the ideal fit for another. However, at Summit Legacy Legal, we aim to offer estate planning services to individuals and families from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Our team brings more than 20 years of combined legal experience to the table—including extensive trial and litigation backgrounds—so we know exactly how to draft estate plans that stand up to legal challenges. Whether you want to update an existing plan, protect a family business, or create an estate plan for the first time, our attorneys are here to help.
Call Summit Legacy Legal today at (720) 307-8512 or reach out through our Contact Us page to schedule your consultation with a trusted Denver estate planning attorney.
