Find probate lawyers near you — compare ratings, reviews and contact details.
A probate lawyer guides executors and families through settling an estate — filing the will, notifying creditors, valuing and distributing property, and resolving disputes.
Free and confidential. Get contacted by probate lawyers in your area.
971 attorneys who handle probate, with ratings, reviews and contact details.
New Brunswick, NJ
West Brownsville, PA
Tenafly, NJ
San Francisco, CA
Milford, CT
Portland, ME
Meridian, ID
Salem, OR
Call the Maine law firm with over 160 years of success in business law, finance law, personal injury and family law, municipal law and more at 207.784.3200.
Plain-English guides to the law. General information, not legal advice.
Find an attorney near you.
Pick what you need help with — a DWI, a divorce, an accident, a will — and see only attorneys who handle it.
Ratings, reviews, practice areas and contact details for attorneys near you, side by side.
Call or message two or three. Ask about their experience with cases like yours and how they charge.
Six things to check before you hire.
Pick an attorney who practices the area your problem is in — a DWI, a divorce and a car accident need different lawyers.
Attorneys are licensed state by state. You can confirm a license and any discipline with your state bar.
Ask how many cases like yours they've handled, how they usually end, and who will actually work on yours.
Know how you'll be charged — hourly, a flat fee or a share of what you recover — and get it in a written agreement.
You should know how to reach them, how quickly they respond and how you'll get updates on your case.
Read reviews from past clients, and look for an attorney who knows the local courts.
Not always — property in trusts, joint accounts and accounts with beneficiaries can pass outside probate.
Simple estates may take months; complex or contested ones can take a year or more.
Not legally, but mistakes in do-it-yourself wills are common and can leave a family in probate disputes. A lawyer makes sure it's valid under your state's law.
The court process that settles a person's estate — confirming the will, paying debts and distributing property. A lawyer can often make it faster and cheaper.
Simple wills are often a flat fee; trusts and full plans cost more. Ask for a written quote for the documents you need.
Start with what you need help with above. That narrows the list to attorneys who practice that area. Then compare ratings and reviews, and talk to two or three before you decide.
It depends on the case. Criminal and family cases are often billed hourly or as a flat fee. Personal injury attorneys usually work on contingency — a share of what you recover, and nothing if you don't. Ask each attorney how they charge before you hire them.
Many do, especially in personal injury, criminal defense, bankruptcy and immigration. Ask when you call — a first meeting is the best way to see whether an attorney is a good fit.
Anything about your case: letters, court papers, contracts, police reports, photos, bills and a short timeline of what happened. The more the attorney sees, the better the advice.
Usually you need one licensed in the state where your case is. Federal matters like immigration, bankruptcy and patents can be different — ask the attorney.
Bismarck, ND
Sheboygan, WI
Milwaukee, WI
Auburn, ME