Whether for yourself or for an elderly loved one you may one day find yourself in need of the services of an elder law attorney. As such, you may need to know how to find an elder law attorney in Missouri. Because elder law is a relatively new area of the law there are fewer attorneys who focus on elder law than on other practice areas, making it harder to find the right attorney for your needs. Ultimately, only you can decide which elder law attorney you feel will best handle your legal needs; however, the following tips may be helpful in locating elder law attorneys from which to choose.
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Ask friends, family, and co-workers. As is the case when looking for any type of attorney, asking friends, family members, or co-workers is often your best source for names of attorneys who practice the type of law you need, in this case elder law. Moreover, you have the ability to get a first-hand opinion regarding the attorney from someone you know. This type of information can be invaluable.
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Use Bar referral services. Both the Missouri Bar and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis offer lawyer referral services. Lawyers throughout the state are typically registered with either, or both, associations, making them a wonderful source for finding an elder law attorney near you.
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Use the internet. While it is never best to rely entirely on the internet for information or guidance, the internet can help you identify potential elder law attorneys as well as provide you with some basic information about any options you find. By looking over an attorney’s or law firm’s website you are usually able to determine what type of law the attorneys focus on, how long they have been in practice, and what the general style or tone appears to be.
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Schedule consultations. Once you have identified several elder law attorneys and have narrowed down the field to just two or three best options you should call and schedule a consultation with each attorney. Unlike some other legal needs, your need for an elder law attorney is not likely going to be a “one-time” deal. Instead, you will likely spend a considerable amount of time with your elder law attorney over the course of your lifetime and come to rely on him or her for valuable advice and guidance. As such, it only makes sense to take your time and choose the best attorney for you. To do this, you need to consult with each potential attorney in person and ask a few important questions.
After your consultations, you will hopefully be ready to choose the Missouri elder law attorney who is right for you and your needs.
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