Getting Started with a Disability Attorney

Looking for a disability attorney who knows your needs as a parent can be difficult.  First, you should ensure your information is organized and available. If you are interested in seeing how to get organized, click here! You do not have to wait until all your documents are organized to contact an attorney. They will want to go through and see many of the things that you are compiling. The attorney can provide advice in the process as well as the motivation to complete it! 

Finding the Right Disability Attorney

So how does one find a disability attorney? When you are looking for an attorney, consider their expertise, experience, cost, and convenience of location. In addition, and this is very important, you will be working with this attorney on very personal matters, so you should trust them and feel that you can speak openly with them. With that in mind, it is best to meet with any prospective attorneys before you commit so you can gauge their manner. 

Where to Look

There are many ways to find a lawyer who specializes in disability estate planning. A quick search online will likely produce an overwhelming amount of results to sift through. Alternatively, you can look to your local bar association for a referral. Each city or county has a bar association that can be a great resource when looking for specific attorneys in your area. Oftentimes, the best way to find an attorney is to ask other parents for recommendations. 

What Questions to Ask a Disability Attorney

Consider asking the following questions of a prospective disability attorney. 

• How long have you been practicing helping parents of children with disabilities? 
• Have you prepared disability documents before? 
• Why did you enter this practice of law? 
• What kind of clients do you typically work with? 
• Can you describe your manner with your clients? 

Preparing for the First Meeting

Prepare for the attorney to ask you general questions about your child, your hopes for your child, and your finances so that they can better understand your family and your circumstances. Your finances will not preclude you from being able to draft a trust; anyone with a child with a disability can have one. It is helpful for the attorney to have some color around your particular situation to see if they are a good fit for your needs.