Questions to ask before someone plans your estate

You've found someone who can help plan your estate. Now comes the hard part: figuring out whether they're the right fit, whether they actually understand your situation, and whether their advice will hold up when it matters most. The best way to know is to ask direct questions and listen carefully to how they answer. Not just what they say, but how they say it—whether they're patient, thorough, or rushing you through.

Does this person understand your actual family structure?

Estate planning advice that works for a nuclear family falls apart fast in blended relationships, multiple business interests, or when children are involved from different partnerships. Ask your potential planner how they'd approach your specific family setup. A strong answer will involve them asking *you* detailed follow-up questions: Who do you want to inherit what? Are there relationships you want to protect or exclude? What happens if someone dies before you do?

An evasive answer sounds like a generic template description of the process. They might say "we'll handle it" without digging into the messy realities of your household. That's a red flag. Estate planning is not a one-size-fits-all service. Someone worth hiring will treat your family dynamics as the starting point, not an afterthought.

What exactly do they do—and what's outside their scope?

This matters more than you might think. Some advisers draft wills. Others advise on tax implications. Some specialise in trust structures. Many do a mix but aren't experts in all of it. Ask them to spell out what they'll handle and what they won't. If your estate involves property transfers, business succession, or complex trusts, you need to know whether they have depth there or whether you'll need a second specialist.

A good answer includes honesty about limits. They might say, "I draft wills and advise on basic trusts, but if your business succession gets complicated, you'll want to loop in a commercial attorney." That's transparency. An evasive answer is vague reassurance—"we'll take care of everything"—without specifics. It suggests they either don't know their limits or won't acknowledge them.

How will they make sure everything stays legal and actually works?

A will or trust means nothing if it's poorly drafted, unsigned wrongly, or contradicts another document you already have. Ask them how they check that everything fits together. Do they review your existing documents? Do they have a checklist to make sure nothing gets missed? Will they explain the legal framework to you, or just hand you a finished document?

Listen for practical answers. Good advisers will tell you they'll review your insurance policies, existing trusts, property titles, and business structures before drafting anything. They'll explain why certain decisions matter legally. A weak answer is silence on process—they just draw up the papers and you sign. That's how conflicts and gaps happen.

What happens after the plan is done?

Estate planning isn't a one-off task. Life changes. Laws shift. A will or trust you set up five years ago might not fit your world today. Ask whether they offer any follow-up: do they flag when you should review things? Will they help if you need to update a document? Do they charge for reviews, or is that built in?

A strong adviser sees estate planning as ongoing. They might say, "I'll review this with you every few years, and I'll check in if there are big tax law changes." Someone evasive will focus only on the initial fee and won't mention the future at all.

Trusting your instinct on fit

Beyond these questions, pay attention to whether this person listens and asks back. Do they seem to care about getting it right, or are they pushing you toward a decision? Are they clear about their fees and what you'll get? Do you feel confident asking them a "stupid" question?

Estate planning requires you to think clearly about money, family, and mortality. Your adviser needs to make that easier, not harder. When you're ready to talk to someone, bring these questions. Their answers—and how they give them—will tell you plenty. Strove makes it straightforward to find and vet financial advisers who specialise in estate planning in your area, read reviews from others who've been through the process, and compare how they'd handle your situation.