On my way into court one morning in July 2018, something small darted across the road and into the bushes. It looked like a puppy.

Tuesday Triage 
September 16, 2025

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Hi there,
 
On my way into court one morning in July 2018, something small darted across the road and into the bushes. It looked like a puppy.
 
I pulled over, reached into the shrubs, and pulled out a skinny little stray, full of worms and sporting a hairless rat tail. Despite already having two big dogs at home, I had to keep him.
 
I texted a selfie of me and the puppy to my new husband with the message: “We have a third dog.” He got naming rights and chose Hopper — after Grace Hopper, the computer programming pioneer. (My husband’s a software engineer, so it fit.)
 
Saving puppies isn’t part of estate planning, but if your attorney will stop for a stray, chances are they’ll slow down to listen to you, too.
 
In this week’s Tuesday Triage, I share 6 steps to finding the right estate planning attorney for your situation. Here are the first three:
 
#1: Referrals are a great starting point but not the finish line. They point you in the right direction, but you still need to do your own homework and trust your gut.
 
#2: Match the attorney’s experience to your unique needs. Many people assume their estate is “simple,” but often it isn’t. Tax planning, business ownership, blended families, beneficiaries with special needs, or even a family vacation property can add complexity.
 
#3: Prioritize clear communication. If your attorney leaves you more confused than when you walked in, that’s a problem. Look for someone who cuts through the jargon and explains your
plan in plain English.
 
Curious about steps 4 through 6? Check out the full episode.
 
Spoiler alert: While “must love dogs” isn’t on the official list of attorney qualifications, it definitely earns extra credit.
 
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Thanks for being here.
Jill
 

 
Hit reply and let me know if you have a question for Tuesday Triage.
 
 
 
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