Lesson from Long: Hire an Experienced Estate Planning Lawyer
The District of Columbia Court of
Appeals recently upheld the
suspension of J. Sinclair Long for
incompetent representation and
conflict of interest.
Mr. Long, an attorney with some 20
years of experience in criminal law and
government service but none in estate
planning, was asked by friends to draft
a will, which he did by modifying a "form will." His errors in representing
his client, which included not inquiring
about the existence of other relatives,
gaining no knowledge of finances, and
making no efforts to preclude the will
from being contested, resulted in his
representation being ruled
incompetent.
Although it was determined Mr. Long
was only trying to be helpful to his
friends and not benefit personally from
his actions, his story is another
example of the importance of securing
the services of a professional skilled in
estate planning and not using a friend
or a form.
Source: In re J. Sinclair Long
(DC App. Ct., No. 04-BG-883, 7-20-06 |
