It can't hurt to educate yourself on your state's probate law, so that you can make your will as easy to execute as necessary before you die. Look around to see if a local community college offers course on the subject; if not, you can get applicable texts online at Amazon or a similar site.

As with any lawyer, you should always ask your probate attorney about his or her credentials and education. Where were they educated in probate law? Do they have any specific certifications, or belong to relevant associations? How many cases do they handle a year?

If you sign an agreement for a flat fee with your probate law attorney, discuss with them provisions for what might happen if the case goes on longer than expected, or something unexpected develops. You don't want to be blindsided by extra fees you're not expecting.