Manassas Estate Planning Attorney

Helping You Plan for the Future with Personalized Estate Planning Services

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If you own assets, including property and investments, an estate plan helps you set your loved ones up for success when you die.

A well-constructed estate plan ensures the individuals you love the most will inherit your assets. It also makes sure your loved ones will not be faced with litigation after your death.

For assistance with an estate plan, you should consult with an experienced lawyer who can provide you with the proper advice, knowledge, and counsel.

estate planning documents

What Are Estate Planning Services?

Our comprehensive estate planning services include the following:

Wills

A will is essential at every stage of your life. It allows you to distribute your property, establish care for your children, and express your final wishes before death. Without a valid will in place, the court will determine all these steps for you. If you have intentions in place that you would like honored, you should establish a will.

Trusts

We understand that your trust reflects your life, which is why we never provide a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we provide personalized tax planning and asset protections services to safeguard your assets for your heirs while avoiding probate proceedings.

Power of Attorney

We prepare all types of powers of attorney, including financial powers of attorney and durable powers of attorney for healthcare.

Elder Law

We can help protect you or the senior members of your family with their financial situation. This includes estate planning, probate proceedings, creating a durable power of attorney, assisting with healthcare and planning, and financial representation.

Estate Administration

Estate administration refers to the process of administering the estate of a decedent, whether through probate or trust administration. We can assist you with the following services: distributing assets to beneficiaries, paying and collecting debts, and inventorying and appraising assets.

Benefits of Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney

Protect Yourself
Protect Your Children
Delegating Your Assets
Avoid Family Conflict
Conserve on Taxes

Learn more about these 5 benefits of estate planning here!

When to Start Estate Planning

The golden rule is to have your estate plan all worked out by age 55. But that doesn't mean you should wait to get started.

There is no set age for when to start estate planning, however. In truth, the earlier you get it done, the better! It's always wise to be prepared for the worst. With an estate plan in place, you won't have to worry about what will happen to you, your children, or your belongings should disaster strike.

How Can An Estate Planning Lawyer Help Me?

In addition to providing you with the support, resources, and knowledge you need to navigate an estate plan, an estate planning attorney can assist you with the following:

Generate a will
Designate beneficiaries
Establish a durable power of attorney and medical durable power of attorney
Support you with the probate process
Find ways to reduce or help you avoid estate taxes
Establish and fund a trust
Help you make modifications to your will
Ensure you are following the law and that your estate plan is legally enforceable
Provides support, advice, knowledge, and advocacy tailored to your unique needs

Updating Estate Plans After a Divorce

When getting a divorce in Virginia, one of the important things you must attend to is the modification of your long-term estate plan.

Most people commonly name their spouses as beneficiaries in wills or trusts, as well as on life insurance policies or retirement accounts. Unless there are specific terms of your divorce settlement that require you to keep your spouse as the named beneficiary, you may want to update these documents.

It is important that you do not remove your spouse as the beneficiary if your divorce decree indicates otherwise. Your divorce decree is a legally binding document and its terms must be adhered to.

If you are legally free to name new beneficiaries—such as your children or anyone else so that they inherit your assets when you pass away—then you must legally update your estate plan.

There may be up to five documents for you to update, including your:

Trust
Will
Life insurance policy
Retirement account
Power of Attorney

You may or may not have all of these, but if you do, then each one should be amended during or after your divorce. If you only update a will or a trust, but not a life insurance policy, then the beneficiary named on the insurance policy will still stand even if it differs from your will or trust.

Family Law Group

Estate Planning and Administration Initial Price List

Simple Will Package (Will, POA, AMD, HCPOA), Single Individual	$1,200.00 Flat Fee
Simple Wills Package (Wills, POAs, AMDs, HCPOAs), Couple	$2,500.00 Flat Fee
Simple Will with Testamentary Children’s Trust (Will, POA, AMD, HCPOA), Single Individual	$1,500.00 Flat Fee
Simples Wills with Testamentary Children’s Trusts (Wills, POAs, AMDs, HCPOAs), Couple	$3,000.00 Flat Fee
Revocable Trust, Single with Pour Over Will, POA, AMD and HCPOA	Retainer of $2,000.00 Billed Hourly
Marital Trusts Only (No Wills, etc)	Retainer of $2,000.00 Billed Hourly
*Revocable Trusts, Couple, with Pour Over Wills, POAs, AMDs and HCPOAs (includes one deed of trust for real property)**	Retainer of $3,500.00 Billed Hourly
Complex Trusts (Special Needs, Business Interests, etc)	Retainer of $3,500.00 Billed Hourly
General or Springing POAs and Medical Directives – stand alone	$150.00 Per each Document
Codicils or Amendments to Trusts (not including Restatements of Trusts)	Retainer of $2,000.00 Billed Hourly
Restatement of Trust	Retainer of $2,000.00 Billed Hourly
Probate Estate Administration (with a Will)	Retainer of $3,000.00 Billed Hourly
Probate Estate Administration (Intestate) estates valued at $75,000 or less	Retainer of $3,000.00 Billed Hourly
Probate Estate Administration (Intestate) estates valued at more than $75,000	Retainer of $5,000.00 Billed Hourly
Trust Administration	Retainer of $2,500.00 Billed Hourly
Litigation relating to proving of a will, challenges to Will or Trust or to the administration of an estate	Retainer Depends on Circumstance Billed Hourly

Contact a Manassas estate planning lawyer online to learn more about the benefits of our services. Or call us at (703) 552-5072!

The Stories That Matter

Read What Past Clients Have to Say

“It's true that some things are priceless, and the guidance and good counsel you gave to me definitely qualifies.”
- Satisfied Client
“I highly recommend Donna to anyone seeking a family law attorney. Her guidance, compassion and legal expertise were exactly what I needed during the tumultuous proceeding and I am pleased she advocated for and not against me.”
- T.M., Parent
“Donna was straightforward about what the process would entail and accurate about her cost estimate. Should it be necessary I would also gladly use her services again!”
- K.B., Parent of Two Young Children

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