Richmond Trust, Will, & Estate Lawyer
Looking for the Right Richmond Lawyer for Will / Trust Creation to Help You Plan For the Future, Protect Your Legacy, Preserve Your Wealth, Ensure Your Wishes are Fulfilled, and Avoid Future Hassles for You and Your Loved Ones?
Our Elder Law Attorneys can help you create your Will and / or Trust to help protect your legacy and your wishes.
Why Choose PJI Law?
- Highly Reviewed & Rated – Super Lawyers.com Rising Star, Superb, 10.0 rating by respected legal website Avvo, 5.0 review rating on Google. See some of our client reviews below.
- Confidential Case Assessment – During your initial consultation, we will listen to you and help you determine your next steps.
- No Hidden Fees – Know the costs before starting (in most situations).
- Experienced – We’ve helped hundreds of families protect their legacy and plan for their future.
- Custom Plans and Solutions – You and your family are unique. That’s why we don’t use fill-in-the-blank form documents. Your plan is YOUR Plan. Together we create plans that best fulfill your dreams and goals.
- Highly Responsive – We strive for “freaky fast” returned client calls. No going dark or waiting days to hear back.
- Proactive Approach – We help clients to prevent legal problems and mistakes before they happen.
- Client-Focused – We’re here for you. We provide professional and communicative client service. You’ll get a clear & concise understanding of each step in the process.
- We’re Here For You Afterwards – After creating your plan, we periodically check in with you and keep you informed and can meet to review changes in your assets, situation, or wishes.
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What is the difference between a Will and a Trust?
The terms Will and Trust are sometimes used interchangeably. However, this is not correct. There are some differences between the two.
A Will is a document created to direct the distribution of assets at the time of death. Without a Will, assets will be subject to the laws of intestacy of Virginia, which will also direct the decision of what will happen to the assets. Wills are especially important to have for people with minor children, non-marital children, or those who are in second marriages.
A Trust is a document that can go into effect during your lifetime. It can be a private arrangement that you make to give legal holding of property to another person or persons. There are many types of Trusts, such as revocable, irrevocable, testamentary, “Medicaid qualifying”, Pooled Income, or Supplemental Needs Trusts. Each type is a separate and distinct document that is tailor-made to the grantor’s (the one who funds the trust) wishes.
Our Attorneys here at PJI Law are happy to help you determine what document(s) are best for your unique situation.
Actual Words Clients Have Used to Describe Us & Their Experience:
“friendly, knowledgeable and patient,” ”would not hesitate to recommend them,” ”an excellent team,” ”were incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and attentive to details,” ” they managed the time we had together wisely,” “PJI Law gave us excellent advice, performed on every deadline and detail, and operated with utmost integrity,” “courteous and professional,” “professionalism, compassionate attitude and responsiveness to my needs,” “We were greeted with warmth and smiles,” “Everything about the experience was wonderful and we were taken care of beautifully!,” “Professional. Stellar. Proficient,” “The team at PJI Law executed my trust expeditiously and efficiently,” “made us feel very comfortable with the process,” “always ready to accommodate,” “they worked with me on the pros and cons of various options as we came up with a solution that was best for my situation,” “The PJI Law group are the quintessential professional group,” “Everyone we met with was highly professional and provided outstanding advice.”
It’s Always Best to be Proactive Rather Than Reactive
As we age, there are numerous things to consider, not only for ourselves but our families. By planning today, we can ensure things are easier for ourselves and our families in the future. Don’t let everything you’ve worked for just slip away due to a lack of proper planning. Invest the time now to learn your options by speaking with one of our Richmond elder law lawyers and making the choices that protect your legacy.
How Many of These Life Situations and Goals for a Trust Apply to You?
- I do not want the state to take my money when I die
- I have a blended family / 2nd marriage
- Asset protection concerns
- I have real estate outside of Virginia
- High net worth/wealth preservation
- Children/beneficiaries need protection from themselves, e.g., frivolous spending, bad marriage/ex-spouse, creditors, litigation, etc.
- I want to transfer my business to the next generation
- I want to avoid probate court or minimize probate
- I do not want my son/daughter-in-law to get their hands on my child’s inheritance
- I moved to Florida and want to update my trust to Virginia law
- Estate tax concerns
- I have a special needs child
- Provide for a pet
- I have charitable interests
There are many types of trusts to choose from in Virginia, including Living, Testamentary, Revocable, and Irrevocable. Contact us today to craft a document that works best for your situation.
Reasons to create or update a Last or Living Will:
- Do not have a last will or living will
- Have minor children
- Have a DIY / form-generated will and want to upgrade to a more robust document
- Moved to Florida and want to update your will to comply with Florida law
- You and/or your spouse are “getting up there in years”
- Have a blended family / 2nd marriage
- Recent illness or adverse medical diagnosis
- Want to transfer your business to the next generation
- Going on vacation or an extended trip
- Having surgery
- Have a special needs child
- Pending divorce
- Want to leave an inheritance to a spouse, children, or loved ones
- Want to support charitable interests
If you wish to update your Will or Trust, you may do so, as long as you are of sound mind and are doing so voluntarily. You may also create a new Will or Trust that reflects your current needs. Contact us, your Richmond Will and Trust attorney for help if you need to change your documents or create new ones. We will help you make the changes to ensure they are legally binding.
Self-Proving Affidavit
Virginia residents do not need to include a self-proving affidavit when creating a will, although it is recommended. The testator and witnesses sign the affidavit as proof that the will was properly executed. Then the affidavit is notarized and attached to the will. If you do not create a self-proving affidavit, your executor will need to locate at least one of the will’s witnesses to confirm the will’s validity. The witness might be required to appear in probate court. By creating an affidavit, probate will be faster and easier. Our Richmond wills attorney can create this affidavit for you if you wish to include it with your last will and testament.
Avoid Probate With a Trust
If you use a Will instead of a Trust, your assets will go through probate court. Probate is time-consuming and can be expensive. It’s also part of the public record, so your beneficiaries will not be able to maintain their privacy. This can add to the stress of an already difficult time. You can save time and money by using a trust. Trusts are not subject to probate. Your loved ones will receive property faster, and they can maintain their privacy. Avoiding probate is one of the numerous benefits of including a trust in your estate plan.Our Location
We help families locally within or near the Richmond area when they need to handle issues or an estate for a family member within the state.
Clients come to us from Colonial Place, Three Chopt, Stratford Hills, Oxford, Huguenot, Bellevue, Church Hill, Cedarhurst, Rosedale, and the surrounding areas.