Wills & Trusts Attorneys in Arlington, Virginia & Washington, D.C.

Experienced Estate Planning Attorneys Draft & Update Wills

Helping You Plan for Your Property & Finances

Gene Robinson Law, PLC offers a full range of services relating to wills, including drafting, review, amendment, revocation and execution. Our experience enables us to provide reliable and practical estate planning advice to people from all walks of life. We understand that it can feel overwhelming to make plans for the property and assets you have accumulated over a lifetime, and it can be difficult to think about how your children will be cared for should the unthinkable happen. Our goal is to help people in Arlington, Virginia, the surrounding suburbs, and Washington, D.C. to create wills to make you feel confident and secure. Our Arlington, Virginia office is capable of handling estates of all sizes and levels of complexity, creating clear and enforceable instructions that accurately convey our clients’ intentions.

Knowledgeable Counselors Creating Comprehensive Legacy Instructions

Simple mistakes can render wills invalid in whole or in part. Essential elements of a valid will include:

• Intent — The testator, the person who creates the will, must intend that the document be a last will and testament at the time it is made. The testator must be of sound mind and comprehension, and must create the will voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence.

• Proper execution — A traditional will is written, signed by the testator and often affirmed by a witness.

• Clear language — A statement within a will that is confusing or open to various interpretations can invalidate all or part of the will.

An error in the drafting of your will can cause confusion in the court and conflict among your heirs. To make sure that your wishes can be carried out, it is wise to hire a respected law firm. Gene Robinson Law, PLC offers comprehensive and personal legal advice for drafting valid wills.

Make Plans to Protect Your Loved Ones

Your last will and testament provides the opportunity to distribute your property and finances, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A will is the primary means by which you can leave property to a person or entity other than a blood relative, such as a domestic partner, a friend or a charity. If you die without a will, the court determines how your estate is distributed, making decisions that might not reflect your desires. Our lawyers can draft clear, legally sound wills that include considerations for:

• Property — Real estate is typically the most valuable property a person or couple owns. Wills can include instructions for all kinds of property, from homes, automobiles and art to sentimental objects.

• Financial assets — A wide array of financial assets can be accounted for in a will. You can choose how the wealth you hold in bank accounts, stocks, bonds, retirement plans and other sources of value should be distributed among your beneficiaries.

• Executor responsibilities — Your will can include instructions for who should be in charge of overseeing the distribution of your property and seeing to it that your wishes are carried out.

As your life unfolds, your circumstances and concerns may shift. To remain current, you should review and update your will intermittently. We can advise you on your will in light of your current finances, marital status and family situation. At Gene Robinson Law, PLC we can draft valid supplements (known as codicils) that address changes in your state of affairs and outlook.

Thorough Attorneys Design Trusts Tailored to Your Goals

There are several types of trusts, with each offering situation-dependent pros and cons. Our lawyers can help you select the type of trust instrument that addresses your legacy concerns. At Gene Robinson Law, PLC, we handle:

• Revocable trusts — As the grantor of a revocable trust, you can retain control of your assets during your lifetime and may revoke or revise the trust at any time. Living trusts are a popular form of revocable trust.

• Irrevocable trusts — Once you establish this kind of trust, its assets no longer belong to you, and you cannot amend the trust without your beneficiary’s consent. However, any appreciated assets in the trust are not subject to estate taxes.

• Credit shelter trusts — Also called bypass or family trusts, credit shelter trusts allow a grantor to place enough wealth in a trust for heirs so that the grantor can pass down the remainder of their wealth via a will that does not trigger an estate tax. The assets in the credit shelter trust are not subject to estate tax.

• Generation-skipping trusts — Also called a dynasty trust, a generation-skipping trust enables a grantor to transfer a substantial amount of tax-free money to beneficiaries at least two generations below them. It can be an excellent way to provide a legacy for your grandchildren.

• Qualified personal residence trusts — A QPRT prevents the value of a grantor’s primary residence or vacation home from being added to their estate. Establishing a QPRT may help avoid triggering the estate tax later on.

• Irrevocable life insurance trusts — This type of trust removes a grantor’s life insurance from the taxable estate. It can help to leave a tax-free legacy to loved ones.

• Qualified terminable interest property trusts — A QTIP trust helps grantors in second marriages provide for the lifetime needs of a second spouse while preserving a legacy for children from the first marriage.

• Special needs trusts — If someone in your family has a disability or special needs, this type of trust can be used to help meet future financial needs.

Trusts are very flexible instruments. At Gene Robinson Law, PLC we can help you create one that addresses your unique estate planning needs. We also help our clients augment their asset protection by reviewing existing insurance policies and recommending ways to reduce exposure to liability.

Contact Our Experienced Estate Planning Attorneys for Help With Your Will or Trust

At Gene Robinson Law, PLC, we draft effective wills and trusts for clients in Arlington, Virginia and throughout the D.C. Metro region. To schedule a phone or in-person consultation, call our office at (703) 224-8282 or contact us online by filling out the form below.