Chantilly, Virginia Estate Planning Attorneys

A will divides up your assets among beneficiaries that you select, and it may address ownership of your personal property, money, and real estate. A will can also specify how your affairs will be handled after your passing, including care of children or pets. A trust allows you to set aside your assets for beneficiaries while you are still alive, and you can set terms detailing when and how beneficiaries will receive assets (i.e., in a lump sum or in installments). Placing assets can help reduce estate taxes, and money or property can be transferred to beneficiaries without going through court proceedings.

Probate refers to the process of distributing a deceased person's assets to their heirs with oversight by a court. A personal representative who was named in the person's will or appointed by a judge is responsible for carrying out the deceased's wishes, resolving disputes over property, and settling any debts to creditors.

In Virginia, a power of attorney is a written document that names an agent who will have the authority to make decisions for you and handle your affairs. Powers of attorney are typically separated into different categories that may address medical decisions or financial decisions, though one person can fulfill both responsibilities. A power of attorney document that gives somebody else authority even after you become incapacitated is referred to as "durable" power of attorney.

If you want to specify your wishes about donating your organs after your death, you may address this issue in a healthcare directive, a document that outlines your preferences for treatment near the end of your life.

A healthcare directive can include instructions about your end-of-life care in the event that you cannot communicate your wishes yourself. These instructions may also be provided through a living will, which allows you to instruct medical professionals about whether you want to receive life-preserving treatments for a terminal illness or condition or whether you should be allowed to pass as peacefully and painlessly as possible.