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Wills

Virginia Will Attorney

Your Trusted Partner Serving Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. & Beyond

At J. S. Burton, P.L.C., we have been helping clients and their families for decades. We understand the importance of planning for the future, and we are here to help you with all of your estate planning needs.

Our wills lawyers in Virginia can help answer all of your questions. Contact us today at (888) 885-9001 to schedule an appointment.

Why Are Wills Important?

A will is a legal document that directs how your assets are to be distributed after your death. You can also use a will to appoint a guardian to care for your minor children or appoint a personal representative to handle the administration of your estate.

A will can also contain provisions for funeral arrangements, organ donation, and whether or not you would like to be buried or cremated. A will is a flexible tool that can be customized to meet your needs.

What Happens if I Pass Without a Will in Virginia?

When an individual passes away without a valid will (intestate), state laws determine how their assets will be distributed. The Virginia intestacy laws prioritize close family members as beneficiaries. Typically, the surviving spouse and children are the primary heirs.

If the deceased person has both a spouse and children, one-third of their assets are distributed to the spouse, and the remaining two-thirds are distributed to the children. If there are no children, the husband inherits the entire estate. In the absence of a surviving spouse or children, the assets pass to the decedent's parents. Specific measures exist for cases in which the deceased individual leaves no living spouse, children, or parents, ensuring that the estate is distributed in accordance with the law even in problematic situations.

Intestacy laws can become complex when there are blended families or adopted children. It's crucial for individuals to create a valid will to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes rather than default state laws. Consulting with a seasoned wills lawyer in Virginia at J. S. Burton, P.L.C. can help navigate these complexities.

For experienced guidance, speak with a knowledgeable Virginia wills attorney. Call us at (888) 885-9001 or contact us online.

Opinions That Matter Most

Read What Our Former Clients Have to Say
    "Very professional, friendly, thoughtful, and highly knowledgeable, Fallon expedited preparation and delivery of my documents. Overall, this was an awesome experience"

    I just had a great experience with this firm in preparing my estate planning documents. I needed to update some wishes and also ensure everything is in line for the state of Virginia, as I moved here from Pennsylvania. I worked with Fallon Francesca Whi

    - Wendy V.
    "I would highly recommend him."
    I have met with Mr Burton several times and always found him to be professional and personable
    - Bonnie T.
    "Highly recommended for estate planning"
    We were heard and guided to do the best for our families needs
    - Fred S.
    "Friendly and personable service."
    J S Burton, PLC has helped with my estate planning. All aspects of my trust are clearly defined in an easy-to-understand folder. They coordinated with my financial planner seamlessly. The staff is friendly and personable. I highly endorse J S Burton.
    - Elizabeth M.
    "Thorough, responsive, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this firm!"
    Thorough, responsive, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this firm!
    - Krystin R.
    "Truly impressive and caring."
    J S Burton, PLC has been our family's trusted estate planner for over 20 years. Their professionalism, knowledge, and dedication are unmatched. They guide us through complex decisions with ease and clarity, always with a personal approach.
    - Ryan D.
    "Highly skilled and compassionate."
    J S Burton, PLC is an excellent estate planning firm—highly skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced. They listened with great kindness, compassion, and courtesy. All questions were answered, and a perfect estate plan was created. Very happy!
    - Kathy R.
    "Excellent service"
    The service was excellent!
    - Susan B.

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    FAQs

    • What is estate planning?

      When someone passes away, his or her property must somehow pass to another person. In the United States, any competent adult has the right to choose the manner in which his or her assets are distributed after his or her passing. (The main exception to this general rule involves what is called a spousal right of election which disallows the complete disinheritance of a spouse in most states.) A proper estate plan also involves strategies to minimize potential estate taxes and settlement costs as well as to coordinate what would happen with your home, your investments, your business, your life insurance, your employee benefits (such as a 401K plan), and other property in the event of death or disability. On the personal side, a good estate plan should include directions to carry out your wishes regarding health care matters, so that if you ever are unable to give the directions yourself, someone you know and trust can do that for you.

    • Why is it important to establish an estate plan?

      Sadly, many individuals don’t engage in formal estate planning because they don’t think that they have “a lot of assets” or mistakenly believe that their assets will be automatically shared among their children upon their passing. If you don’t make proper legal arrangements for the management of your assets and affairs after your passing, the state’s intestacy laws will take over upon your death. This often results in the wrong people getting your assets as well as higher estate taxes.

      If you pass away without establishing an estate plan, your estate would undergo probate, a public, court-supervised proceeding. Probate can be expensive and tie up the assets of the deceased for a prolonged period before beneficiaries can receive them. Even worse, your failure to outline your intentions through proper estate planning can tear apart your family as each person maneuvers to be appointed with the authority to manage your affairs. Further, it is not unusual for bitter family feuds to ensue over modest sums of money or a family heirloom.

    • What does my estate include?

      Your estate is simply everything that you own, anywhere in the world, including:

      • Your home or any other real estate that you own
      • Your business
      • Your share of any joint accounts
      • The full value of your retirement accounts
      • Any life insurance policies that you own
      • Any property owned by a trust, over which you have a significant control
    • How do I name a guardian for my children?
      If you have children under the age of eighteen, you should designate a person or persons to be appointed guardian(s) over their person and property. Of course, if a surviving parent lives with the minor children (and has custody over them), he or she automatically continues to remain their sole guardian. This is true despite the fact that others may be named as the guardian in your estate planning documents. You should name at least one alternate guardian in case the primary guardian cannot serve or is not appointed by the court.