Ashburn Wills Attorney

Include a Last Will & Testament to Your Comprehensive Estate Plan

A last will and testament is one of the most commonly used legal instruments created to preserve your estate and is often the foundation of an estate plan. A will is a legal document that plays a significant role in how your estate will be distributed to those you care about after you are gone. Because of the substantial role they play and the benefits they provide to you and your family, it is vital that you consult with a capable estate planning attorney who knows how to ensure that your will complies with law. You want the peace of mind knowing that it is enforceable in court.

At Legacy Law Centers, we concentrate a major portion of our practice on estate planning. That has given us an abundance of experience in creating wills and estate plans that put our clients in control over assets and property both while alive and after they are gone. The first step in the process is for us to thoroughly understand your needs, your particular estate, and then to customize your will to encompass those. We can guide you through every step along the way.

Need a will? Reach out to Legacy Law Centers at (571) 200-5559 or through our online request form to arrange to consult with our Ashburn wills lawyer.

What a Last Will & Testament Does

While it may be uncomfortable to think about writing a valid will, neglecting this action can create problems for your family and beneficiaries if you fail to do so. Dying without a will is called dying “intestate” and will require that your estate be settled through the courts. This leaves the decisions about how you wish your assets to be handled up to a judge acting according to state rules. Your wishes regarding the matter will be unknown. A probate proceeding under such circumstances can be costly, time-consuming, and open to conflict among family members and other interested parties leading to expensive litigation.

In a will, you will provide instructions as to how you wish your estate to be settled. Wills include the following provisions:

• You will name a trusted person to act as your personal representative to execute the instructions in the will
• You can name a guardian for any minor children you may have
• You will specify your assets along with how and when you wish them to be distributed to your beneficiaries

With a valid will in place, it cannot be changed after you are gone. Your will is the crucial document that the court will use to guide the legal settling of your estate. The executor of your will and your estate will have the responsibility of handling any last financial obligations, gathering and valuing your assets, representing you in court, and seeing that your assets are distributed per your instructions.

A will can include not only guardian arrangements for your dependents but also financial accounts to ensure the care of a disabled child or dependent or elderly parent. It can also include additional documents, such as a medical Power of Attorney or medical directive that can provide guidance on how to take of certain matters if you become incapacitated and unable to express your wishes.

Turn to a Competent Estate Planning Resource

A last will and testament is often the basic document underlying your estate plan. Ensuring that it is done right will give you peace of mind knowing that you and your family are protected come what may. At Legacy Law Centers, we concentrate on creating estate planning legal instruments tailored to your needs and goals and that are compliant with the law. We treat each client as an individual with a unique set of circumstances and take pride in the high level of service we provide in Ashburn and the surrounding areas.

Contact our Ashburn estate planning lawyer online or at (571) 200-5559 to get started today.