Estate Planning Attorney Loudoun County

Wills & Trusts Attorney Serving Northern Virginia

Engel Law Offices – Estate Planning with Wills & Trusts

Engel Law Offices can help you protect your estate’s assets from avoidable taxes, delays or court oversight with comprehensive estate planning legal services. Creating a legally enforceable estate plan through properly devised wills and trusts allows you to remain in control of what happens to your assets in the event your health takes a turn or you pass away. Our team works with you to develop an estate plan that takes into account your goals and estate complexity, addresses sensitive directives and assets, adheres to your privacy concerns, designates guardians for minor children (if applicable) and gives you peace of mind.

Plan for the future with a committed, proven legal team. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney.

Will vs. Trust: What Is The Difference?

Wills and trusts are both forms of legal estate planning arrangements that govern the transfer of assets to chosen beneficiaries. While they can be used separately or together, it’s essential to know how they differ in order to leverage the best solutions for your estate planning needs.

Last Will and Testaments

A Virginia last will and testament directs the distribution of your estate upon your death to chosen beneficiaries; it may also name guardians for minor or dependent adult children. This directive must be signed by you, the testator, and witnessed by two impartial individuals who are not beneficiaries. Without a will, the strict Virginia intestacy laws will instead dictate the distribution of your assets.

A will is crucial to ensure you have the opportunity to specify how you want your affairs handled after you pass. However, it’s important to know that such directives become a matter of public record once the county probate court oversees its proper execution.

Trusts

A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that enables you (the grantor or trustor) to designate a third party (the trustee) to hold and manage assets on behalf of your chosen beneficiaries. The trustee must follow the precise terms of the trust to invest, protect and distribute the assets.

Unlike wills, trusts are not subject to probate court. Therefore, trust agreements offer privacy that wills do not. Since they avoid probate, trusts offer a faster and simpler way to transfer assets to beneficiaries by avoiding court delays or complications.

There are several different types of trusts that can be leveraged, which offers different levels of flexibility in asset transference and agreement revisions. Regardless of the type of trust best suited for your situation, these types of legal arrangements tend to offer the greatest specificity and efficiency in asset transference with the least expenses and complications.

Will and Trust Creation: Which Is Right for You?

At Engel Law Offices, we consult with you to determine the best estate planning strategy based on your goals, needs and situation. No matter how complex your estate, our team will work with you to identify and craft the right solution(s) for you and your beneficiaries.

Often, creation of both a will and trust provides the greatest legal protection to shield assets while limiting public exposure through probate. Our team helps you understand the various types of trusts and wills – their functions, benefits and drawbacks – in order to develop a comprehensive, fully customized estate plan.

Only after deciding the proper strategy do we move forward with estate planning arrangements – creating or amending wills and trusts for our clients in order to protect their legacy, assets and beneficiaries.

Benefits of Estate Planning

Life is unpredictable, and it’s important to decide ahead of time how you want your assets distributed to your heirs and beneficiaries after your passing. In any event (incapacity or death), you want to ensure you’ve taken advantage of the pertinent legal protections offered by wills and trusts. Without proper estate planning, you leave it up to the probate court to allocate your assets according to Virginia laws without any input from you.

By creating a will and trust, you’re able to provide for your family and beneficiaries while minimizing court fees, legal delays, potential taxes and loss of privacy. Let Engel Law Offices help you prepare for this inevitability, reduce risk and protect your beneficiaries with a customized estate plan.

Contact Engel Law Offices about Our Will and Trust Offerings

Our unwavering commitment to excellence, compassion and collaboration allows us to consult with our clients to create the ideal solution for their estate planning needs. Engel Law Offices is here to help you with comprehensive estate planning – schedule your confidential consultation today.

Plan for the future with a committed, proven legal team. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney.

Client Testimonials

“I contacted Adam and after a conversation had his law office handle my uncontested divorce. I never imagined it could happen so smoothly and easily.”

“Incorporating my business went so smoothly and easily with Adam. I feel confident and protected knowing a professional handled this for me.”

“Engel Law Offices has done such a great job with my deeds and powers of attorneys that I have sent them. I wouldn’t use anyone else and regularly recommend them to my clients.”

"My uncontested divorce sailed through so quick and easy. Now I have the freedom to pursue so many things."

"The Living Trust I created with Engel Law Offices makes sure that my kids and grand-kids are protected and provided for."

"When I changed my name Engel Law Offices gave me great advice that helped me avoid making things more complicated. I am very thankful I hired them."

"Engel Law Offices and Adam are dedicated, caring and professional. They helped me with my will and gathering all my assets. Adam personally followed up with me several times to make sure I had gathered all the right documents so his law office to could archive them and keep them safe for me and my children."

Wills and Trusts