Estate Planning
Frequently Asked Questions
JM Law works best with families and business owners who want to be intentional about protecting what they’ve built.
Our clients are often building or preserving generational wealth. They may own a home, operate a business, manage investment accounts, or simply want clarity and structure around how their assets will be handled.
What matters most is not the size of your estate — it’s your desire to protect it thoughtfully and proactively.
We serve estate planning clients in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and California, and we are especially well-suited for those who value long-term planning and ongoing guidance.
No. Estate planning is less about how much you have and more about how you want to protect it.
Most of our clients own a home and have retirement or investment accounts. Some own businesses. Others simply want to ensure their loved ones are protected and their wishes related to the management of assets and healthcare decisions are honored.
Our philosophy centers on preserving the wealth you’ve accumulated, ensuring that you maintain control over your affairs, and helping you to plan for, protect, and preserve your legacy for generations.
At JM Law, view estate planning as a relationship - not a transaction.
We design customized, will or trust-based estate plans that prioritize clarity, efficiency, and long-term protection. We collaborate with your broader advisory team when appropriate, and we stay accessible so you never feel like the clock is running when you have a question.
Most importantly, through JM LAW CARES, our estate and legacy planning maintenance program, we provide ongoing support so your plan evolves as your life does.
Your legacy isn’t static, and your estate plan shouldn’t be either.
A will directs how your assets are distributed after death and allows you to name guardians for minor children. However, assets governed by a will typically pass through probate.
A revocable living trust allows assets to be managed during your lifetime and distributed privately after death, often avoiding probate and minimizing delays.
Most of our estate planning clients in Virginia, Maryland, DC, Florida and California choose trust-based estate planning because it provides greater control, privacy, and efficiency.
Click here to learn more about our trust-based estate planning services.
If you pass away without an estate plan, state law determines who receives your assets and who manages your estate.
This process, known as intestate succession, may not reflect your wishes and almost always requires probate.
Proactive estate planning ensures your family is not left navigating court proceedings, uncertainty, or unintended outcomes during an already difficult time.
Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will and distributing assets.
Probate timelines vary depending on the complexity of the estate. It can take months, but sometimes longer.
Trust-based estate planning is designed to minimize or avoid probate whenever possible, helping your family maintain privacy, reduce delays, and limit court involvement.
1. Estate Planning Vision Meeting
We discuss your goals, review existing documents (if any), and outline strategies tailored to your family and assets.
2. Design & Drafting
We prepare a customized estate plan aligned with your objectives.
3. Review & Signing
We walk through your documents together and finalize your plan.
4. Funding Guidance
We provide clear instructions to ensure your assets are properly aligned with your trust.
5. Ongoing Support
We invite you to enroll in JM LAW CARES, our estate and legacy planning maintenance program, so your plan continues to serve you as laws and life circumstances change.
If you are currently working with another estate planning attorney, we are happy to review your documents and provide recommendations.
If you decide to move forward with us, we will guide you through updating or amending your existing plan. Alternatively, you may choose to take our recommendations back to your current attorney.
- You experience a major life change (marriage, divorce, birth, relocation)
- You acquire or sell significant assets
- Estate or tax laws change
Through JM LAW CARES, we meet annually with participating clients to review and update plans as needed, ensuring your estate planning remains current and aligned with your goals.
We serve estate planning clients throughout Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and California and routinely conduct meetings virtually. This allows flexibility while maintaining the personalized guidance our clients expect.
Our most common service is the design and drafting of a revocable living trust-based estate plan. Any additional services are clearly outlined, and we discuss fees transparently before engagement.
You may download our Estate Planning Fee Schedule at any time here or by calling the office at (703) 956-5738 or emailing admin@jmlegacyplanning.com
We prepare young adult planning documents for college students and young adults (typically age 18+), including:
- General Durable Power of Attorney
- Healthcare Power of Attorney
- HIPAA Authorization
- Living Will
These documents allow parents to assist in financial or medical matters if necessary. Please refer to our current rate sheet for pricing.
We do not provide:
- Family law
- Prenuptial or postnuptial planning
- International estate planning
- Medicaid or elder law planning
- Special needs planning
- Estate or trust administration for plans created outside JM Law
- Probate administration in certain jurisdictions
If you require services outside our scope, we are happy to provide referrals within our professional network.
We may review estate plans for individuals residing in other states. However, any estate planning documents prepared for clients outside these states must be reviewed by an attorney licensed in that jurisdiction.
However, because JM Law attorneys are also affiliated with Cassaday & Company, there may be limitations in serving in fiduciary roles for certain clients. We will discuss appropriate trustee or executor options based on your specific situation.
Our attorneys also form the core of Cassaday & Company’s estate planning department. While we collaborate with financial advisors when appropriate, JM LAW attorneys provide a full slate of estate and legacy planning services directly to JM LAW clients.
