Proactive Today for a Peaceful Tomorrow

Wills Lawyer in Virginia

Every adult in Virginia should have a plan in place to provide for and protect their loved ones. Nobody likes to think about their own mortality. It is a touchy, emotional topic, and as a result creating a will is a task many people put off. Some believe they can wait until they’re older or they have more money. But the fact is that no one knows what the future holds, and preparing now can save your loved ones considerable anguish and loss of privacy later.

At Jennifer Porter Law, our team can create a will and other estate planning tools designed to meet your specific goals. Wills can be simple or complex. While we want to ensure that your loved ones are protected, we don’t want to waste your time and resources on provisions you don’t need.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Stephanie Himel did an incredible job supporting me and my spouse during our estate planning. She patiently walked us through the ways we could ensure our children would be protected if one or both of us died or was i…Read Full Google Review

Kayla Williams

Our 20+ year old will, trusts and associated docs needed a review and update. On the recommendation of a friend, we reached out to the Jennifer Porter Law firm and were promptly contacted by a partner, Stephanie Himel…Read Full Google Review

John Munnell

I recently had the pleasure of working with Stephanie Himel-Nelson at Jennifer Porter Law Firm’s Norfolk office to create power of attorney documents for my adult son and myself. Stephanie was incredibly responsive an…Read Full Google Review

Seta Vandegrift

We take the time to truly listen and understand your needs.

Attention to detail that larger firms often overlook.

A focus on quality, not quantity.

Jennifer Porter

Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC

What’s Included in a Simple Will in Virginia?

A basic will designates one or more beneficiaries who will receive the property in your estate when you pass away. An “estate” in this case doesn’t refer to a fancy house in the country though. An “estate” is comprised of the assets you own at the time of your death – house, savings, investments, and personal possessions are some examples.

Some of your assets may legally pass directly to others, such as co-owners. If you have accounts with beneficiary clauses, the funds in those accounts will also go directly to the beneficiaries and won’t be part of your estate. But, the assets that belong only to you will be in your estate, and a basic will directs where that property should go.

In addition, a basic will usually designate the specific person you wish to serve as personal representative or executor of the estate. When you pass away, the executor takes your will to the court to be probated, and the court will authorize them to pay your bills and distribute your property according to the will.

A will does not need to be notarized to be valid in Virginia, but by including certain statements signed in the presence of a notary, it becomes much easier to admit the will into probate later.

Before hiring Ms. Nelson, I was deeply concerned about becoming a burden to my children and leaving behind unresolved estate matters during their grief process. Having experienced the devastation of losing both my mot…Read Full Google Review

Jackson Child Care

Working with Stephanie throughout this process was so perfect. Her bedside manner and guidance throughout the preparation and execution of our estate plan was incredible. Truly a bespoke legal experience and I highly…Read Full Google Review

Kate Hudson

Ms. Himel-Nelson is such a smart and impressive attorney– she mastered a mountain of research to answer some really complicated questions for me. I was really fortunate to work with her!…Read Full Google Review

Melody W

Additional Terms You Can Include in Your Will

Wills can do much more than simply assign your property to others. For instance, we can add provisions to create testamentary trusts to protect vulnerable loved ones including pets.

Your will might include provisions that:

Name a guardian for a minor child
Establish a trust to manage your child’s inheritance
Name a trustee to manage your child’s property until they are old enough to take over
Establish a trust to provide for a loved one with special needs
Support a favorite charity
Provide for a the care of a pet

As you can see, if you have children who are not yet grown, it is crucial to create a will to provide for their protection. If you die without a valid will, the government determines who will receive your property and the court will determine who takes responsibility for your children according to Virginia guidelines. Those choices may be the last thing you’d want. Creating a will is one of the most important ways to protect your family.

We're Here to Help!

We take a hands-on approach to every case and commit to being available to you while you go through this trying situation.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Had an absolutely great experience. Not exactly stuff you want to do, but they do everything to make it as painless as possible. Stephanie and Jennifer both had great bedside manner, explaining patiently everything an…Read Full Google Review

Michael Hudson

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Stephanie Himel-Nelson for the past 4 years. Her knowledge and skills in the area of Estate Planning and Contract Law are unparalleled. On a personal level, Stephanie is warm, kin…Read Full Google Review

Patrick O'Hara

Jennifer Porter Law Can Help

If you don’t have a will or your will has not been reviewed or updated recently, it is a good idea to schedule a planning session. At Jennifer Porter Law, we can review existing documents to see if they still need your needs and current legal requirements.

We can also establish brand new plans to protect your interests during your lifetime and protect loved ones going forward. Contact us today to get started.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Let’s face it together – one conversation at a time.

Ms Nelson was extremely helpful in advising me and helping me with the paperwork that needs to occur when your child turns 18. She was very knowledgeable, thorough and efficient. I am very pleased and will be having h…Read Full Google Review

Trisha Jones

Stephanie Himel-Nelson at Jennifer Porter Law was very helpful when we needed some legal work done on the deed to our house. The process was easy, with quick results.…Read Full Google Review

Stephen Hock