In firm news, the Norton Pelt team is very excited to announce that we won the Best Law Firm Category in the 2023 Best of the Burg contest!   We'd like to extend a big thank you to our community for all of your support - this couldn't have been achieved without you. We look forward to continuing to provide excellent legal services to Fredericksburg and the Commonwealth.

Trust & Estates

Planning for Your Future & The Future of Your Loved Ones

We are often asked when the best time to start estate planning is. In most situations, we answer by saying that the best time to start estate planning is 25 years ago, but the second-best time is right now. The earlier you can start your estate plan, the more options you have available.

As you progress through your life you will need to make sure you keep your estate plan updated so that it reflects your current situation. Norton Pelt can help you create a basic estate plan if you are just starting out in your career, or work on something more comprehensive for those who are further along in life. No matter what type of estate plan you need today, we will help you to understand the most important aspects of this process, such as these:

  • Wills & Trusts – Wills and trusts are the two types of legal documents used to express your wishes regarding what will happen to your assets after you are gone.
  • Special Needs Trusts – A special needs trust is set up to make sure your assets are used to provide for the needs of your special needs child (or other loved one).
  • Powers of Attorney – Granting someone Powers of Attorney will allow them to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf.
  • Advance Medical Directives – An advance medical directive allows you to identify what type of medical care you want in various situations.
  • Guardianship and Conservatorship – Establishing a guardianship or conservatorship for adult children or aging parents, or guardianship for the estate of a minor for a child, can help ensure your loved ones are taken care of properly.
  • Probate – Many estates have to be formally administered under the supervision of the court (unless they are exempt due to certain estate planning strategies). If you have to qualify as executor or administrator of the estate of a loved one, or you want to keep your estate out of probate, we can help.

Now Is the Time to Start Planning

If you need to start a new estate plan, or get an existing one updated, we are here to help. Our estate planning services are tailored specifically to your exact needs so you can get the desired results while reducing the burden on your loved ones. To get started, please contact us to schedule a consultation today.