COMPREHENSIVE WILLS & TRUSTS
Every family’s needs are different, so we build customized plans with close, personal guidance — helping you navigate the difficult moments that can arise during illness or after a death. Properly structured wills and trusts, backed by sound planning, can also help minimize the tax burden on your beneficiaries.
Services:
• Wills and testament preparation
• Living wills and advance directives
• Revocable and irrevocable trusts
• Powers of attorney (financial and healthcare)
• Advance medical directives
• Tax planning strategies
COMMON ESTATE PLANNING QUESTIONS
Do I need a will, a trust, or both?
A will directs who receives your assets and names a guardian for minor children, but it passes through probate. A trust can avoid probate, keep matters private, and manage assets if you become incapacitated. Many families benefit from both — we help you decide what fits your situation.
What happens if I die without a will in Virginia?
You’re said to die “intestate,” and Virginia’s laws — not you — decide who inherits (Va. Code § 64.2-200 and following). That default may not match your wishes, and it can leave your family with added cost and delay. A valid will keeps those decisions yours.
What is a power of attorney, and why do I need one?
It lets someone you trust manage your finances or make medical decisions if you can’t. Without one, your family may have to petition a court for guardianship or conservatorship — a slow, public, and costly process that a simple document can prevent.
What is an advance medical directive?
Often called a living will, it records your wishes for medical care and names someone to make healthcare decisions if you’re unable to (Va. Code § 54.1-2981 and following). It spares your loved ones from having to guess during a crisis.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review it after major life changes — marriage, divorce, a birth, a death, or a significant change in assets — and every few years otherwise. An out-of-date plan can be as hard on your family as no plan at all.
TRUSTED ATTORNEYS
IN HAMPTON ROADS
Helping families across Hampton Roads secure their futures is a priority for us. Whether you need a living will, protective trusts, or a comprehensive plan, we work closely with each client — with the compassion and discretion these sensitive family matters deserve — to ensure lasting stability and peace of mind.
CONTACT DECKER’S ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS
Planning for the future is one of the most caring things you can do for the people you love. The attorneys of Decker Law will help you put the right protections in place — with the compassion and discretion these decisions deserve — so your family has clarity when it matters most. Reach us by text, chat, phone, or email, or call right now at 757-622-3317.