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09 Jan, 2025 by Leslie rosas
19 Dec, 2024 by Sid alford
If you have anyone else representing you then you’re wrong. He actually cares and that’s a rare trait in people nowadays.
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18 Dec, 2024 by Catherine lazo
Stephen Pfeiffer was very upfront with outcomes so we could figure out what options we were working with. We greatly appreciate what you did for us at the end. Although we didn’t get the results we were wishing for we are aware there are always consequences to not abiding to the law. I can say he did great in helping us out as much as possible when it came to my husband’s situation.
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5.0
54 Reviews
13 Nov, 2024 by Anthony
This attorney new what he was talking about. He got right to the point. Most importantly, he knew what I was talking about and translate it to legal terms. That's something that I couldn't do had I been there alone.
Thanks to him. I strongly recommend him to anyone who needs representation.
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09 Nov, 2024 by Genesis
He’s just too good. He saved me from going to jail, I just wanna use this time to tell him thank you, I am a Christian so I will say God bless you sir.
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08 Nov, 2024 by Robert
Out standing court work, I really picked up what Mr. Greenside was putting down during my case. He's very professional, polite and easy to work with, should I ever need another lawyer he's definitely the only person I'm doing business with thanks again sir.
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05 Apr, 2023 by Justin robare
Frugal Legal Services should be the staple for how all parents are represented in custody cases. Ms. Burroughs worked hard and diligently on my case and set realistic expectations. My case had a ton of unrelated issues to custody and Ms. Burroughs was completely understanding and worked through our nearly 9 month case. Ms. Burroughs is a magical and enlightening person who gets results. I went from having no contact with my children to now everything is 50/50 and I get to see my sons every other week and have the assurance that no one should be able to change that. The only shame here is that I can only give Ms. Burroughs and Frugal Legal Services 5 stars because it doesn’t let you show off the absolute brilliance of the firm or Ms. Burroughs. Ms. Burroughs and Frugal Legal Services are the prime and top option of any family matters should anyone require those services. I will recommend them for my entire life because of the amazing work that was done.
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12 Jan, 2022 by Alphonce o
12 Sep, 2021 by Nathaniel
04 Feb, 2025 by Lee masterson
A privilege to work with. Professional and attentive to every detail.
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07 Jan, 2025 by O. l.
I'm an attorney, but not licensed to practice in Virginia. My father had recently passed and left some IRA certificates at a Federal Credit Union (FCU) in Virginia Beach without a designated beneficiary. This FCU refused to transfer ownership of the IRAs to his surviving spouse, i.e., my 90+ year old mother. Attorney L. Ashley Brooks explained to us and argued to the FCU that Virginia law supported my mother's ownership. With Counsel Brooks' excellent legal counsel and the helpful assistance of the paralegals and support staff at the Law Office of Angela N. Manz, my family was able to reach a successful outcome in our dispute with the FCU.
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06 Jan, 2025 by Sandra hudson
I highly recommend this law firm for your estate planning. The staff are professional and pays attention to detail.Pamela is great!
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16 Sep, 2023 by Anthony vargas jr
They took me by the hand and explain the process in detail and they actually gave you a game plan to follow throughout the whole process. Good job
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28 Jul, 2022 by Waverly phillips
12 Dec, 2020 by Freddie daniels
04 Feb, 2025 by Lee masterson
A privilege to work with. Professional and attentive to every detail.
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20 Jan, 2025 by Karin garrett
Very impressed with both the details, kindness and patience shown by all the staff towards my mom, specially Jonathan Hughes.
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07 Jan, 2025 by O. l.
I'm an attorney, but not licensed to practice in Virginia. My father had recently passed and left some IRA certificates at a Federal Credit Union (FCU) in Virginia Beach without a designated beneficiary. This FCU refused to transfer ownership of the IRAs to his surviving spouse, i.e., my 90+ year old mother. Attorney L. Ashley Brooks explained to us and argued to the FCU that Virginia law supported my mother's ownership. With Counsel Brooks' excellent legal counsel and the helpful assistance of the paralegals and support staff at the Law Office of Angela N. Manz, my family was able to reach a successful outcome in our dispute with the FCU.
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27 May, 2020 by Pam
I was referred to Brian Boys by a friend in the legal community. My experience with Brian was nothing but positive. He was very knowledgable and responsive to all of my needs promptly. I could not have asked for a better outcome. I would highly recommend Brian Boys to anyone that needs Estate Planning or matters related to Elder Law.
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11 May, 2019 by Juia
Mr. Boys was recommended to me by a high school friend whose husband is an attorney of long-standing in Norfolk. Mr. Boys had handled their estate needs and they were vastly impressed. I found him professional, kind, communicative, prepared, knowledgeable and on point. As my relative was ill and housebound, Mr. Boys made a house call to assess his needs and later dropped drafts off and returned for a will-signing at the nursing home. I can't say enough about Mr. Boys' lawyering skills, integrity and humanity. A consummate professional in every regard. I HIGHLY recommend him for any and all estate planning concerns. I will rest easier knowing that my loved one's estate was in Mr. Boys' capable hands.
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27 Oct, 2018 by Fred
After our retirement move to Norfolk, VA, which coincided with the sudden death of our longtime attorney in NY, we needed our wills, living wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, and such all redone, carefully but quickly. Brian came highly recommended to us, and after one confidence-inspiring consultation we hired him, breathed a sigh of relief, and counted our blessings to have been directed his way. Brian did an excellent job for us throughout a process that was at every timely step clear, comfortable, organized, and efficient. We will highly recommend him to others.
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30 May, 2020 by Anonymous
Powell has been our personal attorney for at least 25 years. I am a financial planner and understand the need to keep legal plans up to date. When I need to reach him, I get a response from him or his legal assistant in a timely fashion.
As our children grew and our situation became more complex, he kept our Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Medical Directives up to date. He has also done work for my adult children at my behest when they lived in North Carolina or Virginia. They have liked him and his work very much.
Some of my clients have chosen to use his services and they have learned that Powell works well with their other advisors.
He cares deeply about his clients and you cannot buy that attribute.
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14 Jan, 2025 by Wallace
I had Mrs. Lychelle and Nyah working on removing conditions on residence case and i am pretty sure i couldn’t find a better team to help me up!
Always answering questions and requesting documentation for a fast paced process! i got my 10 year green card a lot earlier than what i expected! highly recommend this law firm!
I was not just treated like a client, but also as a friend.
Lychelle and Nyah are a dream team that helped me when i needed the most.
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11 Oct, 2024 by Nana (laudmarcus)
Impeccable Service and dedication to see you through the journey of receiving your immigration benefit. Much appreciation from Nana and Janet.
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09 Oct, 2024 by Deisy
From the moment I met Lychelle she did everything to ensure I had everything I needed for my case and then some. She and her team went above and beyond for my case. She is the best lawyer I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.
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5.0
1 Reviews
4.6
28 Reviews
12 Jun, 2024 by Jared lesler
18 Feb, 2024 by Marcus wilson
Terrible law firm pray on HOA residents. Use someone else. Don’t use a firm that does work for HOA’s they are only in it for the money and not for your personal interest. All about the Benjamin’s with this firm
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14 May, 2023 by Matt knight
They were great. Handled my family's estate. Made it very easy and comfortable.
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09 Jan, 2025 by Leslie rosas
19 Dec, 2024 by Sid alford
If you have anyone else representing you then you’re wrong. He actually cares and that’s a rare trait in people nowadays.
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18 Dec, 2024 by Catherine lazo
Stephen Pfeiffer was very upfront with outcomes so we could figure out what options we were working with. We greatly appreciate what you did for us at the end. Although we didn’t get the results we were wishing for we are aware there are always consequences to not abiding to the law. I can say he did great in helping us out as much as possible when it came to my husband’s situation.
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07 Nov, 2024 by Anonymous
Amy Holland has always been very forthcoming with information I needed to handle any transaction that I was involved with. She is brilliant at her job and a definite go to person! She will explain every facet of your transaction. She is a pleasure to work with and very approachable.
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02 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
She was quick to respond, answered all my divorce questions and made it as smooth of a process as possible.
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18 Oct, 2022 by Anonymous
Amy Holland is simply the BEST!!! Words can not describe how grateful I am. Outstanding job.
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04 Sep, 2024 by Calvin
She is very professional very well trained, she is always willing to give me advice regarding my concerns.
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29 Oct, 2023 by Craig
My wife contacted Lindsay for some estate planning concerning her parents. Lindsay discovered that there was some discrepancy in the city records stating back decades. She and her team went above and beyond to find the source documents and square everything away for us. Thank you and well done.
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20 Oct, 2023 by Ann
I've had the opportunity to work with Lindsay and her team the last several years and they are top notch. I highly recommend Lindsay and her team at Hanger Law.
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26 Aug, 2020 by Gary
Sean did an excellent job explaining everything to my wife and me.
He did not rush us but went over everything in detail. Sean always answered my emails in a timely manner.
Would highly recommend Sean!
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25 Aug, 2020 by Wanda
Sean Reilly offered the most comprehensive explanation and guided us through each step. He responded immediately to our phone calls and email questions. He removed all the difficult and detailed tasks of estate planning and prepared a plan perfect for our needs. Thank you!
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14 Jul, 2020 by Anonymous
Sean is a precise and prepared professional. He reviewed my operating agreement, provide He answered all of my questions in a clear manner, provided advice about potential pitfalls and found solutions unique to my legal needs. I would highly recommend and trust Sean with any legal matter!!
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13 Apr, 2023 by Liz
Heath and his staff helped me obtain a loan modification. They made the very stressful situation easier by being helpful and available whenever needed. They took the time to be sure I understood everything that was happening and that I needed to do to get the modification done. They went above and beyond!
I highly recommend Heath and his team.
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30 Nov, 2021 by Ron
Attorney Thompson , and team was professional and courteous keeping us informed during each step of loan modification for our home saving us from foreclosure. His firm Knows how to deliver successful results. Thank You !!!!
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30 Jul, 2019 by Greg
We called Heath Thompson to save our house. We meet Mr. Thompson he told use he could help us and he did. Heath saved our house. Thank you so much. We are grateful.
Greg R
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08 Jul, 2020 by Nate
We used Hanger Law for our closing and couldn't have been happier with the experience. Our lender messed up some key name spellings on the closing documents and they were very quick to resolve the issue with almost no time lost. Great law firm with very friendly employees. I would highly recommend them for anyone who likes prompt and professional service.
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08 Jul, 2020 by Aurinel canelon
I'm so glad to have Mark during this process. This was my first purchase on real estate and his guidance made all this to go as smooth as possible. Thank you Mark and the firm for all this work!
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02 Jul, 2020 by Anonymous
Mark did a great job talking through the entire process with us. We loved working with him and his team. They did a great job. We look forward to working with them on our next home.
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02 May, 2024 by Carrie
Ian is very kind and thorough with explaining the closing process of my mom’s house. She’s 70. He went thru all the paperwork and explained everything. The staff are very kind and supportive. Definitely recommend Caplan law group and Ian.
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10 Apr, 2024 by Bonnie
My mom sold her house using a broker. The couple buying house hired Caplan Group. Ian explained everything thoroughly, was very patient as my mom signs slow (she's 89). Everyone we interacted with in practice was friendly & professional. We highly recommend Caplan Group.
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07 Mar, 2024 by Sharon
Ian was very helpful, professional & patient with us during the closing on our house.
The day after our settlement we had another question to ask Ian and he went out of his way to return our phone call and answer our question. I highly recommend Ian Cummings.
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06 Mar, 2023 by Tiffany
We had a great experience with Mr Kaptan, very personable, professional and proficient, will be using them again in the future
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06 Mar, 2023 by Tiffany
We had a great experience with Mr Kaptan, very personable, professional and proficient, will be using them again in the future
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01 Mar, 2022 by Ben & sonya parker
We came into an unfortunate situation with our tenants that John helped us to quickly resolve. He was very knowledgeable about the matter at hand and took all the necessary steps to ensure we were happy with the final outcome. He answered our questions quickly and kept us up to speed throughout process. Thanks for all your help, John!
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27 Dec, 2024 by Amber rodgers-bey
Samuel Small represented me and he handle the case very well and I was pleased with the outcome. Thank you so much Samuel :)
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03 Dec, 2024 by La yetter
Mr. Byler is a great man and a wonderful lawyer. He’s taking excellent care of my son’s lawsuit while making his health wellness and recovery a priority. My son suffered a brain injury during a car accident and Mr. BYLER is very mindful of how to speak with him and approach things so that he understands and doesn’t feel pressured.
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02 Dec, 2024 by Ashley ward
Mr small is AMAZING. He listened to me throughly and stayed in contact. Even with a full caseload he updated me frequently about my case. Hopefully I don’t need an attorney again but if I do he will be my first call.
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07 Jan, 2021 by Thomas
Often times we cringe at the thought of having to hire an attorney. Greg was a breath of fresh air to deal with. He was compassionate but very professional. I would very much recommend Greg as attorney worth hiring if you need legal consultation or representation. I would hire him again if I ever needed assistance in the Virginia Beach VA area again.
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07 Jan, 2021 by Gary
Mr. McCracken is the best all around lawyer that I have encountered in my 20 years in the Army and 20 years in the commercial arena. He is a lawyer who actually cares about his clients and their best interest. He is extremely professional, has extensive knowledge of the law, an excellent understanding of human nature, and an exceptional drive to accomplish the desired outcome. He is a lawyer that gets the job done.
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07 Jan, 2021 by Frank
Greg simply does everything he says he's going to do and then does it extremely well. If he says he's going to take care of it, it's taken care of.
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23 Jan, 2024 by Christian
John was the single best decision we could have made for our parents. His knowledge and expertise eliminated or solved potential problems before they could arise, saving us lots of money and heartbreak. We are truly thankful for his direction.
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03 Jan, 2017 by Anonymous
We hired Mr. Sawyer to assist with an estate gift that was left to our non-profit organization. Our organization is not located in Virginia so we had to seek counsel in another state. Mr. Sawyer was professional, courteous and prompt with replies and action. Most importantly, because we are a non-profit organization he was sensitive to cost vs. outcome. I would highly recommend Mr. Sawyer. We were very pleased with the outcome, the service and his scope of knowledge of the law.
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06 Aug, 2016 by Elizabeth
John Sawyer represented me in court to be a guardian and conservatorship of my parent. I meet with him in the Fall to get advice on the legal issues involved with caring for my parents and moving them from another state. Upon moving them, the situation turned into an emergency legal issue. Mr. Sawyer quickly took care of all the legal issues for me. I appreciated his wisdom and compassion through the process.
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11 May, 2017 by Kevin
Eric was professional and understanding to my situation. We had multiple States involved in my Divorce and he was able to advise me on the best way to resolve all issues. Thanks to Eric, I was able to complete the whole process and at a reasonable cost.
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26 Nov, 2016 by Philip
I retained Mr. Erik McCauley to help me with my divorce case. He was very meticulous and always thinking ahead and considered every angle. He thought about a lot of things I had not even considered . He got me a Great settlement -- Much better than I thought the outcome was going to be ! Fantastic Attorney -- Very Sharp ! I would Highly recommend him ! Philip- Va Beach , Va.
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28 Sep, 2016 by Heidi
I was already divorced when I hired Erik. My ex-husband was taking me to court to stop my alimony and to change custody that we already agreed on for our son. I'm so thankful I found Erik because the first attorney I hired was not at all what I expected; I had to ask to speak in court because that attorney wasn't answering questions the judge was asking. Erik was and is completely opposite; he fought for my rights and didn't leave a stone unturned. I might have a little issue with wanting to talk in court but Erik was good at keeping me calm and having me let him do what he is good at and what I hired him to do. He was ready and when I was completely thrown off guard by my ex asking the judge for full custody Erik was on it. I may have racked up attorney fees due to my ex appealing the judges decision about the alimony and going to court in front of the judge in July because my ex wouldn't settle with what Erik was proposing before court but Erik was on it. We won and I am so thankful for him. Thank you Erik; you are a great attorney, someone I trust and consider not just my attorney. I can't tell you enough how thankful I am for you. God Bless you for all you do.
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31 May, 2022 by Lynnette
We had a terrific experience with Victoria- she is knowledgeable, hardworking, organized, patient and professional. She listens to everything you say; discusses all the options; and is enthusiastic about explaining any and all estate planning concepts. The time we spent with Victoria was invaluable; we are very pleased with the documents she created and we will always be grateful to her and her staff for helping us with our estate planning needs. We couldn’t be happier with our choice and we look forward to continued contact through the years. She is a rare find.
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13 Jul, 2021 by Phil
My wife and I needed help with estate planning. We were introduced to Victoria and very happy we were. Her approach was to listen to our wishes and find the correct way to meet all of our needs. She thoughtfully explained all aspects to us so we were able to understand our options and make sound decisions. It was truly a pleasure to work with such a professional on something so important to us. We are so confident in her, we recently hired her for additional work for another family member. We highly recommend Victoria Bowling for all of your estate planning needs.
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18 Jun, 2021 by Taylor
Victoria was extremely professional, knowledgeable, thorough, and personable. She took the time to explain to us all the options and details of a trust as well as answered any questions we had. We left each meeting extremely satisfied and confident with her work. We would highly recommend Victoria to any of our friends or family.
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22 Jun, 2018 by Scott
Mr. Olansen navigated me through a difficult tax issue and got me a great outcome. I had a fair amount of success representing myself in visitation matters years before, but in the situation I faced with the government, I simply could not have done it without him. I endorse him unequivocally.
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07 Jul, 2013 by Harold
The case was one where a family trust was questionably liquidated by the trustees to the exclusion of some of the beneficiaries. Earlier, another attorney had advised us that the harm to trust's excluded beneficiaries was not actionable and would probably result in the beneficiary plaintiffs being disinherited. Legal research by Ms Zizzo, Rack & Olansen's litigation attorney, resulted in a lawsuit that eliminated the risk of disinheritance and the case was settled out of court with the wronged beneficiaries receiving six figure settlements.
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04 Jun, 2013 by Tom
Nate is personable and very professional. We appreciated his thoroughness, approachability, and the quality of his follow-through. Our discussions carefully reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of various trust considerations.
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21 Jul, 2021 by Jennifer
Mr. Wolcott successfully negotiated a lease termination I was a party to. He handled this case with professionalism and was diligent in resolving the case. More importantly, Mr. Gordon's discerning knowledge of real estate law was a catalyst toward achieving the desired case outcome.
I highly recommend Mr. Wolcott. His attention to detail, erudite knowledge of the law, and first class client service make him a trustworthy choice for legal representation.
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28 Apr, 2020 by Raechel
Mr. Wolcott and the Wolcott team were amazing at handling my car accident case. They helped me receive a fair claim and I couldn’t have asked for a better team on my side. They supported me through out the entire process and were always available to take my questions. They put 100% of effort in helping me close my case! Mr. Wolcott and his team are wonderful and I can’t thank them enough. This was my first accident I was involved in (not at fault) and Mr. Wolcott eased the process tremendously. He took away a lot of stress of trying to handle a claim with insurances alone and I cannot be more grateful for his assistance. I recommend Mr. Wolcott and the entire firm to everyone. You won’t regret hiring this team!
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23 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
After reaching an impasse with our business partners earlier this year, Attorney Wolcott was hired to represent our interest in a buy-out/separation agreement. After listening to the details surrounding our case, he provided initial insight into how best to proceed, then set realistic expectations for what to expect throughout the process. Attorney Wolcott went above and beyond to remain reachable throughout the process, provided quick follow ups for emails/phone calls, and delivered all necessary materials in a timely manner. We highly recommend Attorney Wolcott and the entire Wolcott/Rivers/Gates Law Firm to anyone in need of representation!
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12 Jan, 2020 by Cara
I had been putting off having my will done because I thought the process would be painful and tedious. Jeff made easy with his very thorough intake forms and was readily available to answer any and all questions very clearly. Thank you Jeff!
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30 Sep, 2019 by William
My Lawyer was very efficient and competent explained everything
to my satisfaction
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15 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
I asked a simple question on the possible ethical misconduct by a probate attorney based on his actions/guidance with the estate Executor on a now closed probate in Destrehan, LA; no local attorney responded ... kudos for Mr. Sodoma on his response.
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28 Aug, 2017 by Christian
Kendra is a wonderful lawyer. Moments like this in life can cause so much worry and stress. However, Kendra brought such a peace into the situation. She had my best interest at heart, and made sure that we won. I would definitely use her again!
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28 Aug, 2017 by Anonymous
I was facing some pretty serious criminal charges of felony possession of a sawed off shotgun that I confiscated from some youths. Thanks to Kendra Johnson not only am I free my Record survives without a blemish.
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26 May, 2015 by Jen
Deborah handled my divorce and she was extremely knowledgeable of Virginia law and kept me informed of what to expect every step of the way. In a world where people seem to forget how personal and important legal matters are to the individuals affected, Deborah treated my case as though it was just as important to her as it is to me. She never lost sight that this was a major event in my life and the importance of her role as my attorney. She is the perfect balance of compassion, intelligence, and no nonsense. I would recommend her to anyone looking to have someone who went into this business because they care about the people they represent.
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04 Dec, 2015 by Pam
My husband and I met with Joshua Coe and Stewart Gill regarding a family matter. They were quick to help, professional and maintained great communication. We could not be more pleased with the service that we received. I would HIGHLY recommend using East Coast Trial Lawyers for any and all of your legal needs.
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08 Mar, 2017 by Kelly
Both my husband and myself have used Mr. Whittemore's services over the years. I cannot say enough about how pleased we were with the results! The thing that I valued most was Mr. Whittemore's sense of compassion and his genuine concern for us. He was always there for us during a very emotional and stressful time and always promptly responded to calls and emails. He never seemed bothered by my incessant questions or my emotional responses to things that were going on. In fact, he helped me to remain calm and take things step by step. He was always very frank and open with us and I always felt like I could count on him. I would never use anyone else!
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Estate Planning Lawyer Can Do for You
An estate planning lawyer helps individuals plan for the management and distribution of their assets after death or during incapacitation. Their services involve drafting important legal documents, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Estate planning attorneys work to ensure that your assets are transferred according to your wishes, minimize tax liabilities, and avoid probate court. They also help clients plan for potential long-term care needs and protect their estate from being diminished by healthcare costs.
By working with an estate planning lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be cared for and that your estate will be managed efficiently and according to your desires.
When Should I Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer?
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is beneficial in many situations, especially when you want to ensure that your assets are handled properly after death. Common reasons to hire an estate planning lawyer include:
- Drafting a will: If you want to clearly define how your assets will be distributed after death, an attorney can draft a legally sound will.
- Creating a trust: For those looking to avoid probate or provide for loved ones over time, setting up a trust can help manage the distribution of assets.
- Planning for incapacity: An estate lawyer can help draft powers of attorney and healthcare directives so that your financial and medical decisions are made by someone you trust if you become incapacitated.
- Minimizing estate taxes: If your estate is large, a lawyer can help create strategies to reduce or eliminate federal and state estate taxes.
- Special circumstances: If you have minor children, blended families, or complex assets like businesses, an estate planning lawyer can create tailored solutions.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: If you want to designate guardians for minor children or ensure proper care for incapacitated adults, an attorney can help.
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is especially important if your estate is complex or if you want to ensure that your wishes are properly followed.
What Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Do?
An estate planning lawyer provides a range of services designed to help you organize your affairs and ensure your estate is managed according to your wishes. They can:
- Draft wills and trusts: Creating legally binding documents that dictate how your assets will be distributed and managed.
- Create powers of attorney and healthcare directives: Appointing someone to make financial or medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
- Minimize taxes: Developing strategies to reduce estate taxes, gift taxes, and other financial liabilities for your heirs.
- Help avoid probate: Structuring your estate plan to avoid probate, which can save time and money for your beneficiaries.
- Advise on long-term care planning: Helping you plan for potential healthcare needs in the future, including Medicaid planning and protecting assets from being depleted by nursing home costs.
- Assist with beneficiary designations: Ensuring that life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other financial instruments are correctly designated.
- Handle probate and estate administration: If a loved one has passed away, an estate planning lawyer can help guide you through the probate process or act as an executor.
How Are Estate Planning Lawyers Paid?
Estate planning lawyers typically charge for their services in one of several ways, depending on the complexity of your estate and the type of services you need. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many estate planning services, such as drafting a will or trust, are charged on a flat-fee basis. The fee covers all work related to preparing the document.
- Hourly rate: For more complex planning, such as estate tax strategy or trust administration, lawyers may charge by the hour. Rates vary based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: Some lawyers require a retainer for more complex cases, such as ongoing trust management or estate administration. The retainer is an upfront payment that covers future legal services.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront to avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an estate planning lawyer depends on the complexity of your estate and the services you require. Here are some general guidelines:
- Simple wills or powers of attorney: A straightforward will or power of attorney may cost between $300 and $1,500, depending on your location and the lawyer’s experience.
- Trust creation: Establishing a trust, such as a living trust or revocable trust, can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your assets and estate planning needs.
- Comprehensive estate planning packages: Some lawyers offer packages that include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, which may range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the estate’s complexity.
- Hourly rates: For ongoing services like estate administration or tax planning, lawyers may charge hourly rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience.
Always get a clear estimate of costs during your initial consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask an Estate Planning Lawyer
Before hiring an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to ask questions to ensure they are the right fit for your needs. Here are key questions to ask during your consultation:
-
What is your experience with estate planning?
Ensure the lawyer has substantial experience drafting wills, creating trusts, and handling other estate planning services. -
How will you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or by the hour and ask for a detailed estimate of costs. -
What strategies do you recommend for my estate?
A good lawyer should be able to explain the best strategies for minimizing taxes, avoiding probate, and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. -
How often should I update my estate plan?
Ask how frequently you should revisit your estate plan, especially if your financial situation or family dynamics change. -
Do you offer ongoing support or updates?
Some lawyers provide periodic reviews or updates to ensure your estate plan stays current with changes in your circumstances or the law. -
How will you help my beneficiaries if something happens to me?
Ensure the lawyer is willing to guide your heirs through the estate administration process or help manage your trust after you’re gone.
How to Check the Credibility of an Estate Planning Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a credible estate planning lawyer, follow these steps:
- Verify their state bar license: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing, with no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for estate planning certifications: Some lawyers are certified as estate planning specialists, which indicates they have extensive knowledge in this area of law.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Online reviews on sites like Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell can provide insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and client satisfaction.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from previous clients who can speak to their expertise and client service.
- Check for membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of organizations like the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) or the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) often have a strong reputation in the field.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first meeting with an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:
- List of assets and liabilities: Provide a detailed inventory of your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, retirement funds, investments, and personal property, as well as any debts you may have.
- List of beneficiaries: Be ready to discuss who you want to receive your assets and in what proportions. This includes naming guardians for minor children if applicable.
- Existing estate documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other relevant estate planning documents.
- Questions about your estate goals: Write down your goals, such as avoiding probate, reducing taxes, or setting up charitable donations, so your lawyer can tailor a plan to meet your needs.
- Information on medical and financial decision-makers: Be prepared to discuss who you want to appoint for healthcare and financial decisions if you become incapacitated.
By being well-prepared, you can ensure a productive consultation and begin building a comprehensive estate plan that meets your needs and protects your loved ones.
