Do you need to create a will or living trust, but keep putting it off?
Our simple and convenient process will give you the peace of mind that comes with having a comprehensive estate plan put in place with an experienced attorney to finally ensure your affairs are in order and your family is protected.
We Make Creating Your
Virginia Estate Plan
Simple and Convenient
In our initial 60 minute phone consultation, we will:
1.
Answer all of your questions and discuss your goals, concerns and objectives.
2.
We will map out your options including the advantages of a will versus trust, so that you can make educated and informed decisions about what is best for your family.
3.
We will discuss our process, and our flat fee pricing so you will know the full cost for planning up front and timeframe for completion.
At the end of our initial meeting you will leave with a clear picture of what you need (and don't need) to protect your family and finances.
Experience that Clients Trust
"Such a wonderful experience working with Chris. He was knowledgeable, responsive and professional. I would highly recommend this firm. Chris made the transaction easy by accommodating us with a more convenient satellite office."
T. Hockman
"Chris is knowledgeable and professional. He listened carefully, patiently explained somewhat complex issues in plain and understandable language, and offered several alternatives that could satisfy my needs—even some alternatives that would not involve him. There was no “hard sell” and no pressure, just useful and helpful information. The entire experience was very positive."
E. Bryant
"The initial meeting with Chris was professional yet relaxed as he took the time to answer our questions and asked follow up questions to make sure he understood our situation. All communications with the firm were timely and professional. It was a good experience to deal with a law firm in a relaxed manner."
J. Rickey
Schedule Your Free Peace of Mind Planning Session
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How Does the Process Work?We have an easy, 3-step process designed to have your trust and other estate planning documents created and signed in as quickly as 3-4 weeks: 1. The first step is to attend your Consultation. You’ll fill out a secure online questionnaire (“Family Profile”) before we meet so we can make the best use of our time together. At this session, you’ll learn all about your options and our flat fees. When you are ready to move forward, we’ll email you an engagement letter and invoice, both of which can be executed online. 2. Next is your Estate Plan Design Meeting. We’ll roll up our sleeves and design your trust and other estate planning documents, working off the information you provided in your Family Profile. After this session, I’ll draft your documents, and send a copy for your review about two weeks later. We’ll then make any changes or updates you’d like to make. When everything is good to go, we’ll coordinate an in-person Signing Ceremony. 3. Your Signing is where you’ll sign your documents with the proper legal formalities, in front of two witnesses and a notary. We can have this session at our office or your home. Following execution of the documents, we are available for consultations regarding changes to your estate plan.
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I just need a will, right?Certainly a will can be a good thing to have. However, there may be additional aspects to creating a great estate plan that go beyond a will. Consider incapacity planning. A will only becomes effective once the person making it passes away. There can be other circumstances where the maker is incapacitated due to illness or age, where you may need assistance managing your affairs. In such circumstances it can be important to make arrangements for the following, which would not be addressed in a will: - Who will pay your bills while you are incapacitated? - Who will be authorized to make healthcare decisions for you? - What kind of healthcare treatment do you want / not want authorized? - What about assets that pass outside of probate / a will? There are a number of other complexities involved in estate planning that may not be best addressed by off-the-shelf solutions. There can special concerns for parents of minor children. Additionally we can have issues with special needs recipients, or Medicaid and tax issues. These are just a few examples of some of the complexities that can come up. Because of this, working with an experienced attorney is always advisable.
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What can I expect from my Consultation?This is your chance to sit down with an experienced attorney who will listen without interrupting and makes sure you fully understand your options before making any decisions! I wouldn’t be doing my job as an attorney otherwise. It’s very important to me that you feel heard and have your questions answered. We’ll also review our process, flat fees, and overall client experience so you know exactly what you are getting and what you can expect beforehand.
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How much does it cost?We are not offering off-the-shelf, stock solutions. Each estate plan that we create for our clients is custom tailored to the specific needs of each client and his or her family. Our Peace of Mind Planning Session is designed to sit down, learn what those needs are - and develop a solution to address all of your estate planning needs. During this session, we will also provide you with a single, flat fee - no hourly billing. Our goal is to provide you with an estate plan that you can trust and which is well below this average. Our goal is to provide clients with a solid, attorney-created plan that is affordable. During our Peace of Mind Planning Session, we will show you how the fees that you spend on your plan now can be less than what you can spend without our planning.
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What is Christopher Mays' professional background?Chris received his BS from Virginia Tech and JD from the George Washington University Law School. He has been an attorney in private practice in Northern Virginia for over 18 years. Chris has received various awards for his work as an attorney, including recognition as a "Top Lawyer" by Northern Virginia Magazine and Super Lawyers. Chris has also received Avvo's highest rating for attorneys and the Martindale Client Service Award for client satisfaction. Chris has also lectured at Continuing Legal Education seminars for the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and local bar associations in Northern Virginia. He has also written for the Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and co-authored written materials for Virginia CLE (Continuing Legal Education). Chris received his BS from Virginia Tech and JD from the George Washington University Law School. Chris is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is admitted to practice before the Virginia Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Can you tell us more about your experience and practice?Chris handles a number of legal issues related to the administration of estates. He regularly represents clients in proceedings related to guardianship and conservatorship. These are court proceedings where a judge appoints a person to manage the health care and finances of individuals who have been declared legally incapacitated. As part of his practice, Chris regularly helps clients obtain guardianship and conservatorship of loved ones. In addition, Chris also serves as guardian and conservator for individuals, himself. Chris also serves as a fiduciary as both trustee and executor or administrator of estates and handles estate litigation matters (contested legal disputes regarding estates). By bringing his wide-ranging experience with estate matters to the planning process, Chris is able to give clients experienced input into the best practices necessary to create a plan that they can trust to serve their families well into the future.
Award Winning Experience
PLC
Mailing Address
5680 King Centre Drive, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22315
Client Meeting Locations
Alexandria: 5680 King Centre Drive, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22315
Manassas: 10432 Balls Ford Road, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22315
Vienna: 8300 Boone Boulevard, Suite 500, Vienna, VA 22182
Phone
(703) 249-9007