Wills, Trusts & Estates

The intersection of wealth and family presents myriad legal issues which require considerable knowledge of the law, planning, and sensitivity. A lack of proper planning threatens individuals and families with disruptive family discord, excessive probate and administration expenses, as well as unnecessary taxation and lawsuits.

Ranked regionally and nationally by U.S. News – Law Firms, Blankingship and Keith assists individuals with planning for all sizes of estates including large, complicated estates involving business interests and other substantial assets. We draft simple and complex wills and a variety of trusts to meet the needs of the client. We advise clients of various techniques which can be employed to reduce tax liabilities, including marital deduction planning, the use of credit shelter trusts, marital trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts and family limited liability companies. Practice group attorneys are also recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Virginia Business Magazine Legal Elite.

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We also assist clients in estate administration and probate matters by assisting with qualification of executors, filing of inventories and accountings with the Commissioner of Accounts, and occasionally by serving as fiduciary. We are there to serve as a resource to advise our clients who are serving as fiduciaries and to provide as little or as much help as the situation requires.

In addition to our planning and drafting capabilities, our attorneys in this area are well known for ably representing our estate and trust clients when litigation becomes necessary to resolve disputes.

Practice Recognition

U.S. News - Best Law Firms

National Rankings

  • Trusts & Estates Law (Tier 2)

 

Regional Rankings - Washington, DC

  • Litigation - Trusts & Estates (Tier 1)
  • Trusts & Estates Law (Tier 1)