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2024

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Best Probate Lawyers in Washington DC

Our Recommended Top 18

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Washington DC Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

143Reviewed

93Curated

18Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

717 D Street, NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (11)
Google
5.0 (9)
Yelp
4.5 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Apex Legal Services, PLLC, handles the probate cases of clients in Washington, D.C. It caters to individuals who wish to designate the beneficiaries of their estates if they face an unexpected death through wills and powers of attorneys. It also represents guardians, personal representatives, conservators, petitioners, and claimants in probate courts. The law firm's principal attorney, Andrellos Mitchell, has been practicing law since the 1990s. He also handles employment, family, and criminal law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Andrellos Mitchell - PrincipalActive13 yrs

1725 Desales St NW Ste 600, Washington, DC 20036
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (159)
Yelp
4.0 (37)
Facebook
5.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Antonoplos & Associates is a legal firm in Washington, helping clients navigate the District of Columbia probate administration and District of Columbia probate litigation process. The firm assists clients in understanding the complex issues involved in probating an estate, including securing the decedent's assets and paying off the estate's debts and taxes. The attorneys also handle cases involving personal injury, family law, construction law, estate planning, and trust administration and litigation.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Peter Antonoplos - Managing PartnerActive20 yrs

1050 Connecticut Ave NW Ste 500, Washington, DC 20036

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.3 (12)
Google
4.5 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Altman & Associates is a law firm based in Washington that mainly focuses on probate and estate planning. Its attorneys guide clients, including executors, administrators, and trustees, through the probate process, helping to resolve such issues as property appraisals, contested wills, and estate debts and owed taxes. The firm also helps in cases involving business succession planning, tax planning, and asset protection. Founder Gary Altman has been practicing law since 1980 and has several top awards to his name.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Gary Altman - Founder/PrincipalActive44 yrs

2 Wisconsin Circle, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (7)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Profit Law Firm is a Washington, DC-based team of probate attorneys. It offers advice to clients going through estate management and probate processes following the loss of a family member. Enlisting the guidance of executors and personal representatives, the firm sees to it that the intents of the deceased are executed should they lack a will or a revocable living trust. Its services include creating inventories of assets, creating valuations for unusual properties, calculating inheritance tax, and handling court filings.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michelle Profit - Founder and PrincipalActive31 yrs

4201 Northview Drive, Bowie, MD 20716
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (11)
Facebook
5.0 (7)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Adams Law Office, LLC, serves communities in Washington DC and surrounding areas with specialties in wills, trusts, and probate law. The firm was founded by attorney Suren Adams over 17 years ago and has committed to helping clients get their finances in order. Adams and her team of lawyers represent clients going through estate planning and the probate process. Additionally, Adams Law Office represents clients in cases involving bankruptcy, credit repair, business formation, and real estate.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Suren Adams - FounderActive22 yrs

8601 Georgia Ave Ste 206, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (44)

Why choose this provider?

Andalman & Flynn PC is a law firm in Silver Spring offering legal services to estate executors and administrators working through the probate process. The attorneys leverage their extensive experience to represent all parties in contested estates, trusts and probate matters, including beneficiaries and heirs. The firm can help in resolving disputes that often arise in the administration of a trust or a probate estate, especially when family conflicts or substantial amounts of money are involved.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Elliott Andalman - Principal/Founding PartnerActive36 yrs

1717 K Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (26)
Avvo
4.8 (10)
Facebook
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Garner Law PLLC caters to individuals and families in Washington DC. It handles estate planning matters, including a living will, last will, irrevocable or revocable trust, and power of attorney. It helps clients in choosing estate plans that match their family dynamics and other personal circumstances. Founding attorney Keisha Garner started her legal career serving the federal government as an attorney of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and Board of Veteran’s Appeals. She focuses her expertise on civil litigation, estate planning, and family law.

  • Adoption

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Keisha Garner - Founder and Managing MemberActive12 yrs

1775 I St NW Ste 1150, Washington, DC 20006

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Farr Law Firm is a law firm in Washington that helps clients in a range of issues relating to probate and estate planning. It guides clients, including executors and administers of the decedent's estate in filing a report at the probate court, finding and securing all of the decedent's assets, and determining if any debts and taxes are owed. It also assists with getting the property appraised and oversees the passing over of the estate to heirs or beneficiaries.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Evan Farr - FounderActive36 yrs

1775 Eye Street Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20006

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (8)
Facebook
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Thorn Law Group is a private practice that offers legal advice around the probate and administration of a deceased loved one’s estate. Serving Washington, D.C., and the nearby communities, it handles probate issues involving will contests, trust litigation, unpaid tax liabilities, guardianship and conservatorship, and accounting disputes. Additionally, the firm assists with estate planning to help protect clients’ assets for future distribution. Managing Partner Kevin E. Thorn is a frequent speaker on tax law and government procedure matters for the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Kevin Thorn - Managing PartnerActive15 yrs

2233 Wisconsin Ave, NW Suite 400, Washington, DC 20007

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Birchstone Moore LLC is a boutique law firm that provides probate services in Washington, D.C. The firm assists estate administrators and bereaved families through the probate process, from inventory and accounting to asset distribution. As part of its commitment to helping others, it donates a portion of its profits every year to charitable organizations selected by its employees and partners. Sarah Moore Johnson, one of the firm's founders, is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Taxes

8403 Colesville Rd #1100, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (11)

Why choose this provider?

Wills and Trusts LLC offers counsel to Washington DC residents who have probate law issues. It is helmed by Ethel Mitchell, who has more than 20 years of legal experience and is licensed to practice law in three states in the union plus the Republic of Ghana. Her time is exclusively devoted to inheritance law matters. She works on cases pertaining to estate planning, wills, and trusts. The lawyer hosts the show "Law Talk With Ethel Mitchell" and has given speeches for the Randallstown Police Association.

  • Wills

1200 18th St NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (47)
Facebook
5.0 (2)
Avvo
4.5 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Lopez Law Firm PLLC provides legal assistance for individuals and families in Washington DC. Included in its services is estate planning, which covers divorced clients, high-net-worth individuals, and parents with special needs children. The firm handles different estate planning documents such as trusts, wills, and powers of attorney. Lopez Law Firm primarily handles family law matters such as divorce, asset division, and child custody. It is headed by Carlos Lopez, who offers pro bono legal services through the nonprofit organizations Assisting Children in Need.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Carlos Lopez - PrincipalActive9 yrs

1330 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Suite 111, Washington, DC 20036

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (9)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Irena Karpinski offer legal guidance and representation in matters of probate law to the locals of Washington, D.C. It provides preparation services for documents such as durable power of attorney, living will, health care proxy, and will. It also handles immigration law cases that concern immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and family law which covers divorce, alimony, and child custody and visitation. Managing attorney Irena Karpinski has been practicing law for over 35 years. She speaks French, Polish, and French.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Irena Karpinski - Managing AttorneyActive48 yrs

1250 Connecticut Avenue Northwest Suite 7, Washington, DC 20036

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

The Iwashko Law Firm provides legal guidance in handling probate matters in Washington DC and the surrounding areas. It assists individuals in customizing detailed living trusts and wills. It also acts on behalf of clients, through power of attorney, in distributing assets to beneficiaries. Lev Ivan Gabriel Iwashko, the founder, is fluent in Ukrainian, Spanish, and Russian languages. He is a patent attorney who has a decade of experience in intellectual property law. Other practice areas include business law, immigration, and civil litigation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Lev ivan Iwashko - Founder and PrincipalActive8 yrs

1025 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 1012, Washington, DC 20036
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Probate Law Offices of George A. Teitelbaum provides services to clients across the Washington DC metro and the surrounding communities. It represents personal representatives needing legal assistance to handle probate procedures and distribute a decedent's assets. It also guides clients in creating estate planning documents, including wills and trusts. Founding attorney George Teitelbaum has been practicing law for more than 39 years. Teitelbaum also volunteers for the Legal Counsel for the Elderly. He is also admitted to practice in Maryland.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (11)
Facebook
5.0 (1)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Pleasant S. Brodnax, III, serves clients in Washington, D.C. The firm handles a variety of legal matters, including estate planning. Founding attorney Pleasant Brodnax works with clients to devise an estate plan that suits their individual situations and addresses their concerns. He also drafts wills, prepares powers of attorney, and plans guardianships and medical directives. Brodnax is a former Virginia Assistant Attorney General with over 30 years of courtroom experience. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Pleasant Brodnax - PrincipalActive36 yrs

700 12th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Jayde Law PLLC operates three offices in the country, and one is in Washington, D.C. It serves clients seeking legal assistance on probate and estate administration. It counsels trustees on administering trusts and company owners on business succession planning. Driven by its mission to guide individuals toward their estate planning goals, Jayde Law helps create tax-efficient estate plans. The firm's principal, James D. Saintvil, owned an income tax preparation firm prior to studying law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
James Saintvil - PrincipalActive7 yrs

1 Thomas Circle NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Prime Estate Planning is a law firm that offers assistance to clients in probate proceedings in the Washington, D.C. area. It handles various aspects of probate, including the appointment of an estate executor, inventory and appraisal of assets, payment of the decedent's debts and taxes, and distribution of estate assets. In addition, it provides services involving estate planning and trust administration. Lead attorney Scott Sweitzer authored and published the book, "Wear Clean Underwear: A Fast, Fun, Friendly – and Essential – Guide to Legal Planning for Busy Families."

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Scott Sweitzer - PresidentActive12 yrs

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Washington DC?

    Non-emergency matters in Washington, DC, can be reported to the Metropolitan Police Department by dialing 311.

  • Who can be appointed as an executor of an estate in Washington, DC?

    In Washington, executors are appointed by the decedents in their last will and testament. The court can only designate a personal representative when the deceased failed to complete their estate planning documents. If their next of kin wants to be appointed as an executor, they only need to file a petition and wait for approval from the court.

  • What is the duration of a probate process in Washington, DC?

    The duration of a probate process in Washington, DC, is based on the complexity of the estates being handled in court. In the state, most probate cases following formal administration procedures often last for a year. There are exceptions, however, with other probate cases taking up to 18 months before completion.

  • Is it possible to avoid a lengthy probate process in Washington, DC?

    Yes. You can avoid going through a lengthy probate process by using estate planning techniques and beneficiary designation strategies. In Washington, DC, you can simplify asset administration procedures by drafting a will or trust document. You can also transfer the ownership of real estate properties or bank accounts to your beneficiaries.

  • Can a will be challenged in Washington, DC?

    Yes. A will can be challenged in Washington, DC, as long as the contestant can provide a valid reason for doing so. The state courts only accept will-contest petitions involving reasonable factors, like outdated estate planning documents, undue influence, and the decedent's lack of mental capacity when the document was signed.

  • How can a lawyer help with your probate case in Washington, DC?

    Since probate cases can get complicated, it is better to hire a Washington-based lawyer who can guide you through each step of the estate administration procedure. Probate lawyers can help clients draft will documents, review creditor claims, and notify beneficiaries. They also work with financial advisers and accountants to resolve complex probate issues when needed.