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2024

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Best Estate Planning Lawyers in Washington DC

Our Recommended Top 14

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

157Reviewed

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14Top Picks

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Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

1725 Desales Street, N.W. Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (37)
Google
5.0 (26)
Avvo
4.6 (21)

Why choose this provider?

Antonoplos & Associates, Attorneys At Law, responds to the estate planning and inheritance concerns of individuals in Washington, D.C. The firm organizes assets and sets up trusts and processes to facilitate the smooth transfer of properties upon death. It makes simple and complex last wills and testaments matched with powers of attorney to prevent hassles among the heirs. Construction and business-related issues are also covered. Antonoplos & Associates has amassed over 400 clients and more than 500 cases in D.C.'s superior courts.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Power of Attorney
  • Probate

Washingto, DC

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Need help contacting a Estate Planning Attorney in Washingto? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.

Rockville, MD 20852

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Altman & Associates is a premier law firm in Rockville, DC that was founded in 1996 with a commitment to providing legal excellence. Their attorneys have years of experience practicing many areas of law including strategic estate planning, business and legacy planning, and finance law. Services provided by Altman & Associates include estate and fiduciary litigation, trust and probate administration, elder law, asset protection, tax planning, retirement and pre-marital planning, wills, trusts, and international estate planning.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Gary Altman - Founder/PrincipalActive44 yrs

1775 I St NW Ste 1150, Washington, DC 20006

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (25)
Facebook
5.0 (21)
Yelp
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Farr Law Firm counsels and represents clients in the Washington D.C. metro and the surrounding communities. It offers estate planning services for parents with young or disabled children. It also mediates premarital contracts with couples entering a second or subsequent marriage and helps them develop their estate plans. The firm's practice areas are elder law and Social Security Disability. Evan H. Farr, the founding attorney, is a member of the NAELA Council of Advanced Practitioners.

Eleff Law Group logo

Eleff Law Group

7315 Wisconsin Ave Ste 400, Bethesda, MD 20814

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (94)
Yelp
4.5 (13)

Why choose this provider?

The Eleff Law Group is a transactional law firm serving people and entities in Washington, D.C., and the nearby communities in Maryland and northern Virginia. Founding attorney Susan Eleff has been practicing law for over 40 years, and handles commercial real estate matters as well as business organizational and financial transactions. Additionally, she has a very active estates and trust practice, drafting estate planning documents and guiding clients through simple as well as complex probate matters. She is a member in good standing of the bars of DC, MD, VA, PA, NJ and IL. Ms. Eleff holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has received hundreds of 5-star client reviews on Google and Avvo.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Susan Eleff - PrincipalActive37 yrs
Susan Eleff - PrincipalActive8 yrs

Bethesda, MD 20814

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Profit Law Firm was founded by law attorney Michelle Profit in Bethesda, DC. She has more than 20 years of legal experience, and she has received formal educating from Harvard Law. Her firm practices many areas of law such as estate planning, pet trusts, pre-marital planning and prenuptial agreements, business succession planning, asset protection, and charitable planning. Profit Law Firm has many positive testimonials online that speak to their level pf professionalism, how well there are in the court room, and how approachable they are as people.

Falls Church, VA 22046

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.3 (6)
Google
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of John L. Laster is a premier law firm located in Falls Church, DC. Owner and attorney, John L. Laster has many years of experience, and has maintained a genuine dedication to the quality representation of his clients since his firms founding many years ago. His firm provides many services including estate planning, estate and trust administration, elder law, and special needs planning. Law Offices of John L. Laster has many articles of useful information on their website pertaining to the estate planning process, specifics about revocable trusts, why to plan probates, and what probate all involves.

Spencerville, MD 20868

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (12)
FindLaw
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Simpson Law, P.A. was founded in Spencerville, DC in 2003 by attorney Suzanne B. Simpson. She and her team of lawyers and counselors strive to ensure that their clients get the best result out of their court proceedings, and that they get the most professional representation. Her company provides many services in the area of estate law including wills, living wills, power of attorney, trusts, special needs trusts, trust administrations, emergency planning, probate, fiduciary services, pre-marital agreements, and business succession planning.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Suzanne Simpson - PrincipalActive31 yrs

Bethesda, MD 20814

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Furey Doolan & Abell LLP was founded back in 1975 in Bethesda, DC as a way to provide the community with proper legal representation and consultation. Since their founding, they have grown into one of the most respected firms in the area, and they have proven themselves as a reliable firm that can handle themselves in and out of the courtroom. Furey Doolan & Abell LLP provides many services to their clients including estates and trust planning, corporate law, government relations, real estate, employment law, family law, and litigation.

North Bethesda, MD 20852

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Wallace Law, LLC is a premier law firm located in North Bethesda that was created to protect the families and businesses that their clients have built. Their attorneys have a dedication to doing everything in their power to get their clients the best results possible from their court proceedings, and to provide them with superior representation. Wallace Law, LLC practices many areas of law such as Estate Planning, Probate, and business law. They provide many services within those areas including last wills and testaments, business succession planning, revocable and irrevocable trusts, general financial powers of attorney, and advanced medical directives.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Megan Wallace - Principal and founderActive24 yrs

700 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (70)

Why choose this provider?

Kevin C. Martin Attorney at Law is a legal firm that caters to the needs of Washington DC. The firm strives to help clients in keeping their families out of conflict and out of court by setting up comprehensive estate plans and strategies for protecting assets. Its team of lawyers especially assists those living overseas and the LGBTQ+ community in preparing their legacies. Primary lawyer Kevin Martin pursued a degree in Financial Management prior to practicing law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Kevin Martin - PrincipalActive5 yrs

Washington, DC 20036

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
3.0 (22)

Why choose this provider?

Armstrong, Fleming & Moore, Inc. was founded in Washington, DC on the principles of objectivity, expertise, and knowledge. They strive to provide a personalized service that is unmatched by their competitors, and the maintain an unwavering commitment to their client’s best interests. Armstrong, Fleming, & Moore, Inc. proudly provides services such as estate planning, accumulation, risk management, taxation, retirement planning, and business planning.

Rockville, MD 20852

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Tyrrell, Mason & Pillote, P.C., represents families in North Bethesda, MD, and throughout Washington, DC. The law office, established in 1980, offers legal counsel in matters involving estate planning, life insurance trusts, living wills, durable powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and tax-related matters. Its team of attorneys has more than 50 years of combined experience and is dedicated to serving its client’s best interests. Managing partner Robert L. Pillote has been licensed to practice law in Maryland.

Bethesda, MD 20814

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (22)

Why choose this provider?

Handler & Levine, LLC was founded in Bethesda, DC with a goal to aid in their client’s efforts to retain their trusts, and they have expert assistance working through estate planning. The principle, Marc S. Levine, and Norman B. Handler both have decades of experience practicing law, and they strive to make sure their clients’ needs are met in a timely manner, and they receive the highest-quality representation around. Handler & Levine, LLC provides many services to their clients including estate planning, wills, revocable living trusts for incapacity planning, power or attorney, and business law.

Compare our Top Estate Planning Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Antonoplos & Associates Attorneys At Law
1725 Desales Street, N.W. Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036Free consultation
Altman & Associates
Rockville, MD 20852
Farr Law Firm
1775 I St NW Ste 1150, Washington, DC 20006
Eleff Law Group
7315 Wisconsin Ave Ste 400, Bethesda, MD 20814
Profit Law Firm
Bethesda, MD 20814
Law Offices of John L. Laster
Falls Church, VA 22046
Simpson Law, PA
Spencerville, MD 20868
Furey Doolan & Abell LLP
Bethesda, MD 20814
Wallace Law, LLC
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Kevin C. Martin Attorney at Law
700 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Armstrong Fleming& Moore, Inc.
Washington, DC 20036
Tyrrell, Mason & Pillote, P.C.
Rockville, MD 20852
Handler & Levine, LLC
Bethesda, MD 20814

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 does an estate planning attorney do?

    An estate consists of the total assets that form an individual’s net worth, no matter how large or small. Estate planning attorneys use their in-depth knowledge of state and federal laws to help people best manage what will happen with their estates after they die or become incapacitated. Estate planning attorneys can prepare wills, form trusts, reduce estate tax burdens, and decrease or eliminate the need for probate court.

  • What are valuable estate planning services an attorney can provide?

    With the many intricacies of assets, taxes, and state and federal laws that can affect a person’s estate, an estate planning lawyer can be a valuable professional asset, no matter how large or small a person’s estate may be. An estate planning attorney can:

    • Create a comprehensive plan to protect a client's legacy, that includes a will, power of attorney, trusts, life insurance, and advanced medical directives
    • Optimize an estate plan as tax laws, life events, assets, and goals change over time
    • Protect a client’s loved ones by preventing assets from entering probate
    • Help clients designate a person to make important health decisions for them if they become incapacitated

  • Can estate planning attorneys help create trusts/wills?

    Estate planning attorneys can create trusts and wills. Through a will, an attorney can help a client designate their estate’s beneficiaries and assign an executor to represent the will in probate court. These attorneys can also create trusts, allowing a client to assign a trustee to oversee the estate, potentially avoiding probate court and holding assets to be distributed over time.

  • Is estate planning the same as drafting a will?

    While both estate plans and wills officially document how their owners wish to allocate certain assets after their death, there are key differences. In estate planning, a will is often just one of several documents that form a comprehensive plan. In a will, people must designate a person responsible for executing their will after their death. The will can include guardians for their children when they die and beneficiaries to receive an inheritance of money, property, and other assets.

  • What are the steps involved in estate planning?

    To create a thorough and effective estate plan, individuals should follow these steps:

    • Prepare a will that designates an estate executor; indicate who will receive what assets, and assign a trust and guardians for any children. Consider using an attorney if the will is in any way complex.
    • To avoid probate, have an attorney create a revocable living trust.
    • Assign beneficiaries to other assets, such as life insurance policies, retirement plans, and securities.
    • Use an attorney to prepare a living will, name a health care proxy, and create a HIPAA release form.
    • Update the plan every five years.

  • How long does the estate planning process last?

    The length of the process can vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the estate, the specific law office, and whether there’s an emergency or urgent need. If you’re using an attorney, you can generally expect it to take one to five weeks. You may be able to speed up the process by immediately providing your attorney with any bank statements or other documents they need.

  • What is a trust?

    A trust is an agreement between a grantor, a trustee, and a beneficiary. In this agreement, the grantor allocates funds or real property assets to the trustee to be held either until the grantor passes away or until a specific, agreed-upon date. At that point, it's the responsibility of the trustee to distribute funds or property to the beneficiary or beneficiaries. While there are similarities between a will and a trust, a will is a more comprehensive document that typically requires probate court, while a trust allows assets to pass to the beneficiary without probate.