FAQs

This session is a guided conversation where we learn about your goals, explain the estate planning process, and answer your questions.

There’s no pressure or obligation- it’s designed to help you get oriented and decide how you’d like to move forward.

Fern Haven’s process is designed to have your estate planning documents signed within 6-8 weeks of your Pathways Planning Session.

It depends in part on your schedule and how long it takes for you to review your draft documents.

Jen’s practice focuses on helping individuals and families make informed decisions today to avoid confusion and conflict tomorrow. She understands how complicated and overwhelming the estate planning practice can be and so she guides her clients through the planning process to ensure their assets and loved ones are protected and their wishes carried out.

Jen received her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy and Geology from Bowling Green State University, where she graduated with honors. She is also a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was an award-winning brief writer, a member of the Journal of Law and Commerce, and served as a Legal Writing Teaching Assistant.

Jen spent 26 years as a litigator, advisor, and supervisor with the Federal Government before retiring. She received many awards throughout her career and participated in the Partnership for Public Service Fellowship.

Jen is licensed in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland (inactive in Maryland). She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, baking, paddle-boarding, and working on sustainability initiatives such native plant gardening and removing invasive plants.

I'm here to help!

Please email me at JenniferSeifert@Fernhavenpllc.com or call us at (571) 606-7765 and I will get back to you within 24 hours.

No. This is the biggest myth out there. Estate planning is not related to how much money you have, whether you are married, or whether or not you are a parent.

Estate planning is putting legal documents in place that ensure your assets will go to the people you want, the way you want, when you are gone.

It’s about making this as easy as possible on your loved ones during an otherwise difficult time. And we all care about that, no matter much money we have.

Lastly, estate planning is also about appointing people to manage your assets and to make health care decisions for you if you ever become incapacitated. Regardless of wealth status, this is something that affects all of us.

A will directs how probate assets are distributed and can name guardians for minor children.

A Revocable Living Trust can help avoid probate, maintain privacy, and provide more control over how assets are managed and distributed.

We’ll help you understand which tools make sense for your situation.

Probate is the court-supervised process of administering your estate upon your death. If you die without a will, your estate must go through probate before all your money can be distributed to your heirs.

And if you die WITH a will, your estate still has to go through probate! The only way to avoid probate -in whole or part- is with a revocable living trust.

Why is probate a problem? Even a simple probate can take months to years to complete and eats up the value of your estate. It is also a public proceeding that makes your will available to anybody who wants to look at it. Lastly, there are filing and probate fees that apply, as well as potentially attorney fees.

Super question. The parents I know don’t want their kids to inherit a big lump sum on their 18th birthday (or at all). But that is precisely what will happen without a proper estate plan that directs otherwise.

Specifically, with a trust, you can choose at what age your kids will inherit their money, or you can distribute it in intervals or according to conditions. There are a lot of options available with a trust.

You can. But Legal Zoom/AI platforms and law firms are two different things. They provide different services, which is why the costs are different. Legal Zoom offers form documents that you fill out and execute yourself, but they do not give legal advice.

In contrast, an attorney counsels you and gives you legal advice personalized to your specific needs. They will customize your documents, ensure that they are signed with proper formalities, and pickup the phone when you call with questions.

If these things are important to you then you should work with an attorney. If they are not, Legal Zoom may be a better choice for you.

Not a problem. Estate planning documents can be changed, amended, or completely revoked.

Fees for updates depend on the type of document being modified and the extent of the modifications, and we’ll always explain your options before moving forward.

It is a good idea to review your estate plan regularly. But especially upon the occurrence of major life events, significant changes in the law, or acquisition of new assets.

Generally, a good rule of thumb is to review every 1-3 years.

Yes! Need help moving your assets into your Revocable Living Trust?
We’ve got you covered.

We can fund your trust for you for an additional. Contact us for a quote which will depend on the number of assets you own and whether real estate is involved.