Estate Planning, Designed Around Your Life
Estate planning isn’t one-size-fits-all.
We help you understand your options and create a plan that protects the people and values that matter most.
Estate Planning Foundations
Estate planning is about more than just a set of documents. It’s an informed, purpose-driven strategy to protect your family, your assets, and your legacy.
Every plan begins with the Pathways Planning Session, where you will be guided through your options so that you can make informed choices that align with your goals and wishes.
-
A will-based plan is a foundational estate plan that directs where your assets go at death and appoints the people you trust to carry out your wishes.
It can name guardians for minor children, designate an executor, and provide clear instructions for distribution. Because a will generally works through the probate process, we also discuss practical steps you can take to reduce confusion, keep things organized, and make administration as smooth as possible. A will alone does not address incapacity and, as a result, is paired with documents that will assist you in any period of incapacity.
-
You have two options with your estate planning: a will-based plan, or a living trust- based plan.
Most clients opt for a living trust because of the benefits it offers over a will.
A living trust is a document where you appoint a chosen individual to manage your assets should you become incapacitated and distribute them to your family at your death. It is almost always preferable to a will because it is designed to avoid the time, expense, and publicity of probate, which a will cannot avoid.
-
Incapacity planning is about protecting you during your lifetime.
If illness or injury prevents you from handling finances or healthcare decisions, properly drafted documents allow your chosen agents to act on your behalf and follow your stated preferences. This planning can help reduce the likelihood of court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship, and it gives your family clear guidance during a difficult time. Incapacity documents include Financial and Medical powers of attorney, Guardian nominations, HIPAA waivers, and Living Wills.
Notary Services:
Fern Haven also offers standalone Notary services for the Commonwealth of Virginia residents and transactions.
Not everyone needs a trust. Not every estate is appropriate for a simple will.
My role is to guide you through your options and help you select the plan that is right for you and your family.
A high-level comparison (details depend on personal situation and jurisdiction).
Wills and Trusts: Understanding the Difference
Will-based Planning:
Basic foundational document
for distributing assets and naming Guardians.Does not provide for incapacity.
Requires probate of asset, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and public.
No control over distributions to to beneficiaries.
Wills
Revocable Living Trusts
Trust-based Planning:
Provides for seamless distribution of assets and provides incapacity protection.
Avoids probate for funded assets.
Requires funding the trust to provide benefits of trust protection.
Trusts allow you to control distributions to beneficiaries (i.e. through milestones, conditions, or other formulas).
Additional Planning Support
In addition to core estate planning documents, we help clients address details that can significantly reduce stress and confusion for loved ones.
These may include:
Digital asset instructions (online accounts, subscriptions, photos)
Trust funding guidance or services
Special needs planning, when applicable
Business succession planning
Reviewing and updating beneficiary designations
Other standalone options, such as retirement trust accounts
Ready to Get Started?
The first step is a Pathways Planning Session, where we’ll walk through your goals, answer your questions, and help you understand your options.