Estate planning is the process by which people develop a plan that ensures that the assets they have worked so hard accumulating during their lifetime are protected and distributed to those they love. Our estate planning practice includes:

• Last Will and Testament
• Living Wills
• General Power of Attorney
• Medical Power of Attorney - Medical Directives
• Guardianships and Conservatorships
• Trust Planning
• Insurance Planning

In its most basic terms, probate is nothing more than a court-supervised transfer of title of an asset. Probate is the legal process that takes place after someone dies and involves:

• Counsel to executors and trustees
• Appointment of a personal representative
• Appraising property
• Distributing property as the will directs
• Identifying and inventorying property
• Paying estate debts and taxes
• Proving in court that a will is valid

The lawyers at Ryland & Merchak represent beneficiaries and fiduciaries, including executors, trustees, conservators, and guardians throughout the Virginia probate process in the following areas:

• Accounting actions
• Claims against fiduciaries
• Reformation
• Will and trust litigation

We offer clients throughout Northern Virginia the following:

• Initial consultations with an attorney
• Personal care and attention
• Contingent fees in injury cases - no recovery means no attorney fees
• Affordable hourly and fixed fees in other cases

Ryland & Merchak, P.C. serves clients in Manassas Park, Stafford, Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington in northern Virginia. We also serve clients in Prince William County, Loudoun County and Fauquier County. To learn more about the lawyers at Ryland & Merchak please contact us at our office in Woodbridge, Virginia today, 703-491-6400.