Estate Planning at Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP
Comprehensive estate planning with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives. · Glen Allen, VA
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Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP provides complete estate planning services to protect your assets and ensure your wishes are honored. Their experienced attorneys draft wills, establish trusts, prepare powers of attorney, and create advance medical directives tailored to your family's needs. They guide clients through complex estate matters with personalized attention and thorough legal expertise.
Session options and pricing
| Session | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Consultation | Contact for pricing | Comprehensive review of your estate planning needs and goals |
| Simple Will Package | Contact for pricing | Basic will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive |
| Trust-Based Estate Plan | Contact for pricing | Revocable living trust, pour-over will, and supporting documents |
| Complex Estate Planning | Contact for pricing | Advanced tax planning, business succession, and asset protection strategies |
Essential Estate Planning Documents
A comprehensive estate plan typically includes four foundational documents. A last will and testament directs asset distribution and names guardians for minor children. Powers of attorney designate someone to manage financial affairs if you become incapacitated. An advance healthcare directive specifies medical treatment preferences and names a healthcare proxy. For many families, a revocable living trust provides additional benefits by avoiding probate and maintaining privacy.
Each document serves a distinct purpose. While wills are essential, they must go through probate—a public court process that can take months or years. Trusts allow assets to pass directly to beneficiaries without court involvement. Powers of attorney only work while you're alive; they automatically terminate at death when your will takes effect.
Trusts and Asset Protection
Trusts offer flexibility beyond basic wills. Revocable living trusts let you maintain control of assets during your lifetime while specifying detailed instructions for distribution after death. Irrevocable trusts can provide tax benefits and protect assets from creditors, though they require giving up direct control.
Special needs trusts preserve government benefits for disabled beneficiaries. Charitable trusts support causes you care about while providing tax advantages. Spendthrift trusts protect beneficiaries who may not manage money well. An experienced estate planning attorney can recommend which trust structures best serve your specific situation and family dynamics.
Tax Planning Considerations
Federal estate tax applies to estates exceeding $13.61 million (2024), but many states impose estate or inheritance taxes at lower thresholds. Strategic planning can minimize tax burdens on your heirs through techniques like lifetime gifting, charitable donations, and properly structured trusts.
Blended families, business owners, and those with significant real estate holdings face additional complexity. Professional estate planning ensures you leverage available exemptions and structure assets to reduce unnecessary tax exposure while accomplishing your personal goals.
What's Included
Personalized Consultation: Detailed discussion of your assets, family situation, and estate planning objectives
Document Drafting: Professionally prepared wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives
Legal Review: Thorough examination of asset titles, beneficiary designations, and existing documents
Execution Guidance: Proper signing, witnessing, and notarization to ensure legal validity
Asset Transfer Assistance: Help retitling assets into trust names when applicable
Ongoing Support: Availability for questions and plan updates as circumstances change
Bottom line: Proper estate planning ensures your assets transfer according to your wishes, minimizes tax burdens and probate costs, and protects your family during difficult times. Without these documents, state law and courts determine asset distribution and decision-making authority.
State probate codes, American Bar Association estate planning guidelines, and IRS estate tax regulations provide the legal framework for estate planning best practices.
Who Is Estate Planning Good For?
Good candidates: Estate planning benefits adults of all ages and asset levels. It's especially important for parents with minor children, business owners, individuals with significant assets, those with blended families, anyone who wants to avoid probate, and people concerned about incapacity planning.
Who should consult a doctor first: Schedule a consultation to discuss your specific situation. Complex estates involving business interests, multiple properties, significant tax exposure, or family complications require thorough professional analysis to develop appropriate strategies.
General safety: Estate planning is a legal service, not a medical procedure. Reputable attorneys maintain professional liability insurance and adhere to state bar ethical requirements. Ensure your attorney specializes in estate planning and trusts, as this area requires specific expertise distinct from other legal practice areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an estate plan if I don't have significant assets?
Yes. Estate planning includes healthcare directives and guardianship designations that everyone needs, regardless of wealth. Without proper documents, courts may decide who makes medical and financial decisions for you.
What's the difference between a will and a trust?
A will distributes assets after death through probate court. A trust can avoid probate, provide privacy, and offer more control over when and how beneficiaries receive assets. Many people benefit from having both documents.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review your estate plan every 3-5 years or after major life events like marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant asset changes, or relocation to another state.
What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney authorizes someone you trust to make financial or legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need court intervention to manage your affairs.
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Contact & Location
Book online: Book Estate Planning at Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP →
Phone: (888) 487-9899
Address: 10138 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (Get directions)
Website: jgbllp.com/
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| Mon | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sat | Closed |
| Sun | Closed |
