Estate Planning Lawyer Fairfax County, VA
Estate planning in Fairfax County, Virginia involves preparing for the management and distribution of your assets during your lifetime and after your death. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., founded in 1997, assists individuals and families throughout Fairfax County — including Fairfax, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, Reston, McLean, Vienna, Tysons, Oakton, Springfield, Annandale, and the Falls Church area — with the creation of wills, revocable living trusts, advance medical directives, and powers of attorney. The firm also handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and estate disputes, including will contests and fiduciary litigation. Virginia imposes no state-level estate or inheritance tax, and the federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per individual for 2026, which means most Fairfax County estates are not subject to federal estate tax. Whether you are starting your first estate plan, updating existing documents after a life change, or addressing the probate of a loved one’s estate, Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work to help you achieve your goals. For a consultation, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. – Advocacy Without Borders.
For 2026, the federal estate tax exemption is $15,000,000 per individual ($30,000,000 for a married couple with portability).
Source: 26 U.S.C. § 2010(c)(3) as amended by Pub. L. 119-21. IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32
Reviewed by Mr. Sris, admitted in VA/MD/DC/NJ/NY.
What Estate Planning Means in Fairfax County
Estate planning in Fairfax County is the process of arranging your affairs so that your property and personal care are managed according to your wishes when you cannot act for yourself, and so that your assets pass smoothly to your beneficiaries when you die. The core documents typically include a last will and testament, possibly a revocable living trust, an advance medical directive (sometimes called a living will and health care power of attorney), and a durable general power of attorney. These instruments are governed by the Virginia Uniform Trust Code (Va. Code § 64.2-700 et seq.), the Virginia Wills Act (§ 64.2-400 et seq.), and other chapters of Title 64.2 of the Virginia Code.
In Fairfax County, probate matters — including the probate of wills and the appointment of executors or administrators — are handled by the Clerk of the Fairfax County Circuit Court. The Circuit Court also has jurisdiction over trust disputes, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and will contests. Because Fairfax County is a high-income, high-property-value jurisdiction, many residents benefit from coordinating their will or trust with beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, and from addressing potential federal estate tax planning even though the current exemption is high. As of a 2025 amendment, Virginia allows a small estate to be administered through a simplified affidavit procedure when the estate, less certain exempt assets, does not exceed $75,000; larger estates generally proceed through formal probate. Trust administration operates outside of court supervision, governed by the trust document and the Virginia Uniform Trust Code.
Every adult in Fairfax County can benefit from having at least a basic estate plan. Without a valid will, Virginia’s intestacy laws (Va. Code § 64.2-200 et seq.) control who receives your property — and those default rules may not match your intentions. An estate plan also lets you name a guardian for minor children, express your medical care preferences, and designate someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated.
How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Estate Planning Cases
Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin with a consultation to understand your family structure, financial situation, and objectives. The firm helps clients identify which estate planning tools fit their circumstances — whether that is a simple will, a revocable living trust designed to avoid probate, a special needs trust for a family member with a disability, or a more advanced plan involving charitable trusts, family limited partnerships, or business-succession planning. Every plan is tailored; there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
The attorneys also assist with probate and estate administration when a loved one has passed. This includes preparing the necessary filings for the Fairfax County Circuit Court, guiding the executor or administrator through the inventory and accounting requirements, addressing creditor claims, and making distributions to beneficiaries. If a will is contested, or if a breach of fiduciary duty by an executor or trustee is suspected, the firm represents interested parties in litigation. Throughout the process, the firm works to resolve matters efficiently while protecting the interests of the client. For all matters, the timeline varies by court scheduling and case complexity; the firm does not promise specific case durations.
About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., established the firm in 1997. A former prosecutor, he brings decades of experience to his practice and is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova). His background includes an accounting and information systems foundation that helps him address the financial aspects of estate planning and probate. He leads the firm’s trust and estate practice.
The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys contribute significant experience across multiple practice areas. The group works collaboratively to serve clients in Fairfax County and across Northern Virginia. For each matter, the firm draws on collective knowledge of Virginia probate procedure, trust law, and estate tax rules to build a plan that matches the client’s goals. Contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to discuss your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need an estate plan in Fairfax County, VA?
An estate plan lets you control who inherits your property and who makes decisions for you if you become incapacitated, rather than leaving those choices to Virginia’s default intestacy laws and court proceedings. Without a will, the Fairfax County Circuit Court, through its probate clerk, distributes your assets according to a statutory formula that may not reflect your relationships. With a plan, you also can name a guardian for your children, designate an agent for financial decisions, and state your healthcare preferences through an advance medical directive. For guidance specific to your situation, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.
What documents make up a basic Virginia estate plan?
A basic Virginia estate plan typically includes a last will and testament, a durable general power of attorney for financial matters, and an advance medical directive that combines a living will with a health care power of attorney. Some clients also create a revocable living trust to hold assets during life and avoid probate at death; the trust is funded by transferring assets into it. These documents are governed by the Virginia Wills Act and the Virginia Uniform Trust Code, and they should be reviewed periodically, especially after marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or a significant change in financial circumstances.
How does probate work in Fairfax County?
Probate in Fairfax County is the court-supervised process of validating a will, appointing an executor or administrator, identifying and appraising estate assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property to beneficiaries. The process is administered by the Clerk of the Fairfax County Circuit Court. The executor must file an inventory within four months and provide regular accountings. Creditors have one year from the date of the decedent’s death to present claims. The timeline typically ranges from one to two years, depending on the complexity of the estate and the court’s calendar.
Can I avoid probate with a trust?
Yes, a properly funded revocable living trust can allow you to bypass probate for the assets transferred into the trust, because the trust — not your individual name — owns the property at your death. Real estate, bank accounts, and investment accounts can be titled in the name of the trust during your lifetime. Any assets that remain in your individual name, however, may still require probate. A trust also provides privacy; unlike a will, a trust is not a public record. For a consultation, reach Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys at (888) 437-7747.
What happens if I die without a will in Virginia?
If you die without a will in Virginia, your assets are distributed according to the state’s intestacy laws, which may not match your personal wishes. Under Va. Code § 64.2-200 et seq., if you are survived by a spouse and no children, your spouse receives your entire estate. If you leave a spouse and children — all of whom are also the children of your spouse — your spouse still receives everything. However, if you have children from a prior relationship, your spouse receives only one-third of your estate and your children receive the remainder. A will gives you control over that distribution.
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