Rinehart Bryant, PLLC has expanded its practice to offer estate planning services to individuals and families throughout Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and the surrounding communities.
The expansion adds wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, estate plan reviews and updates, and probate services to the firm’s existing family law practice.
Attorney Gordon Willis is leading the firm’s estate planning work.
For Rinehart Bryant, the addition grew naturally out of situations the firm was already seeing in its family law practice.
For years, the firm has helped clients through divorces and other major changes in their families. Once those matters were complete, however, clients often needed to update estate planning documents that still reflected decisions they had made during their marriage.
That could mean changing who would make medical or financial decisions for them, who would administer their estate, or who would receive property and other benefits after their death.
Previously, Rinehart Bryant would refer clients to another firm for that work. The addition of estate planning allows the firm to help clients address those issues directly.
“People often fail to realize the amount of updating they need to do for their Estate Plan after their divorce is finalized,” said John Bryant of Rinehart Bryant, PLLC. “If they developed their Estate Plan during their marriage, they usually would name their former spouse to make medical decisions, execute their will, receive death benefits and more. We are proud to now handle the full life cycle of family law matters. Rather than sending our clients out to have their plans fixed elsewhere, we provide guidance from start to finish.”
The connection between family law and estate planning goes beyond divorce. Marriage, remarriage, the birth or adoption of a child, changes in custody and other major family events can all be reasons to review an existing estate plan.
Willis said both areas of law ultimately involve helping people decide how important personal and financial matters should be handled.
“In a divorce, we advocate to protect your rights in your property today,” Willis said. “We develop comprehensive Estate Plans to protect your rights in how your property is managed during your lifetime, how healthcare decisions are made on your behalf, and how your property is transferred at the end of your life.”
Estate Planning for More Than Existing Family Law Clients
Although the new practice complements Rinehart Bryant’s family law work, estate planning services are available to new clients as well.
The firm can help individuals and families create a first estate plan, review documents they already have, or update a plan after their circumstances have changed.
Depending on the client’s needs, an estate plan may include a last will and testament, revocable living trust, advance medical directive or durable financial power of attorney. The firm also assists with probate and estate administration.
Rinehart Bryant provides clients with a recommended set of estate planning documents and a flat-rate quote before drafting begins.
The goal is to give clients a clear plan for who will make decisions for them if they are unable to make those decisions themselves, how their property should be managed and distributed, and how the people who depend on them should be protected.
Rinehart Bryant offers estate planning services from its Stafford and Spotsylvania offices and serves clients throughout the Fredericksburg area.
To learn more about Rinehart Bryant’s estate planning services or request a consultation, contact the firm.
