Frequently Asked Questions

We do offer free consultations for Estate Planning. We also offer 15 minute consultations for clients who want to inquire about what hiring PJI Law means for their business.

Our attorneys are available by appointment only and it is best to call during normal business hours to schedule.

The best way to make sure that your questions are fully addressed is through a scheduled consultation. This gives the attorney the opportunity to understand your situation in detail and provide tailored guidance.

We have over 20 talented attorneys. The Intake Specialists can tell you about the attorney that you are scheduled with during normal business hours.

We typically schedule an hour for our consultations, but the actual length can vary depending on your specific situation. The good news is that our consultations are prorated, so you’ll only be charged for the time you actually spend with the attorney.

Consultations are the best way for the attorney to personalize the approach to your case.

You do not need to bring anything to your Estate Planning Discovery meeting. All you need to bring is anyone involved in making decisions for your Estate and family.

Please bring any documents that are related to a will or trust to your Estate Administration consultation.

During a consultation, you will get tailored legal advice that will help guide your next steps toward your goals.

That’s something that can be discussed directly with the attorney during your consultation. The first step is to meet with the attorney and see how we can help. From there, we’ll work with you on the best path forward.

Retainer fees are based on the specific case details. I do not want to unfairly give you a wrong estimate. The attorney will be the best person to answer this question, during your consultation.

Currently, we do not handle pro bono cases, but we can assist you with a referral.

There are rare cases that we do take on a contingency. This is determined by the attorney, during the consultation.

Investment options vary. Some are hourly, and some are flat fee. This will be best discussed with your attorney.

There is no guarantee that the firm can help you with your case. If you are not satisfied with the legal advice given during the consultation, we will gladly refund the fee and the deposit.

We have over 20 attorneys, and the attorney that specializes in your situation would be the one managing your case.

Our clients and potential clients do not interact directly with Paul, but if you have a message for him I can deliver that for you!

We do not like to make promises before the attorney fully reviews your case. The attorneys are very cautious about what they can and can’t guarantee. I strongly recommend meeting with one of our specialized attorneys to review your case.

Different cases require different levels of documentations. Feel free to send any documents to your Intake Specialist.

We have over 20 attorneys with decades of experience. I recommend having an Intake Specialist collect some information so that they can best inform you about your case.

Success rate is very case specific. I recommend discussing the details with our Intake Specialist to help guide your answer.

A revocable living trust is an excellent tool for avoiding probate, and ensuring a smooth distribution to your beneficiaries after your death. However, it does not provide asset protection from lawsuits or creditors during your lifetime. Because the trust is “revocable,” you retain full control over the assets in the trust—you can amend it, revoke it, and use the assets as you wish. For that reason, the law treats those assets as still belonging to you personally, which means they remain accessible to your creditors in the same way as assets held in your individual name.

If you move to another state, your estate planning documents generally remain valid and can still be used there. That said, we recommend having your plan reviewed by an estate planning attorney in your new state, as local laws may include different requirements, tax considerations, or planning opportunities that could make administration smoother and more efficient. Without a review, your family could face unnecessary delays, added complexity, or increased costs. Your trust will typically continue to be governed by Virginia law, and in many cases no changes are needed. However, if a local attorney identifies a meaningful advantage—such as aligning the trust with the new state’s laws or ensuring local counsel can more easily administer or defend it—it may make sense to update the trust’s governing law and situs. If you relocate permanently (for example, to a retirement state), you will likely want to update your powers of attorney. Financial institutions and healthcare providers often find in-state documents easier to accept and work with. As an example, some states require very specific language in a power of attorney before certain powers can be exercised; Virginia, for instance, requires explicit authorization for actions like making gifts or changing beneficiary designations. Additional Things to Consider:

1. Advance Medical Directive / Health Care Documents States differ quite a bit on health care directives, HIPAA language, and surrogate decision-making rules. Even if valid, out-of-state documents can cause hesitation with providers. Updating these is usually quick and avoids delays in a medical setting. 
2. Real Estate in the New State If they purchase real estate, it’s worth reviewing how title is held under that state’s law (e.g., community property vs. common law, tenancy by the entirety rules, homestead protections). In some cases, a deed to the trust or a new deed structure may be advisable. 
3. State Estate / Inheritance Taxes Some states have their own estate or inheritance taxes with lower exemptions than federal law. A move can create new tax exposure or planning opportunities (e.g., credit shelter trust tweaks, portability considerations, or state-specific planning).  
4. Probate and Trust Administration Differences Each state has its own probate procedures, timelines, and creditor rules. Even if the plan “works,” a local attorney can suggest small adjustments that make administration faster or less expensive in that jurisdiction.

Basically, the documents will still be valid if you need to use them or die in the new state, but it is recommended that you get the plan reviewed by a local estate planning attorney because there may be certain required or recommended provisions, tax strategies, or even strategies that make administration easier, in the new state that are not under Virginia law. Not doing so may result in more delayed, complicated, or expensive administration. The Trust remains the same, Virginia situs and Virginia law, and generally no change is necessary, but if an attorney reviews it and recommends changing it for some legally advantageous reason, like if you want an attorney there who will be able to litigate/back up the Trust under a dispute in that jurisdiction, it may be best to change the Trust's jurisdiction accordingly. If they move to their "forever" state (where they intend to retire, for example. if they're still hopping around, then don't bother), they probably will want new POAs, as local POAs are just plain easier to use than those from another state. POA example: Some states require that specific language be included in the documents before a fiduciary can exercise certain powers. (Example: Virginia requires that a POA specifically include gifting powers, change of beneficiary powers, etc.)

It takes approximately 6-8 weeks for the Estate Plan process, but we do offer rush services for those who need.

Deeds can be finalized in under 8 weeks, and we do have rush services available to those who need.

A living trust will avoid the public, lengthy, and costly probate process. A will will advise what to do throughout that process.

Yes, many fiduciary disputes are resolved through alternative methods like mediation or negotiation. These approaches are often faster, less adversarial, and more cost-effective than litigation. PJI Law can guide you through these processes to help reach an amicable resolution.

We do not handle divorce cases, but we can help with a referral Monday – Friday from 9 am to 6 pm.

We do not handle child custody cases, but we can help with a referral Monday – Friday from 9 am to 6 pm.

We’d be happy to walk you through exactly what’s included in the registered agent annual fee. The best way to get a detailed breakdown is to speak with one of our Intake Specialists during normal business hours. They can answer all your questions and make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting.

We do have offices in Leesburg and Alexandria; however, all of our initial consultations are conducted in our Fairfax and Richmond locations. There is an added fee to meet at our Alexandria and Leesburg offices.