How to Find an Estate Planning Attorney That’s Right for You

You have decided it is time to put your estate plan in place. That may include a will, a trust, financial powers of attorney, and advance directives that state who should act for you if illness or incapacity prevents you from acting for yourself. Choosing who builds it is harder. A search for an estate planning attorney in Virginia Beach turns up dozens of names across Hampton Roads, most offering the same services, with little to show who concentrates in this work and who treats it as an add-on.

A plan drafted by someone unfamiliar with current Virginia law, or built from a generic template, can fail at the moment it is meant to work. Correcting it later often costs your family more than doing it right the first time.

This guide covers what to look for in a Virginia estate planning attorney, the questions to ask, and how to tell one who concentrates in estate planning and elder law from one who offers it among many services. We do this work across Hampton Roads every week, so hold anyone you consider to these standards.

Start with What Your Estate Plan Actually Needs to Do

Before you can judge an attorney, you need a clear sense of what your plan must do. Most Virginia plans rest on a few core documents.

Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Directives

Each does a specific job:

• A trust can hold and manage assets during life and after death, and it may help avoid probate for assets properly titled in the trust.
• A durable power of attorney lets someone handle financial and property matters if you cannot, under Virginia’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Va. Code § 64.2-1600 et seq.).
• An advance directive records your healthcare wishes and can name a healthcare decision-maker, under Virginia’s Health Care Decisions Act (Va. Code § 54.1-2981 et seq.). Virginia law also provides a default healthcare decision-maker process when a person lacks capacity and has no applicable advance directive or agent.

When Your Situation Is More Complex

Some situations call for more than a basic will. Blended families, a loved one with special needs, business interests, real estate in more than one place, or concerns about long-term care can create planning issues a standard form does not address. An attorney who regularly handles estate planning should ask about these facts early, before recommending documents.

What Credentials Tell You When Choosing a Virginia Estate Planning Attorney

Virginia does not require board certification for estate planning attorneys. Its professional conduct rules allow an attorney to communicate a certification from an organization accredited by the American Bar Association. For plans that involve aging, long-term care, incapacity, or public benefits, the Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation issued by the National Elder Law Foundation is one meaningful ABA-accredited credential to consider.

What Credentials Signal Focused Practice

A few credentials and affiliations can help you evaluate whether an attorney is active in estate and elder law:

• The Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation, which requires examination and ongoing education
• Membership in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the mark of a NAELA member attorney active in the field
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation, for clients exploring VA pension benefits
• Peer-review recognition such as Best Lawyers or Super Lawyers, when it names a source you can check

Location matters, but proximity should not replace a careful review of credentials, process, and relevant experience.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Hire

The right questions surface focus, process, and cost.

How Much of Your Practice Is Estate Planning and Elder Law?

Ask how much of the attorney’s work involves estate planning, elder law, trust planning, powers of attorney, advance directives, and related Virginia issues. A clear answer can tell you whether this work forms a regular part of the practice or appears as one service among many.

Will I Work Directly with You?

Know who drafts your documents and who you can reach after the plan is signed. Some firms hand drafting to a junior attorney or paralegal, which is fine if you know going in. Clarity prevents surprises later.

How Do You Structure Your Fees?

Estate planning attorney fees in Virginia vary based on the documents, assets, family structure, and planning concerns involved. A flat fee for a defined scope can provide predictability. Hourly billing may apply when a plan involves trusts, business interests, special needs planning, or other more detailed work. Ask for the fee structure in writing, and ask how future updates are handled.

How to Find and Vet Qualified Candidates in Virginia

Bar and Professional Directories

Three sources let you check a candidate before you call:

• The Virginia State Bar attorney search, for license status and disciplinary history
• The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys directory, for attorneys focused on elder law and estate planning
• The National Elder Law Foundation, to confirm an attorney actually holds the CELA designation

Referrals and What an Attorney’s Website Tells You

Financial advisors, accountants, and other attorneys often know estate planning attorneys they can vouch for, especially when they have worked with one directly. On a website, look for a clear focus on this area, verifiable credentials, third-party reviews on Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell, and writing or speaking that shows ongoing engagement.

Red Flags Worth Paying Attention To

Some warning signs deserve attention even when everything looks polished.

• A template-driven plan produced with no real conversation about your family, assets, or goals
• An attorney who cannot explain a durable power of attorney in plain language you understand
• No clear process for updating your plan after a marriage, death, move, or major change
• Credentials that sound official but cannot be verified
• Pressure to sign quickly, before you have read the documents or asked your questions

Why Work with East Coast Elder Law for Your Estate Plan

By the time you are comparing firms, you have already done your research. You know which documents you need, and a few names remain on your list. What you want to know now is how the first conversation goes and whether the attorney builds around your situation or hands you a form.

We take that part seriously. We start by asking about your family, your assets, your goals, and any concerns about future care, then recommend the documents that fit rather than a package off a shelf. When it is more involved, with a blended family, a business, or a beneficiary on public benefits, we plan for that.

Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro holds the Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation, one of fewer than 1,000 attorneys in the country to earn it, and brings more than a decade of experience in estate and elder law. For anyone weighing an estate planning attorney in Virginia Beach or across Hampton Roads, that focus builds a plan around your life, not a template. Every estate is different, and every family deserves a plan built for what is in front of them.

Client Testimonials

“My husband and I were in need of a new will. Shannon and Skyler gave us a comprehensive plan for the final dispensation of our assets to our children. While making sure that any situation that could occur will be covered legally. Although the project seemed overwhelming to understand at first Shannon and Skyler hung in there with us explaining what was necessary while also listening to what we wanted. They customized the final product beautifully. We consider Shannon to be our attorney now and anything that comes up in the future we will consult with her first.” — Jenny V.

“After relocating to Virginia Beach, we needed to update our Estate Plan. A review of the VA CELA, Certified Elder Law Attorney, website showed Attorney Shannon A. Laymon-Pecoraro of East Coast Elder Law was one of only a few attorneys in the area with the certification. We met with Shannon for a consultation and decided to go forward with an estate plan. We are very pleased with the legal services provided and look forward to a long term relationship. We also have had a great working relationship with Paralegal Skylar and Legal Assistant Felicia. Congratulations on developing a new law firm aimed at addressing the people’s needs.” — Michael G.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing an Estate Planning Attorney

Does Virginia Require an Estate Planning Attorney to Have a Specific Certification?

No. Virginia does not require an estate planning attorney to hold a specific estate planning certification. An attorney must have an active Virginia law license to practice law in the state. The CELA designation is a voluntary ABA-accredited credential for elder and special needs law, earned through examination, experience, references, and continuing education.

How Much Does an Estate Planning Attorney Cost in Virginia?

Estate planning attorney fees in Virginia vary with the documents you need and your situation. Flat fees suit a defined-scope plan, while trusts, business succession, or special needs planning cost more. Ask for a clear fee structure up front.

Can I Use an Online Will or Template Instead of Hiring an Attorney?

You can use an online will or template, but a form may not account for Virginia’s signing and witnessing rules, your family structure, your assets, or how your beneficiary designations and jointly owned property pass outside a will. Under Va. Code § 64.2-403, a Virginia will generally must be in writing and properly signed, with additional proof rules for certain handwritten wills. A document that fails those requirements may not work as intended.

What Is the Difference Between an Estate Planning Attorney and an Elder Law Attorney?

Estate planning attorneys focus on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and how assets pass during life and after death. Elder law attorneys often use those tools in the context of aging, long-term care, Medicaid planning, incapacity, and public benefits. For many families in Hampton Roads, it helps to work with an attorney who understands how these issues connect before a health or care crisis begins.

Speak with a Certified Elder Law Attorney About Your Estate Plan

Choosing an estate planning attorney should leave you with more clarity, not another list of unanswered questions. We begin by learning about your family, assets, goals, healthcare wishes, and future care concerns before recommending documents. That conversation helps determine whether a will-based plan is enough, whether a trust makes sense, and whether elder law planning should be part of the discussion.

East Coast Elder Law works with individuals and families in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, the Eastern Shore, and across Hampton Roads. Reach us at 757-734-7584 or use our contact form to schedule a consultation.