Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney in Fairfax, VA
If you are concerned about nursing home costs, long-term care, loss of independence, family conflict, probate delays, or protecting your spouse and children, you need an elder law and estate planning strategy that works under real-world conditions — not just documents that look fine until something goes wrong.
Farr Law Firm provides integrated elder law and estate planning for Fairfax and Northern Virginia families, focusing on long-term care planning, Medicaid planning, trust-based estate planning, disability and special needs planning, and the court processes that frequently arise as people age.
Learn more about Evan H. Farr and our elder law focus:
https://www.farrlawfirm.com/attorney-evan-farr-elder-law-expert
Contact us online: https://www.farrlawfirm.com/contact-us
Or call our Northern Virginia Office: 703-691-1888
What an elder law attorney does for Fairfax families
Elder law is not limited to drafting wills. It addresses the legal, financial, medical, and care-related issues that arise with aging, chronic illness, disability, and cognitive decline.
Elder law planning commonly includes:
- Planning for assisted living, memory care, and nursing home costs;
- Medicaid planning that correctly distinguishes between Medicaid health insurance and Medicaid long-term care coverage for nursing home care and home-based care;
- Incapacity planning that functions when banks, hospitals, and family members are under stress;
- Estate planning that avoids probate and reduces the risk of family conflict.
For a plain-language explanation of elder law:
https://www.farrlawfirm.com/what-is-elder-law
For an overview of our planning structure:
https://www.farrlawfirm.com/lifetime-protection-planning
Medicaid planning in Fairfax: protecting care, spouse, and assets
Many families assume Medicare will cover long-term nursing home care. It generally does not. Medicare is health insurance and, except in limited circumstances, covers only short-term skilled rehabilitation. Long-term custodial care is typically paid privately or through Medicaid long-term care coverage once eligibility requirements are met.
We assist Fairfax and Northern Virginia clients with:
- Medicaid pre-planning before care is needed;
- Crisis Medicaid planning when care is imminent or already required;
- Asset transfer analysis and timing considerations;
- Spousal protections and implementation of approved planning strategies;
- Preparation and submission of Medicaid applications and supporting documentation.
Click here to read about the complexity of Medicaid planning.
Click here for a discussion about the legality and ethics of Medicaid Planning.
Living trusts in Fairfax: probate avoidance and asset protection planning
A revocable living trust can be an effective tool for avoiding probate, managing incapacity, and simplifying administration. However, a revocable trust does not protect assets from long-term care expenses. Only an irrevocable Living Trust Plus® (sometimes generically called a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust or Veterans Asset Protection Trust) can help with that.
When asset protection from nursing home or long-term care costs is a goal, planning must go beyond a standard revocable trust.
Relevant resources include:
- Revocable living trust planning:
https://www.farrlawfirm.com/living-trust-lawyer-fairfax-va - Living Trust Plus® asset protection planning:
https://www.farrlawfirm.com/living-trust-asset-protection-trust-virginia-dc-maryland - Living Trust Plus® frequently asked questions:
https://www.farrlawfirm.com/living-trust-plus-faq
Estate planning in Fairfax: documents that actually work
Effective estate planning is not about paperwork alone. It is about creating a plan that functions during incapacity, at death, and throughout administration without creating unnecessary confusion or conflict.
Estate planning services commonly include:
- Wills and revocable living trusts tailored to your family structure;
- Durable financial powers of attorney and advance medical directives;
- Planning for minors, blended families, and vulnerable beneficiaries;
- Coordinating beneficiary designations so they do not override the plan.
Estate planning overview:
https://www.farrlawfirm.com/estate-planning-attorney-fairfax-va
Special needs planning, guardianship, and conservatorship
Some families need planning for disability and benefits eligibility, not just estate administration. If your family is facing a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding, or you need special needs planning, the plan must be benefits-aware and built to hold up under scrutiny.
Start here:
Probate, trust administration, and fixing what was not planned
If you inherited assets outside a trust, you may be dealing with probate, creditor issues, and delays. If you are administering a trust, you may be dealing with notices, accountings, and beneficiary conflict. The goal is to administer properly while minimizing time, cost, and risk.
Start here:
Communities served by our Fairfax office
Through our Fairfax office, we serve clients in: Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads, Belle Haven, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Dunn Loring, Fairfax Station, Floris, Fort Belvoir, Fort Hunt, Franconia, Great Falls, Groveton, Herndon, Huntington, Hybla Valley, Idylwood, Lake Barcroft, Lincolnia, Lorton, McLean, Merrifield, Mount Vernon, Newington, North Springfield, Oakton, Pimmit Hills, Reston, Seven Corners, Springfield, Tysons, Vienna, West Falls Church, West Springfield, and Wolf Trap.
Contact the Farr Law Firm
If you want a plan that addresses long-term care risk, Medicaid eligibility (including the long-term care component), incapacity, probate avoidance, and family protection in one coordinated strategy, schedule a consultation.
Or call our Northern Virginia Office at 703-691-1888.