Experienced Law Firm Provides Estate Planning Guidance to Virginia Residents

Rocky Mount attorneys draft wills, advance directives and other documents

Established in 1915, the Rocky Mount firm of Rhodes & Ferguson, Attorneys at Law, Inc. assists individuals and families with all of their estate planning needs. Our attorneys have more than four decades of combined experience drafting wills and trusts, preparing living wills to formalize preferred healthcare arrangements and representing clients petitioning the court for guardianships and conservatorships, among other services. We can help with any legal need you have related to estate planning and estate administration. Our law firm serves clients throughout Southside Virginia and Franklin, Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania counties.

Why you need a will in your estate plan

If you die without a valid will, any property and assets that pass through probate will be distributed by the state under its rule of intestate succession. This rule determines what beneficiaries receive a decedent’s assets without taking into account the decedent’s wishes. We can help you in drafting a will that clearly states who you wish to get what assets and that conforms to Virginia law. If you already have a will and want to change it, we can also help you with that process. Depending on the extent of changes, you could either add a codicil to your existing will, or revoke the will entirely and draft a new one. A codicil is a document that amends sections of a will. We'll work with you to make sure your wishes are properly documented so you can live free from worry about who will and will not inherit your assets.

How an advance medical directive protects medical care decisions

An advance directive for health care can help you appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf and documents what treatment you want if you are physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself. One type of advance directive is a living will, which includes decisions about life-prolonging, end-of-life care you may or may not wish to have, such as IV fluids, a feeding tube, a breathing machine and other treatment. You can also state whether you want your organs donated. Our attorneys can counsel you about the decisions you can make in an advance directive and prepare it for you to make sure it is valid under Virginia law.    

Guardianships and conservatorships

Guardianships and conservatorships are granted by courts when people are unable to handle their own affairs. In basic terms, guardians look after an incapacitated person’s personal affairs, including healthcare matters, while a conservator oversees their financial concerns. There are also limited guardianships and conservatorships in which the types of decisions the guardian or conservator can make are restricted by court order. You can potentially avoid having the court decide who will handle your affairs should you become incapacitated by naming someone you trust in a power of attorney document. A durable power of attorney allows you to choose someone to oversee your finances while the durable medical power of attorney appoints an agent to manage your healthcare needs. We can help you petition to become a guardian or conservator for someone else, or assist you in drafting a power of attorney instrument for yourself.

Contact our knowledgeable Rocky Mount attorneys for estate planning advice

At Rhodes & Ferguson, Attorneys at Law, Inc. in Rocky Mount, we provide tailored estate planning guidance to clients throughout the counties of Franklin, Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania and Southside Virginia. To schedule a time to speak with us, call our firm at (540) 912-1054 or contact us online.