Charleston Wills and Probate Attorneys Carry Out Your Wishes

Reliable assistance for your estate plan and for settling your affairs

Every adult should have a will. If you die without one, your next of kin won’t know how to proceed with settling your estate and state law will determine who gets your property. Moreover, you’ll miss your last opportunity to express your affection for your loved ones. The estate planning lawyers at Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe in Charleston can help you create a valid and comprehensive will. We provide personalized service, taking the time to learn about your situation, your goals and your concerns. We draft wills with meticulous care so that your wishes can be implemented precisely. Later, we’re available to shepherd your will through probate, assisting executors with sound advice and litigation support. Legal services that are highly professional, yet highly personal; that’s the PFF difference.

Advantages of a complete and precise will

With a will, you are able to carry out the following:

  • Name beneficiaries
  • Appoint an executor
  • Transfer property
  • Donate to charitable causes
  • Create a trust to hold assets for loved ones or for charitable purposes
  • Designate guardians you want appointed for minor children or dependent adults

A will helps your loved ones during their grieving period by providing them guidance in settling your affairs. Thus, a will provides comfort when you are unable to.

Litigation support for will challenges

At PFF, we draft wills precisely to ensure the documents hold up in court and survive challenges. Common reasons for challenging a will include:

  • Fraud — The testator was deceived about the contents of the will.
  • Undue influence or coercion — Someone affected the preparation of the will by using psychological pressure, threats or exploitation of the testator’s weaknesses or infirmities.
  • Defective execution — The will was not properly signed or witnessed.

A will can also be lacking in some respects, leading the court to invalidate it in whole or in part. Common problems include:

  • Vagueness — The terms of a will may be unclear or ambiguous. The court can rule that the will or a part of it is void for vagueness.
  • Partial intestacy — A will may not cover the entire estate. When this happens, left over property passes to heirs according to state inheritance laws.
  • Impossibility — There may be bequests in the will that can’t be carried out, with no alternative provisions having been made.

Our litigation attorneys represent clients effectively on both sides of will challenges in probate court.

Additional documents as part of your estate plan

You should consider preparing a living will, also known as an advance directive, which states your preferences for life-saving medical intervention. It is also important to draft powers of attorney naming a proxy for your finances, personal care and healthcare in the event you are ever incapacitated.

Probate services throughout West Virginia

In addition to estate planning, our attorneys provide a full range of probate services. We advise executors on will matters, and even act as executors for decedent’s estates. If you have been tasked with settling your loved one’s estate, we can help you with matters related to:

  • Identifying heirs
  • Identifying, locating, and taking possession of property
  • Paying estate debts and taxes
  • Distributing estate assets

Probating an estate can be overwhelming for the decedent’s next of kin, especially at a time of mourning. With our able assistance, the estate can be settled in a timely and efficient manner, so your beneficiaries do not face unnecessary delays in obtaining their rightful shares.

Contact our Charleston, WV office to discuss our wills and probate services

Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe in Charleston drafts wills and provides probate representation for clients throughout West Virginia. To consult with a knowledgeable attorney, call 304-344-0100 or contact us online. We have offices in Charleston, Morgantown Beckley and Martinsburg to serve you.