Best Lawyers Near You in Ashburn, Virginia for Trusts and Estates
Melinda focuses on providing holistic multi-generational income and wealth transfer tax planning advice and estate and trust services to high net worth individuals, families, and business owners. She also advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries on probate and estate and trust administration, and serves as a technical expert working closely with the firm’s Litigation group on estate and trust litigation matters. Melinda brings a unique and diverse perspective from her work in private law p...
Elizabeth Gray has practiced law in Virginia since 1996, with a focus on estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, guardianships, and estate administration. A graduate of Virginia’s unique Law Reader Program—an apprenticeship alternative to traditional law school—she brings a practical, approachable perspective to her work and tailors every plan to her clients’ individual needs. A Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) through the National Elder Law Foundation, ...
Theresa D. Small practices trust and estate litigation, estate planning, guardianships and conservatorships, fiduciary representations, and trust and estate administration. Theresa represents clients throughout Northern Virginia. Prior to practicing at McCandlish Lillard, Theresa spent two years clerking at the Fairfax County Circuit Court for the Honorable Stephen C. Shannon and the Honorable David Bernhard. During her clerkship experience, she not only focused on the intricacies of Virginia...
Caitlyn M. Bender is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law, Family Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Caitlyn M., who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caitlyn M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kaley Duncan Ward is a senior associate attorney practicing in the areas of eminent domain, civil litigation, and estate planning. Ms. Ward primarily represents condemning authorities throughout the Northern Virginia area and is well-versed in Virginia eminent domain law and property valuation issues. Since starting practice in 2018, Ms. Ward has assisted numerous clients through the estate planning process. She has also represented clients in multiple areas of civil litigation including cont...
Kathryn C. Swain is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Kathryn C., who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kathryn C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.