Best Lawyers in Virginia, United States for Trusts and Estates
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With over a decade of experience, including ten years at Hook Law Center, P.C., Shannon has developed a significant presence in elder law and special needs planning. Her practice addresses issues related to aging and disability, spanning from basic estate planning to advanced long-term care asset protection strategies. Shannon works with clients on a range of matters, including guardianships, conservatorships, complex estate administration, and comprehensive estate plan development, offering ...
Carmen Irizarry-Diaz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Carmen, who practices law in McLean, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carmen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Kimberly A. Skiba-Rokosky is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Trusts and Estates. Kimberly A., who practices law in McLean, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kimberly A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Paul J. Abraham is the founder and CEO of PJI Law. After growing up in Northern Virginia, Mr. Abraham earned two academic majors at Cornell University and came back to Northern Virginia to obtain a Juris Doctor degree at the George Mason University School of Law. Mr. Abraham has represented clients in trusts & estates, litigation, and business law for over 15 years. Additionally, Mr. Abraham has been an active participant in several legal pro bono programs, including the Family Legal Assi...
Virginia C. Haizlip is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Elder Law, Family Law, Family Law Mediation, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Virginia 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 Virginia C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Catherine F. Schott Murray is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Catherine F., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Catherine F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
In addition to being one of approximately 500 Certified Elder Law Attorneys in the Country, Evan is also one of fewer than 100 member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners, selected for this honor by his fellow practitioners who are members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. A 4-time Best-Selling Author in the field of Elder Law and the Estate Planning and Elder Law monthly columnist for The Practical Lawyer, Evan received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Univer...
Alison Zizzo is a Shareholder at Midgett Preti Olansen and concentrates her practice in trust and estate litigation, including fiduciary disputes, beneficiary representation, guardian and conservatorships, and elder law. Ms. Zizzo has extensive civil litigation experience and can handle a variety of general litigation matters, including business disputes, collection and defense of debts and contract disputes. In addition, Ms. Zizzo handles complex trust and estate administration matters, assi...
Steven A. Sigsbury specializes in tax and estate planning, estate and trust administration, fiduciary responsibility, and business and real estate planning. Steven’s laid-back personality allows him to relate to clients and instill a sense of trustworthiness at the outset of any engagement. Steven analyzes and simplifies complex problems and offers clients individualized solutions. As a tax and estate planner, Steven works with clients to develop tax-efficient estate plans that accompli...
Deborah D. Cochran has over 34 years of experience assisting individuals, families and business owners with all of their estate planning needs. Her practice includes designing custom estate plans for each client, as well as tax planning and trust and estate administration. Debby’s personable approach quickly puts her clients at ease and comfortable to discuss their family situation, helping them focus on what is most important to them. Debby then works with her clients to design the app...
Seth B. Royster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Seth B., who practices law in Alexandria, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Seth B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Aen Walker Webster dedicates her practice to estate planning and administration. She counsels clients on estate planning matters including charitable planning and business succession planning and advises fiduciaries on the administration of estates and trusts. Aen works frequently with individuals and families to maintain family assets and family harmony across generations. Aen draws on a multi-disciplinary background and her years of counseling clients to identify and bring solutions for com...
Stephanie C. Smith is a Shareholder in the law firm of Midgett Preti Olansen. Her practice areas include estate planning, estate and trust administration, and business matters. Additionally, Ms. Smith serves as a Commissioner of Accounts for Virginia Beach Circuit Court. In her role as Commissioner of Accounts, Ms. Smith supervises fiduciaries and audits accountings and other filings by administrators and executors of estates, trustees of trusts, guardians and conservators for minor children ...
John P. Dedon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. John P., who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Pamela G. Morand is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Pamela G., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pamela G. 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.