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A Will Is the Foundation of Every Estate Plan — Without One, the State Decides

Last will and testament drafting for New York, Washington DC, and Maryland residents

You want to protect the people you love. You want to decide who raises your children, who receives your home, and how your life's work gets passed on. That's not a complicated desire — but the legal system makes it remarkably easy to get wrong.

Most people put off writing a will because it feels complicated, or because thinking about it is uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the state has already written one for you. Intestacy laws in New York, DC, and Maryland distribute your estate in a fixed formula — to people determined by legal relationship, not by your actual wishes. Courts, not you, decide who becomes guardian of your children.

We understand that this process can feel overwhelming. As estate planning attorneys admitted in New York, DC, and Maryland, we've guided many clients through exactly this conversation — and we make it straightforward. One consultation is all it takes to understand your options.

The Plan

Three Steps to a Will That Protects Your Family

1
Free Consultation — Tell Us About Your Family and Wishes
We review your family situation, assets, and specific wishes. You leave with a clear picture of what your will needs to accomplish, what a trust might add, and what it will cost — all in one conversation.
2
We Draft Your Will — Customized to Your State and Your Life
Attorney Sunil Varghese drafts a will that names your beneficiaries, executor, and guardian — precisely as you intend, in language that holds up in your state's probate court. Every detail is reviewed with you before execution.
3
You Sign — Properly Witnessed and Legally Effective
We coordinate the execution of your will — properly witnessed and notarized per your state's requirements. We explain the document to your executor and make sure the right people have the information they'll need when the time comes.
Select Your State

Where We Draft Wills

Will requirements, execution formalities, and probate rules differ by state. Select your location for specific information.

NEW YORK
New York Wills
NYC, Long Island, Westchester, and statewide. Surrogate's Court probate avoidance. Guardian designation for minor children.
New York Wills →
WASHINGTON, DC
DC Wills
Federal employees, professionals, and DC homeowners. DC Probate Court avoidance. Estate tax planning near the $4.71M exemption.
DC Wills →
MARYLAND
Maryland Wills
Montgomery, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore County. Orphans' Court avoidance. Inheritance tax coordination.
Maryland Wills →
What to Know

What a Will Does — and Doesn't Do

Understanding the scope of a will is essential to building a complete estate plan. A will is powerful — but it doesn't reach every asset you own.

A Will Covers
  • ✓Beneficiaries — who receives your property and in what proportions
  • ✓Executor — who manages your estate through probate
  • ✓Guardian — who raises your minor children
  • ✓Trustee — who manages property left in trust for minors
  • ✓Funeral instructions — burial and service preferences
A Will Does NOT Control
  • ✕Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, TSP) — pass by beneficiary designation
  • ✕Life insurance — passes by beneficiary designation
  • ✕Joint tenancy property — passes to surviving joint owner automatically
  • ✕Trust assets — governed by the trust document, not the will

This is why a complete estate plan coordinates your will with your trust, beneficiary designations, and titling of assets — not just the will alone.

Without a Will
  • ✕Your state's intestacy formula decides who inherits — not you
  • ✕A judge decides who raises your minor children
  • ✕Your unmarried partner of 15 years may receive nothing
  • ✕Your estate enters probate with no named executor to manage it
Your Attorney

Estate Planning Counsel

SV
Sunil Varghese
Georgetown Law  ·  Partner, Estate Planning
New York Bar DC Bar Maryland Bar
Sunil advises clients across all three jurisdictions on wills, trusts, and comprehensive estate plans. He knows which details USCIS looks for — and which omissions create disputes that outlast the estate.
View Full Profile →

Common Questions About Wills

What makes a will valid?
Requirements vary by state, but generally: the testator must be an adult of sound mind, the will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and signed by two witnesses who are not beneficiaries. New York, DC, and Maryland each have specific execution requirements. A will that doesn't meet these requirements may be denied probate.
Can I write my own will?
Technically yes — but the risk of an invalid or ambiguous will is significant. Courts have invalidated homemade wills for improper witnessing, vague language, and missing signatures. An attorney-drafted will costs a few hundred dollars and eliminates the guesswork. The cost of a poorly drafted will — measured in probate litigation and family conflict — is far higher.
What happens if I die without a will?
Intestacy laws take over. New York, Maryland, and DC each have fixed formulas that distribute your estate to your closest legal relatives — regardless of your actual wishes or your unmarried partner of 15 years. Without a will, there is no named guardian for your minor children.
Should I have a will or a trust?
Most clients benefit from both: a trust for assets you want to avoid probate (real estate, significant bank accounts), and a pour-over will as a safety net for anything that wasn't transferred to the trust. For clients with simpler estates or no real property, a will alone may be sufficient.
How often should I update my will?
Review your will whenever your life changes significantly: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a named beneficiary or executor, major change in assets, or relocation to a different state. We recommend reviewing your entire estate plan every 3–5 years regardless.

Ready to protect your family? Schedule a free consultation or select your state above for jurisdiction-specific information.

Estate Planning Notice: Estate planning laws vary by state and change frequently. This website provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. A consultation with an attorney licensed in your state is required for legal advice tailored to your situation. Wills and trusts must be executed in accordance with state law or they may be invalid. The information on this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.