At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help families across Parkersburg and the Mid-Ohio Valley protect the family home, avoid probate, and plan ahead for nursing home costs.
Since May 2003, our team has guided families through wills, trusts, powers of attorney, Medicaid planning, guardianship, veterans benefits, and long-term care decisions with clear guidance and clear pricing.
Estate planning helps you decide who receives your assets, who can make decisions if you cannot, and how your family can avoid unnecessary court involvement. Elder law focuses on the urgent issues that often come with aging, including nursing home costs, Medicaid eligibility, asset protection, and care planning.
These issues matter deeply in Parkersburg, where many families are trying to protect a parent’s home while also paying for long-term care. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 Survey, approximately 20.9% of West Virginia’s population is age 65 or older, making Medicaid planning and home protection a daily concern for local families.
With more than 20 years of practice and a team of more than 35 professionals, Jarvis Law Office helps families understand their options, protect what they can, and move forward with a clear plan.
Wills vs. Trusts in West Virginia and Understanding Your Estate Planning Options
A last will and testament, governed by West Virginia Code Chapter 41, only takes effect after death and still goes through probate, the court process for distributing a deceased person’s assets. In Wood County, that means filing with the Wood County Clerk, months of waiting, filing costs, and a public record anyone can view.
A trust, a legal arrangement that holds your assets so they pass to your family without going through court, works differently. A revocable living trust avoids probate and stays private. An irrevocable trust, when set up early enough, can also help protect the family home from Medicaid spend-down, subject to the five-year look-back.
According to Caring.com’s 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study, only 32% of Americans have a will or estate planning document, meaning most West Virginia families are leaving these decisions unplanned. Jarvis Law Office also funds your trust, so it is never left an empty shell.
Our Estate Planning and Elder Law Services in Parkersburg
- Revocable living trusts
- Last wills and testaments
- Durable powers of attorney
- Healthcare directives and advance directives
- Medicaid planning and crisis planning
- Asset protection planning
- Probate avoidance strategies
- Trust funding and administration support
- Elder law counseling
- Special needs estate planning
- Veterans benefits planning (Aid & Attendance)
- Care navigation
- Estate tax planning
- Guardianship and conservatorship guidance
Where We Serve in the Parkersburg Area and Wood County Region
- Parkersburg, WV
- Vienna, WV
- Williamstown, WV
- Belpre, OH
- Marietta, OH
- St. Marys, WV
- Ravenswood, WV
- Ripley, WV
- Mineral Wells, WV
- Spencer, WV
- Wood County, WV
- Wirt County, WV
- Pleasants County, WV
- Jackson County, WV
- Washington County, OH
Because the Ohio River runs right through this region, many families own property on both sides of the border. We handle matters in both West Virginia and Ohio, so if your parent’s home is in Wood County and a sibling lives in Marietta, you do not need to hire two separate attorneys to sort it out.
WE WILL SPEAK FOR YOUR RIGHTS
Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your options. You may find that you are entitled to payment if your claim was denied or underpaid. Let Jarvis Law Office be your advocate
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Why Choose Jarvis Law Office for Estate Planning in Parkersburg, WV
A team that actually moves assets into your trust
Many offices write the documents and hand them back, leaving you with unfinished paperwork that does not protect anyone. Jarvis Law Office helps make sure your parent’s family home and other assets are actually placed into the trust correctly, so the plan works when your family needs it.
One-time flat fee, no surprise bills
Most people expect an estate planning attorney to charge unpredictable hourly rates. This firm uses a one-time flat fee with no recurring monthly or insurance-style charges, so you know the cost before you pick up the phone.
Education, not lectures
You will understand what you are signing and why. The team gives you clear instructions and tools so you can manage your plan with confidence instead of being left in the dark.
They work alongside your existing advisors
If your parent already has a financial advisor, Jarvis Law Office cooperates with them rather than pushing them out, keeping those relationships intact.
Two decades of stability and a real team
Serving families since 2003 with a staff of more than 35 professionals, this is not a solo shop that may be unavailable when you call. According to the West Virginia Health Statistics Center, Wood County has a median age of about 42.5 years, meaning many local families are at the stage where putting a plan in place is both timely and critical.
Common Estate Planning Mistakes West Virginia Families Make – and How to Avoid Them
Here are the mistakes we see most often.
- Creating a trust but never funding it, so the assets still go through probate (the court process for distributing someone’s property). A trust only works if your accounts and home are actually moved into it.
- Believing a will avoids probate. It does not. A will simply tells the court how to divide things during probate.
- Forgetting to update beneficiary designations on 401(k)s, IRAs, and life insurance after a marriage, divorce, or death, so money goes to the wrong person.
- Skipping a durable power of attorney, which can force your family into a costly guardianship case in Wood County Circuit Court.
- Waiting too long on Medicaid planning. West Virginia uses a 60-month look-back period (the five-year window Medicaid examines before approving benefits).
- Using DIY forms that fail West Virginia’s witness and notarization rules under WV Code section 41-1-3.
About Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
When a parent moves into a nursing home and the family home is suddenly at risk, you need a firm that has done this before and is not going anywhere. Jarvis Law Office, P.C. has been guiding families through exactly these questions since May 2003, which means more than 20 years of steady, hands-on experience.
You will not be leaning on a single lawyer who may be hard to reach. Our team of 35-plus professionals means someone is always available to answer your questions and keep your plan moving when time matters.
Our home base is Ohio, and we regularly serve families across the river in the Parkersburg and West Virginia border region, so property in two states does not mean hiring two firms.
Our focus is probate avoidance and clear trust planning, treated as a long-term partnership built on dignity and peace of mind, never a one-time stack of paperwork.
Our Estate Planning Process for Parkersburg Families
1. First Conversation
We start by learning your parent’s situation, their assets, and your biggest worries, including whether the family home can be protected from nursing home costs.
2. Planning Session
We explain your options clearly, from a will versus a trust to Medicaid rules and the five-year look-back period (the window Medicaid examines before approving benefits). You leave knowing what fits your family.
3. Document Design
We draft everything to match West Virginia law and your goals. A trust, a legal arrangement that holds your assets so they pass to your family without going through court, is built around your specific needs.
4. Proper Signing
We handle signing, witnessing, and notarization exactly as West Virginia requires, so nothing gets challenged later.
5. Asset Funding
This is where we stand apart. We do not just hand you documents. Our team actively helps move the family home, accounts, and other assets into the trust so the plan actually works.
6. Ongoing Support
As life changes, we review your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning and Elder Law
What is the West Virginia Medicaid look-back period for nursing home care, and can I still protect my parent’s house after they enter a facility?
West Virginia Medicaid uses a five-year look-back period, meaning the state reviews the five years of financial records before your parent applies for nursing home benefits. Any gifts or transfers made in that window can trigger a delay in coverage. The good news is that even after a nursing home admission, protective steps often still exist depending on your parent’s situation.
Does West Virginia require a will to go through probate, and what happens if my parent dies without one?
If your parent dies without a will in West Virginia, state intestacy law decides who inherits, and that may not match what your family expected or what your parent verbally promised. Assets titled in your parent’s name alone still pass through probate, the court process for distributing a deceased person’s assets. In Wood County, that runs through the Wood County Circuit Court and the county fiduciary supervisor.
How does a revocable living trust actually avoid probate in Wood County?
A trust is a legal arrangement that holds your parent’s assets so they pass to your family without going through court. When the family home and other assets are titled in the trust’s name, they are not part of the probate estate at death, so your family avoids the Wood County probate process for those assets.
My parent owns property in both West Virginia and Ohio. Do I need two separate attorneys?
Families along the river often own property on both sides, and that raises real questions about which state’s rules apply. You do not automatically need two firms. Jarvis Law Office handles both West Virginia and Ohio matters, so a single team can coordinate planning for property in Wood County and across the river in places like Marietta.
Isn’t a downloaded will form or a notarized letter enough to handle all this?
For a simple situation, a basic form might cover the minimum, but it rarely holds up for Medicaid planning or a home that needs real protection. A generic form will not address the five-year look-back, will not fund a trust, and will not prevent the family home from going through probate. Informal family understandings about who gets what are not legally enforceable, which is often how sibling disputes start.
What is a durable power of attorney, and why does my parent need one right now?
A durable power of attorney lets your parent name someone to handle finances and legal decisions if they can no longer do so themselves. Without it, your family may have to ask a court to appoint a guardian, which is slow, costly, and public.
Can I protect my parent’s home from Medicaid estate recovery in West Virginia?
After a Medicaid recipient passes away, West Virginia can seek repayment from the estate, and the family home is often the largest asset at risk. Certain exemptions and planning tools may protect the home, but they depend on timing, titling, and the five-year look-back window. The earlier your family plans, the more options are usually available.
When should my parent update an estate plan they already have?
An old plan can be as risky as no plan if it no longer reflects current law or family circumstances. Your parent should review their documents after a serious diagnosis, a move, a change in assets, or a shift in who they trust to act for them. Plans drafted years ago often were never funded or do not account for Medicaid rules.
What Clients Say About Jarvis Law Office
“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.” – Courtney P.
This is the peace of mind families are looking for when they finally sit down and get a plan in place. It does not have to be stressful or confusing.
“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.” – Luke B.
Medicaid rules and trusts can feel overwhelming online. This reflects our education-first approach, where you leave understanding what you signed and why.
“She was friendly, professional, and went above and beyond to help me… someone who genuinely cares.” – Nate T.
When you are juggling caregiving and hard decisions, being treated with real compassion matters as much as the legal work itself.
“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.” – MaryEllen G.
Two decades of practice means this is not a new firm that will disappear. Experience matters when your family home is on the line.
“From intake to years down the road when you need to just refresh your memory on how things work.” – Courtney Patesel
We do not draft your documents and walk away. This shows the long-term support families count on well after the plan is signed.
Local Resources for Seniors and Families in Parkersburg, West Virginia
- Wood County Probate Office Handles probate matters for Wood County estates, including estate administration after someone passes away.
- Wood County County Clerk
Maintains probate records, birth records, death records, deeds, liens, and other documents that may be needed during estate planning, probate, or trust administration.
- Wood County Clerk’s Deeds and Liens Office
Useful for reviewing deeds, confirming property ownership, and recording real estate documents when transferring property into a trust.
- Wood County Assessor’s Office
Provides property assessment information for Wood County real estate, which can be helpful when reviewing a home, tax value, or property ownership as part of an estate plan.
- Wood County Senior Citizens Association
Offers nutrition, transportation, in-home care, and information services for Wood County seniors in cooperation with the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services and the Northwestern Area Agency on Aging.
- West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
Provides statewide resources for older adults, including help at home, safety resources, health programs, and aging-related support.
- West Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Center
Helps seniors and people with disabilities find long-term services and supports, including help applying for services tied to independent living and long-term care needs.
- West Virginia Medicaid Estate Recovery Program
Provides information on estate recovery after Medicaid pays for certain medical or long-term care services. This is an important resource for families worried about nursing home costs and the family home.
- West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance, Parkersburg Office
Helps local veterans with benefits assistance and serves Wood County and surrounding counties. The Parkersburg office is listed at 1824 Murdoch Avenue, Suite F101.
Start Your Estate Plan with Jarvis Law Office
If your parent has just entered a nursing home or received a hard diagnosis, you may be worried the family home is at risk. That worry is real, but so is the good news: even after a nursing home admission, there are often still steps to protect what your family has worked for. The earlier we look at your situation, the more options you have.
The first step is a conversation, not a commitment. Call us at today to get a clear answer to your first question and find out exactly where your family stands.
