At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help people in Parkersburg protect the things they spent decades building, like a paid-off home, a pension, a 401(k), and the savings meant to carry them through retirement.
We have been doing this work since May 2003, and our team of 35-plus professionals serves families on both sides of the Ohio River.
According to the Legal Services Corporation’s 2022 Justice Gap Report, about 80% of the civil legal needs of low-income Americans, including West Virginians, go unmet each year, which is exactly why straightforward, flat-fee planning matters here.
Asset protection means legally arranging what you own, usually through a trust, so a lawsuit, creditors, or nursing home costs cannot take it from your family. A will does not do that. A will only tells a court who gets what after you die, and it sends your family through probate, the court process that settles your estate.
In Wood County, the average nursing home stay can run thousands of dollars a month, and Medicaid counts certain assets against you before it helps pay. Timing matters, because Medicaid looks back five years at transfers you made.
What Clients Say About Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.” Courtney P.
Couples come in expecting a headache and leave with a finished plan they understand.
“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.” Luke B.
Clear explanations matter most when the decisions involve your home, your savings, and your family.
“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.” MaryEllen Gainer
The firm has been practicing since 2003, with a team of more than 35 professionals behind every plan.
“From intake to years down the road when you need to just refresh your memory on how things work.” Courtney P.
Support does not stop when the documents are signed, which is when most plans quietly fall apart.
“Everyone in the office is a pleasure to work with, and I never hesitate to call or send an email.” Laura P.
A real team answers the phone, so follow-through never depends on catching one busy attorney.
What Sets Jarvis Law Office, P.C. Apart in Parkersburg
The Team Actually Moves Your Assets Into The Plan
Most plans fail because the documents get signed and nothing else happens. Jarvis Law Office retitles real estate, bank accounts, and other assets into your trust so the plan actually covers what you own.
One-Time Flat Fee, No Recurring Charges
You pay a single flat fee up front. No monthly charges, no insurance-style products bolted on, and no open meter running while you ask questions.
Probate Avoidance That Keeps Money With Your Family
According to West Virginia Code §44-4-12, executor commissions in West Virginia can reach up to 5% of the estate’s value, meaning a $300,000 estate could lose up to $15,000 in fees during the court process your family goes through after a death. A properly funded trust can keep that money in the family instead.
You Will Understand Your Own Plan
The firm explains every document and gives you written instructions you can follow later. You should never have to call a lawyer to find out what you signed.
Your Financial Advisor Stays In The Picture
If you already have someone handling your 401(k) or pension rollover, the team works alongside them. Nobody asks you to cut ties or move accounts.
20-Plus Years And A 35-Person Team
Jarvis Law Office has been planning estates since 2003 and now has more than 35 professionals serving clients across Ohio and the Parkersburg area. Someone answers the phone.
How Does A Domestic Asset Protection Trust (DAPT) Work, And Is It Available In West Virginia?
A Domestic Asset Protection Trust is a trust you create and fund, name yourself as a beneficiary of, and still keep out of reach of certain future creditors. West Virginia does not have its own DAPT law, so residents who want one generally set it up in a state that allows them, such as Nevada, South Dakota, or Delaware.
That means a second state’s rules, ongoing upkeep, and a higher price tag. It fits a narrow group: people with substantial assets and real lawsuit exposure.
For most Wood County families, the bigger threat is care costs. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2023, the median annual cost of a private room in a West Virginia nursing home was $97,820.
A will does nothing about that. It also does not avoid probate, the court process your family goes through at Wood County Circuit Court after you pass away. A trust can do both, but only if it is funded.
Funding means actually retitling your home, bank accounts, and investment accounts into the trust. That is the step most plans stall on, and our team does it with you. The same framework guides our Ohio asset protection planning for families on both sides of the river.
Asset Protection Lawyer Services in Parkersburg
- Revocable living trust drafting
- Irrevocable Medicaid asset protection trusts
- Trust asset funding and retitling
- Probate avoidance planning
- Medicaid look-back analysis
- Powers of attorney
- Beneficiary designation review
- Long-term care asset strategies
- Estate recovery protection planning
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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What Is the Difference Between a Revocable and Irrevocable Trust for Asset Protection?
In short, a revocable trust prioritizes flexibility and probate avoidance, while an irrevocable trust is more commonly used when asset protection and long-term care planning are the primary concerns.
With a revocable trust, you generally keep control over the assets and can change or cancel the trust whenever you want. That flexibility can make a revocable trust useful for avoiding probate and organizing an estate, but it usually does not protect those assets from creditors or long-term care costs.
An irrevocable trust works differently. Once assets are transferred into the trust, you typically give up the ability to freely take them back or change the arrangement. In exchange, those assets may receive stronger protection from creditors and may eventually be excluded from Medicaid eligibility calculations.
Transfers into an irrevocable trust can fall within Medicaid’s five-year look-back period, so moving assets into the trust shortly before applying for benefits can still create a penalty. Once the look-back period has passed, properly structured trust assets may no longer be treated as countable resources.
About Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
Jarvis Law Office, P.C. opened in May 2003 and has spent more than 20 years helping families avoid probate, the court process your family goes through to settle your estate after you pass.
Most of the firm’s work is in Ohio, and that service extends across the river to families in Parkersburg and Wood County, West Virginia. Planning is handled for a one-time flat fee, with no recurring insurance-style charges or monthly costs attached to your plan.
The goal is to be a long-term planning partner, not to hand you signed documents and wish you luck. You will know your plan, know what is protected, and know who to call when things change.
Our Asset Protection Process in Parkersburg
1. Initial Planning Conversation
We start by learning what you own, what you are worried about, and where your health and family stand today. Evening and virtual appointments are available if a daytime visit means losing a shift.
2. Asset Inventory And Risk Assessment
We list your home, savings, pension, retirement accounts, and vehicles, then identify what is exposed to creditors, Medicaid claims, or court proceedings under West Virginia law.
3. Custom Plan Design
We recommend the right trust structure for your situation, along with powers of attorney and updated beneficiary designations. You get a plain explanation of why each piece is there before anything is drafted.
4. Document Drafting And Review
We prepare your trust documents, deed language for Wood County property, and the supporting paperwork. You review everything with us and ask questions until it makes sense.
5. Asset Funding
Our team actively retitles accounts, real estate, and other assets into the trust so the plan is not just paper in a drawer. This is the step most people stall on, and we handle it with you.
6. Client Education
You receive written instructions and tools so you can manage the plan yourself going forward.
7. Long Term Review
We revisit your plan when your health, your family, or the law changes, with no ongoing monthly fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asset Protection in West Virginia
How Does A Revocable Living Trust Protect My Parkersburg Home From Probate?
A revocable living trust holds the title to your home, so when you pass away the house transfers straight to your family without going through probate, the court process your family faces when there is no plan in place. Your will alone does not avoid that court step.
Does West Virginia Have A Medicaid Look-Back Period And How Long Is It?
Yes. West Virginia follows the federal five-year look-back, meaning the state reviews the 60 months of transfers and gifts before your application.
Can I Protect Our Savings If My Spouse Needs Nursing Home Care?
Yes, and the rules are more generous than most people expect. Federal spousal protection rules let the healthy spouse keep the home, a vehicle, and a set share of countable assets rather than spending everything down.
How Do I Transfer My Wood County Property Deed Into A Trust?
A new deed must be drafted, signed, and recorded with the Wood County Clerk, naming the trust as the owner. Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
Will Asset Protection Planning Disqualify Me From West Virginia Medicaid?
Not if it is done correctly and early. Proper planning is legal and expected, what causes problems is transferring assets inside the five-year window without understanding the penalty that follows.
How Much Does Asset Protection Planning Cost?
Jarvis Law Office, P.C. works on a one-time flat fee quoted up front, with no hourly meter and no monthly or insurance-style charges afterward.
Do I Still Need A Power Of Attorney If I Have A Trust?
Yes. A trust only controls assets titled in its name, so you still need documents that let someone handle your 401(k), pension, and medical decisions if you cannot.
Local Resources in Parkersburg for Asset Protection
- Wood County Circuit Court
The court of general jurisdiction handling civil, probate, and estate-related matters for Wood County.
- Wood County Clerk of Courts
Maintains official court records, filings, and legal documents for Wood County proceedings.
- Wood County Commission
Governing body that oversees county administration, including local ordinances and public records.
- Wood County Assessor’s Office
Maintains property valuation records and ownership information for real estate in Wood County.
- Wood County Sheriff’s Office
Handles service of process and enforcement of court orders throughout the county.
- West Virginia Secretary of State, Parkersburg Regional Office
Handles business entity registrations, UCC filings, and related corporate records for the region.
- Wood County Recorder’s Office
Records deeds, liens, mortgages, and other instruments affecting real property title.
- West Virginia Northern District Bankruptcy Court
Federal court that administers bankruptcy cases filed by individuals and businesses in northern West Virginia.
- Parkersburg City Hall
Municipal offices managing city-level permits, zoning, and local government functions.
- Wood County Public Library
Provides access to legal self-help resources, public records research tools, and notary services.
Protect Your Parkersburg Family’s Assets With Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
The home you paid off, the pension you earned, and the savings you set aside can all be reached by nursing home costs, creditors, or the court process your family goes through after you pass away. Most of that exposure can be reduced, but only if you plan before the crisis, since Medicaid counts most transfers made in the five years before you apply.
Our team will explain where you stand, what a plan would cost as a one-time flat fee, and whether you need anything beyond what you already have. Parkersburg and Wood County families are welcome, and we handle matters on both sides of the Ohio River.
Call us or send a message through our contact form.
