At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we build estate plans for families in and around Parkersburg who want their property to pass without a court process, and we finish the job by moving assets into the trust ourselves.
The firm has been doing this work since May 2003, and today a team across three offices handles planning, funding, and follow-up for one flat fee. There are no monthly charges and nothing resembling an insurance product.
Estate planning means deciding in writing who receives your home, land, accounts, and business interests, and who speaks for you if you cannot. A trust only works if the deed, the title, and the beneficiary forms actually point to it. An unfunded trust leaves your family right back in probate court, which is the exact outcome you paid to avoid.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, residents aged 65 and older make up roughly 20.5% of West Virginia’s population, one of the highest shares in the country, so plans written years ago often no longer match the family or the assets.
What Clients Say About Jarvis Law Firm
“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.” Courtney P.
Getting a plan finished, not just started, is the whole point.
“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.” Luke B.
Cross-state property and trust funding questions get answered before anything is signed.
“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.” MaryEllen Gainer
The firm has handled estate matters since May 2003.
“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 at signing, which matters when land or accounts change hands later.
“Everyone in the office is a pleasure to work with, and I never hesitate to call or send an email.” Laura P.
A 39-person team across three offices means someone is available without a second trip across the river.
What Sets Jarvis Law Office Apart in Parkersburg
Trust funding is part of the job
A dedicated team helps retitle real estate, bank and investment accounts, and other assets into the trust so the plan actually works. Clients leave with a funded plan, not a binder of unsigned instructions.
One-time flat fee, no recurring charges
Planning is priced as a single flat fee with no monthly or insurance-style costs attached. You know the number before work begins.
We work with your advisor, not around them
Your existing financial advisor keeps managing your accounts while we handle the legal structure and coordinate the titling and beneficiary details. Many clients also look at shielding what they own from future creditor claims, and we build that into the same plan.
23 years and a 35+-person team
Founded in May 2003, the firm now has 35+ team members across three offices. We put education first, so you understand your own plan well enough to keep it current.
Our Estate Planning Services in Parkersburg
- Trust and wills
- Trust funding and asset titling
- Financial powers of attorney
- Health care powers of attorney
- Medicaid planning
- Asset protection
- Advance directives
- Probate avoidance planning
- Beneficiary designation reviews
- Guardianship nominations for minor children
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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Working With Us in Parkersburg, Step by Step
1. Free Initial Consultation
We start by listening: what you own, where it sits, and who you want it to go to. No cost, no obligation, and no product pitch.
2. Needs And Asset Assessment
We inventory everything, including real estate on either side of the river, retirement accounts, and business interests.
3. Plan Design
We recommend the specific tools that fit your goals: a revocable living trust, a will, financial and health care powers of attorney, and advance directives. You receive a one-time flat fee up front, not recurring charges.
4. Drafting And Review
We prepare your documents and walk you through them before anything is signed. Questions get answered before you leave.
5. Signing And Notarization
Your documents are executed and notarized properly so they hold up when your family needs them.
6. Asset Funding And Titling
Our dedicated funding team moves your assets into the trust: deeds retitled, accounts and beneficiary designations updated. This is the step most plans fail at, and we do not hand you a stack of forms and wish you luck.
7. Client Education
You leave with clear written instructions and the tools to manage your plan. We coordinate with your financial advisor rather than replacing them.
8. Ongoing Review
We check in as laws, assets, and family circumstances change, so the plan still works years from now.
What Documents Should Be Included in a Parkersburg Estate Plan?
A complete estate plan usually involves more than a will. The right documents depend on your goals, family structure, property, and whether you want to avoid probate, plan for incapacity, or control how assets are managed after death. Common estate planning documents for Parkersburg families include:
- Last will and testament: Names beneficiaries, an executor, and guardians for minor children when appropriate. West Virginia law sets specific requirements for creating a valid will.
- Revocable living trust: Holds and manages property during your lifetime and can allow properly funded assets to pass outside probate.
- Durable financial power of attorney: Authorizes someone you trust to manage finances and property if you are unable to act for yourself. West Virginia law allows powers of attorney to cover a broad range of property and financial matters.
- Medical power of attorney: Names someone to make health care decisions if you lose the ability to make them yourself.
- Living will or advance directive: Records your wishes regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care. West Virginia recognizes living wills, medical powers of attorney, and combined advance directives.
- Beneficiary designations: Coordinate retirement accounts, life insurance, and other assets with the overall estate plan.
- Deeds and trust-funding documents: Transfer real estate and other property into a trust when probate avoidance is part of the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning
What Does A Flat-Fee Estate Plan Actually Cost, And Are There Hidden Ongoing Charges Later?
Jarvis Law Office works on a one-time flat fee quoted before any work begins, so you know the full number up front.
If I Live In Parkersburg But Own Property Across The River In Ohio, Which State’s Law Controls My Estate?
Both. Real estate is governed by the law of the state where the land sits, so Ohio property follows Ohio probate rules even if you live in West Virginia, while your personal property and accounts generally follow your state of residence.
What Happens If My Trust Is Drafted But Never Funded With My House And Accounts?
An unfunded trust is an empty box, and anything left titled in your personal name still goes through probate.
Do I Really Need A Trust, Or Is A Will Enough For A House, Some Land, And Retirement Accounts?
A will still goes through probate, a trust generally avoids it.
Will An Estate Attorney Try To Replace My Financial Advisor Or Sell Me Products?
No. We coordinate with the advisor who already manages your retirement accounts to make sure titling and beneficiary designations line up with the plan.
How Does Estate Planning Interact With Medicaid If I Might Need Nursing Home Care Someday?
Medicaid looks back five years at asset transfers, so timing matters more than paperwork. A standard revocable living trust does not protect assets from nursing home costs.
How Long Does The Whole Process Take From First Meeting To A Finished, Funded Plan?
Most plans are drafted and signed within a few weeks of the design meeting.
Can We Handle This Without Multiple Trips To The Office?
Yes.
Local Resources in Parkersburg for Estate Planning
- Wood County Courthouse
The county’s main judicial facility, housing circuit and family courts where probate matters are filed and heard.
- Wood County Clerk of Courts
Maintains official court records and processes filings related to wills, trusts, and probate proceedings.
- Wood County Commission
The governing body that oversees county administration and certain public record functions.
- Wood County Assessor’s Office
Determines property valuations used when inventorying real property in a decedent’s estate.
- Wood County Sheriff’s Office
Handles service of legal process and maintains certain public safety records relevant to legal proceedings.
- West Virginia Secretary of State, Parkersburg Regional Office
Provides business entity filings and notary services used in preparing legal documents.
- Parkersburg Public Library
A public research facility with genealogical records and legal self-help resources useful for document research.
- WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center
A major regional hospital that may be involved in capacity determinations or guardianship-related medical evaluations.
- Wood County Veterans Service Office
Assists veterans and their families with benefits claims that intersect with estate and financial planning.
- West Virginia Northern Community College, Parkersburg Campus
Offers community education and financial literacy programs that can complement planning services.
Schedule Your Estate Planning Consultation in Parkersburg
A trust only works if your home, land, and accounts are actually retitled into it. Jarvis Law Office, P.C. handles that funding step for property on both .Planning is a one-time flat fee with no monthly or recurring charges, and we coordinate with the financial advisor you already trust.
Call us to talk through probate avoidance, trust funding, or protecting family land.
