Estate Planning Attorney — District of Columbia & Virginia

Protect
the people
you love.

Estate planning, elder care, and Medicaid strategy — built in plain English, without the drama or the runaround.

Book a free consultation See how I help
Christopher Hanks, Virginia estate planning attorney

Hi, I'm
Christopher.

I became an estate-planning attorney because the work is equal parts careful planning and real problem-solving — and because the families who need it most are so often the ones putting it off. My job is to make the hard, "someday" questions feel answerable today.

I build clear, workable plans that lower your stress now, not someday. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives — I walk through what each document does, why it matters for your situation, and what happens if it isn't in place. No jargon, no upsell, no runaround.

I'm especially drawn to elder care and Medicaid planning, where the right move can settle a family's worry surprisingly fast — protecting a home, qualifying for care, or simply giving an adult child the authority to step in when a parent no longer can. I practice in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I work with families across both.

My values are simple: clarity, empathy, and thoroughness. Clients thank me most for the compassion, and for explaining the why — not just the what. When we're done, you'll understand your own plan well enough to explain it to the people it's meant to protect.

What I do
01

Estate Planning

Wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Decide who inherits, who decides, and how your legacy holds together. Book a consult →

02

Special Needs Trusts

Provide for a family member with a disability without putting the means-tested benefits they rely on at risk. Book a consult →

03

Deeds & Property Transfers

Preparing and recording Virginia deeds — funding property into a trust, adding or removing an owner, life estate arrangements. Book a consult →

04

Probate & Estate Administration

Guiding executors through the court process after a death: inventories, notices, creditor claims, and final accountings. Book a consult →

05

Guardianship & Conservatorship

Step in to protect a loved one who can no longer protect themselves — with the court on your side. Book a consult →

06

Medicaid Planning

Pay for long-term care without draining the estate you spent a lifetime building. Book a consult →

07

Crisis Medicaid Planning

When a loved one is already in a facility and the application cannot wait. Options remain later in the process than most families are told. Book a consult →

08

Medicaid Denials & Fair Hearings

A denial, a service cut, or a termination is not the end of it. Most Virginia Medicaid appeals must be filed within 30 days of receiving the notice — and a managed care denial has its own two-step deadline. Book a consult →

09

Provider-Side Medicaid Appeals

Representing nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and home care agencies in eligibility denials, terminations, and fair hearings. Book a consult →

10

Business Succession Planning

Plan the handoff of a closely held business — ownership transitions, buy-sell terms, and tying the business into your estate plan. Book a consult →

11

Small Business & LLC Formation

Entity formation, operating agreements, and the everyday contracts that keep a small business out of trouble. Book a consult →

12

Contract Review & Drafting

Reviewing agreements you have been asked to sign, and drafting contracts that say what you actually mean. Book a consult →

13

General Counsel & Advice

An attorney to call when something lands on your desk and you need a straight answer before you act. Book a consult →

A simple 3-step process

You always know what's next.

Step 01

Strategy Call

Thirty focused minutes to map your goals and answer your first questions.

Step 02

Plan Outline

You see the full structure before we draft a single word.

Step 03

Review & Memo

Understand every clause in plain English — then sign with confidence.

"Smoother and quicker than we imagined — and we have peace about it."

R.H. — Estate Planning Client

Free consultation

Book your free consultation.

Thirty minutes, no obligation. We'll map your goals and I'll tell you honestly what's worth doing.

Book a free consultation →

Have a question first?

Send a note and I'll get back to you personally.

EMAIL
christopher@safeharborestate.com

PHONE
(703) 594-1209

OFFICE
1520 Belle View Blvd. #187
Alexandria, VA 22307

SERVING
The District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia

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