estate planning

Every person is unique. Because we are living longer, healthier and more active lives, generic, cookie-cutter estate plans no longer suffice. Over the past ten to fifteen years, new estate planning tools and methods have been developed. At Magner Law, we approach estate planning from the perspective of helping the client define his or her goals first and then figuring out what the best means of accomplishing those goals are.  Then, and only then, do we start putting pen to paper.  We don’t try to steer clients into a specific estate plan or set of pre-packaged documents.

We work in concert with the client’s other professionals, such as the client’s financial advisor, accountants, real estate brokers, and others, where possible in order to ensure that none of us is undoing the work of the others.

The fact is that there are a lot of tools available to the practitioner when t comes to estate planning, but there is usually only one right tool for the job for the specific client.

personal injury

When you have been injured in an accident, you need attorneys that are ready to fight for you. We listen to the details of your situation to give you an assessment of the legal options you have to get just compensation for your injuries.

criminal law

Life is unpredictable. If someone you love finds him or herself in a tough situation, the consequences can be devastating. Businesses and careers can be ruined, reputations lost and futures compromised. In such times, you need a firm that you can rely on to take your case as a priority. At Magner Law, you’ll never be treated like you’re on a conveyor belt – just another case to be processed.  We are passionate about protecting our clients’ dignity and handling their cases with discretion.

The role of the criminal defense attorney is to ensure that the application of the law is fair and that criminal justice systems function within the law of the land.  Without defense attorneys, the criminal justice system would have no credibility and the citizens could not rely upon it.  When we protect the rights of our clients, we protect the rights of everyone.

family law

Marriages end.  At Magner Law, we believe that doesn’t mean an end to your dignity or self respect.  Our goal is to shepherd our clients through the complexities of Virginia’s divorce procedures with dignity, discretion and sensitivity.

We offer free consultations and simple retainer agreements written in plain English.  It’s our belief that hiring an attorney to assist you with your family crisis should make your life easier, not more difficult. Our attorneys have the expertise that you need, including:

• Military and government retirement and pension plans

• Privately owned businesses and professional associations

• International marriages

• Religious and cultural considerations

• Complex real estate portfolios

• Security clearances and sensitive government & private sector jobs

Business Law

Helping small business is a passion of mine. Small business is the backbone of the American Dream. Men and Women who start and small businesses are bold risk takers who aren't satisfied with just being another cog in the wheel. But just because your business is small doesn't mean your legal issues are. A significant portion of my practice has always been dedicated to serving the needs of small businesses.

Some of the specific areas we love to help with include:

• Business and Corporate Formation

• Drafting and Negotiating Contracts

• Commercial Real Estate Matters

• Employment Law

• Regulatory Licensing and Compliance

• Sale, Purchase and Merger of Business Collections

• Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• General Business Legal Consulting

Litigation

Litigation is nothing more and nothing less than a structured process for presenting a dispute to a neutral party for a decision.  Opposing parties make a presentation to the decision maker with the hope of convincing that decision maker to rule in their favor.

A large part of litigation takes place outside the courts in arbitration, mediation, and administrative proceedings of all kinds.  Our attorneys help our clients organize the presentation of their case so that it can be presented in a way that is persuasive and convincing. We work together with our clients to have a game plan and a strategy.

Litigation is always risky, and no one can ever guarantee a courtroom win, no matter how good a case is. Our attorneys are often able to obtain favorable resolutions for our clients without subjecting them to the gamble of trial. If the case can’t be resolved, then we have the experience to go toe to toe in the courtroom and the resolve to fight for our clients’ rights.