Protect What You Have Built For The People You Love
Many families in Richmond reach a point where they start to wonder if their savings, home, or business are truly secure. Concerns about long-term care costs, lawsuits, or family conflict can make even a solid balance sheet feel fragile. Thoughtful asset protection can help you manage these risks in a practical and lawful way.
At Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP, we focus on estate planning and probate across Virginia and we help clients structure their estates so their assets are better positioned to support their goals. Our attorneys bring over half a century of combined experience to this work. Our credentials, such as recognition by Super Lawyers and a 10.0 Avvo Rating in Estate Planning, reflect our commitment to careful, client-focused planning.
From our office in Richmond, we meet clients where they are. We explain their options in plain language, listen closely to their concerns, and work with them to build plans that are understandable and workable for their families.
Ready to speak with a Richmond asset protection Lawyer about safeguarding what you’ve built for your family? Call Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP today at (888) 487-9899 or contact us online to get started!
Why Asset Protection Matters Now
If you have worked for years to build savings, invest in property, or grow a business, you may worry that one event could undo much of that effort. In Virginia, major medical issues, long-term care needs, creditor claims, or disputes among heirs can significantly affect what is available for your family. Planning ahead can give you more control over how these risks are handled.
We regularly talk with people in the Richmond area who are concerned about the cost of assisted living or nursing home care, especially if one spouse might need care before the other. Others are professionals or business owners who want to separate personal wealth from potential business or malpractice exposure. Parents may want to provide for children who could face divorce, creditor problems, or difficulty managing money on their own.
Asset protection is not about hiding money or avoiding lawful responsibilities. It is about using available tools, such as trusts, business structures, and careful beneficiary planning, to help align your assets with your values and your tolerance for risk. When this planning is coordinated with your estate plan, it can help make the eventual estate administration in the City of Richmond Circuit Court or in surrounding Virginia courts more straightforward for the people you leave in charge.
How Our Richmond Team Helps Protect Assets
When you work with our attorneys in Richmond, our first priority is to understand your situation in detail. We ask about your assets, family structure, and goals and we also look at any existing wills, trusts, or business documents. This helps us see what is working, where there may be gaps, and how we can build on the planning you already have in place.
Our team focuses on estate planning and probate, so we look at asset protection through that lens. We consider how your assets might be handled if you became incapacitated or died, and whether current arrangements could lead to unnecessary exposure, expense, or conflict. Because we have guided many estate plans for Virginia families, we understand the practical challenges that can arise when plans are unclear or outdated.
We place a strong emphasis on communication. Instead of relying on dense legal terms, we explain the purpose of each recommendation in straightforward language. For example, we may discuss how certain types of trusts can help manage wealth for children over time, how titling and beneficiary designations interact with your will, or how business entities can separate operating risk from personal savings. We encourage your questions and do not expect you to be familiar with legal jargon.
Our combined experience, along with recognitions such as Super Lawyers listings and a 10.0 Avvo Rating in Estate Planning, helps clients feel more confident as they navigate these decisions. We also work to maintain transparency in our billing so you can focus on planning rather than worrying about unexpected fees.
Our Asset Protection Planning Process
Many people delay planning because they are not sure where to start. We have developed a clear process that guides you from an initial conversation to a coordinated, working plan. Our goal is to make each step manageable and to give you time to consider your choices.
In the first phase, we meet with you, often at our Richmond office, to talk through your goals and concerns. We typically review existing documents such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, business operating agreements, and account statements. This helps us see how your current arrangements might function and where your assets may be exposed to certain risks.
Next, we analyze your situation and suggest a strategy that fits your objectives and comfort level. Depending on your needs, this may involve updating your estate plan, using certain trusts to manage or protect assets, adjusting how property is titled, or coordinating beneficiary choices across accounts. We explain why each step is recommended and how it may interact with Virginia law and the probate process.
Once you are comfortable with the plan, we prepare the necessary documents and guide you through signing and implementation. This can include ensuring that assets are properly retitled or that beneficiary designations are updated to match your new structure. Our work does not have to end there. Through our TrustGuard™ service, we offer ongoing review and maintenance of your estate plan, so changes in your life or in the law can be addressed. Many clients value this continuing relationship, since asset protection is not a one-time project but a long-term part of their financial and family planning.
Who We Serve in the Richmond Area
Our clients in and around Richmond come from many walks of life, but they share a desire to protect what they have created and to provide for the people who depend on them. We frequently work with professionals who could face malpractice or other liability exposure, as well as business owners whose companies are organized in Virginia. Real estate investors and landlords often seek our help in separating operating risks from long-term holdings.
We also help retirees and couples approaching retirement who are thinking about potential long-term care needs. They want to understand how their resources might be affected and what planning options are available before a crisis occurs. Parents and grandparents sometimes come to us because they want to support children or grandchildren who have special needs, face creditor problems, or may be at higher risk of divorce. In these situations, careful planning can help balance support with safeguards.
Because Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP has offices in Richmond and Williamsburg, as well as appointment-only locations across Virginia, we can work with clients whose assets or family members are spread across the state. We tailor our planning to your level of complexity, whether you are focused on protecting a family home and retirement accounts or coordinating multiple businesses and properties. If you are unsure whether your situation calls for asset protection planning, a conversation with our team can help clarify your options.
Talk With Our Richmond Asset Protection Attorneys
Taking a closer look at your planning now can help protect your assets and make things easier for the people who will one day manage your affairs. Our attorneys at Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP bring extensive estate planning experience, respected credentials, and a clear, down-to-earth style to every engagement.
From our Richmond office, we help clients across Virginia understand their options, coordinate their estate and asset structures, and keep their plans current through services such as TrustGuard™. If you would like to discuss your situation and your goals, we welcome the opportunity to talk with you.
Planning is usually most effective when started before a problem develops. Many clients begin asset protection as they move into their peak earning years or approach retirement. We can review your situation now and then use tools, including our TrustGuard™ service, to adjust as your life changes.
Can you work with my existing will or trust?
In many cases we can build on planning you already have. Our attorneys review your current will, trusts, and related documents, then explain where they support your goals and where gaps may exist. We then suggest updates or additional planning to align your existing work with your asset protection needs.
Is asset protection planning legal and confidential?
Thoughtful asset protection planning is legal when it is done within the rules that apply in Virginia and when it is started before specific creditor issues arise. Our communications with you are confidential, and we explain how recommended strategies comply with relevant laws and ethical standards.
How involved do my children or family need to be?
The level of family involvement is your decision. Some clients choose to include adult children in planning discussions, while others prefer to keep details private until later. We talk with you about your family dynamics and suggest ways to communicate that fit your comfort level and your long-term goals.
How do your fees and billing work for this planning?
We strive to keep our billing practices transparent. Before we begin work, we explain the fee structure for your planning so you understand how costs are determined. As your matter progresses, we work to keep you informed so you can make decisions with a clear picture of the financial side.
Straight-forward and relatable legal counsel that you can understand from start to finish.
Your Legacy, Handled with Care
We offer confidential consultations and can discuss your estate plan in full.
Continuous Care for Your Estate Plan
Our TrustGuard™ service allows you to make and maintain up-to-date estate plans.
50+ Years of Legal Insight, On Your Side
We use more than a half-century combined experience to your benefit.
“Mr. Baxter was both amiable and professional”
Our very trusted financial advisor gave us the name of this firm when we asked for estate planning help. Mr. Baxter was both amiable and professional, getting to the point when we asked each of our questions, but in such a way we felt we could ask further questions and bounce ideas around before settling on a plan. The support staff was equally helpful, leaving an overall impression of across the board focus on our needs, as well as very friendly follow through. They supplied us with a very thorough binder as well as all files in PDF form so that we can supply parties involved in either paper copies or digital files easily.
R.D.
“We have confidence in Jeremy's support of us in the future.”
We had felt a need to overhaul our existng estate plan and, based on very favorable published reviews, we switched over to Johnson, Gasink & Baxter. The initial presentation and thoroughness was very clear and we felt very comfortable with Jeremy Johnson. He took pains to ensure we understood the details while, at the same time, showing understanding and empathy with our personal family situation. Jeremy's follow up review of the finished plan followed quickly and, as before was conducted in a friendly and cordial manner. We have confidence in Jeremy's support of us in the future.
M. L.
“Very knowledgeable and happy to answer all of our questions”
Very knowledgeable and happy to answer all of our questions. Made the trust planning process very easy for us and very friendly.
D.T.
“I highly recommend!”
We had a wonderful experience here! Attorney Michael Hendricks made the difficult estate planning very simple for us and helped us through each step. I highly recommend!
