Jennifer Stevens represents individuals and families seeking assistance in estate, tax, and special needs planning.  She also counsels personal representatives and trustees in the administration of estates and trusts, as well as guardians of incapacitated persons.  Prior to joining KCS, Ms. Stevens spent six years litigating trust and estate disputes and contested guardianship and conservatorship matters, drafting estate plans, and assisting fiduciaries through the probate process in Northern Virginia.  Before entering private practice, she clerked for the Honorable Judge Lorraine Nordlund (ret.), of the Fairfax County Circuit Court. Ms. Stevens currently concentrates her practice in the following areas:

Estate and Tax Planning:  Ms. Stevens works with individuals and families to develop individualized plans that meet their personal and financial circumstances and values.  She analyzes the impact of tax laws on their situations and goals and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and other documents for the management of assets during life and transfer of property at death.

Special Needs Planning:  Ms. Stevens works with parents to plan for the care of family members with incapacities.   She prepares trusts and other arrangements that meet the wishes and goals of the parents and the needs of their incapacitated child with particular attention to tax implications and qualification criteria for public and private benefits.  Ms. Stevens also assists with the selection and appointment of trustees and guardians.

Estate and Trust Administration:  Ms. Stevens represents personal representatives and trustees in all aspects of administering estates and trusts.  She works with families and their advisors to gather necessary information, prepare and file court documents, coordinate with financial institutions, manage and distribute estate assets, and prepare estate and gift tax returns.  Additionally, Ms. Stevens advises trustees of revocable and irrevocable trusts, including life insurance trusts and special needs trusts.  She also assists with the resolution of disputes and ambiguities in wills and trusts and the determination of the rights of beneficiaries by compromise or litigation.