Ranked #1 in Norfolk
Based in Norfolk
69/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Estate Planning And Probate Lawyers in Norfolk, VA: 2026 rankings
101 estate planning and probate lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Norfolk: Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC - Norfolk Estate Planning Attorneys, LFR Score 69/100; 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 40
Most-reviewed: Bush & Taylor, P.C., 483 Google reviews at 4.7★, the most of 101 ranked; ranked #40.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
101 Norfolk estate planning and probate lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 5 are open 24/7, 6 open Saturdays and 4 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.6★ across 101 rated law firms.
Top 10 estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk at a glance
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC - Norfolk Estate Planning Attorneys | 69 | 5.0★ (40) | Norfolk | Open 24 hrs (Google) | Top score |
| 2 | J.S. Burton, P.L.C. | 65 | 5.0★ (234) | Virginia Beach, 12 mi away | — | — |
| 3 | Alperin Law & Wealth | 64 | 4.9★ (197) | Virginia Beach, 12 mi away | — | — |
| 4 | Oath - Chesapeake Estate Planning & Investment Attorneys | 64 | 5.0★ (66) | Chesapeake, 5 mi away | — | — |
| 5 | The Law Office of Angela N. Manz | 62 | 4.8★ (93) | Virginia Beach, 12 mi away | — | — |
| 6 | CAREY CONSULTANT FIRM | 62 | 5.0★ (28) | Chesapeake, 4 mi away | Evenings | — |
| 7 | East Coast Elder Law | 61 | 5.0★ (23) | Virginia Beach, 6 mi away | — | — |
| 8 | Alperin Law & Wealth | 61 | 4.8★ (16) | Norfolk | — | — |
| 9 | Sarah McKnight Reaves | 61 | 4.9★ (28) | Chesapeake, 6 mi away | — | — |
| 10 | Promise Law | 60 | 4.8★ (114) | Newport News, 20 mi away | — | — |
All 101 estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk, in rank order
Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
Scores below: based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.
Based in Virginia Beach, 12 mi away
65/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 234 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 12 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 197 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chesapeake, 5 mi away
64/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 66 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 12 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 93 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chesapeake, 4 mi away
62/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 28 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 6 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 23 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Norfolk
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 16 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Elder law attorney”.
Based in Chesapeake, 6 mi away
61/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 28 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
#10 Promise Law
Based in Newport News, 20 mi away
60/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 114 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Portsmouth, 1 mi away
60/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Elder law attorney”.
#12 Hook Law
Based in Virginia Beach, 9 mi away
60/100LFR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 80 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Elder law attorney”.
Based in Chesapeake, 8 mi away
60/100LFR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 24 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Chesapeake, 6 mi away
60/100LFR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 14 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Norfolk
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 358 Google reviews.
#16 Hook Law
Based in Suffolk, 9 mi away
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 23 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 12 mi away
58/100LFR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.1★ from 38 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 12 mi away
58/100LFR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 9 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
#20 Oast & Taylor
Based in Virginia Beach, 9 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.7★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 9 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Based in Virginia Beach, 12 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.6★ from 421 Google reviews.
Based in Virginia Beach, 7 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 282 Google reviews.
Based in Chesapeake, 6 mi away
56/100LFR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 201 Google reviews.
#25 Alperin Law PLLC
Based in Suffolk, 11 mi away
56/100LFR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.3★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Elder law attorney”.
Estate planning and probate lawyers ranked #26 to #50
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #50, in LFR Score order; each links to its profile. We publish the top 50 of 101 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers here; the rest are on their profiles.
Also serving Norfolk
20 more estate planning and probate lawyers within 25 mi that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a practice area we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.
How we ranked Norfolk estate planning and probate lawyers
We scored 101 Norfolk estate planning and probate lawyers on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Norfolk data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 25% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it | Measured |
| Bar status | 10% | An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded) | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 5% | Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7 | Measured |
| Practice focus | 15% | How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name) | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is | Measured |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same) | Measured |
| Law Firms Ranked reviews | 10% | Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are | Measured |
How to choose an estate planning lawyer
- Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
- Ask how many estate planning and probate matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
- Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
- Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
- Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
- Ask what the flat fee includes: funding a trust, updates after life changes, and signing with witnesses.
- Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.
Questions to ask an estate planning lawyer
- How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
- How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
- Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
- Do I need a trust, or is a will enough for me?
- What does probate usually cost here, and how long does it take?
- Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?
Terms explained
- Contingency fee
- A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
- Retainer
- Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
- Flat fee
- One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
- Limited-scope representation
- Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
- Good standing
- A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
- Law society
- The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
- Board certification
- Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
- Attorney–client privilege
- The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
- Conflict check
- The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
- Pro bono
- Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
- Legal aid
- Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.
Estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk: frequently asked questions
Which estate planning lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Norfolk?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked estate planning lawyer in Norfolk, VA is Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC - Norfolk Estate Planning Attorneys with an LFR Score of 69/100. It has 5.0★ from 40 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. J.S. Burton, P.L.C. (#2) and Alperin Law & Wealth (#3) follow. We ranked 101 estate planning and probate lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many estate planning and probate lawyers are there in Norfolk?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 101 estate planning and probate lawyers serving Norfolk, VA. 4 of them are based in Norfolk; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk are open 24/7?
5 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked is Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC - Norfolk Estate Planning Attorneys (#1). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk work on weekends?
6 of 101 ranked estate planning and probate lawyers post Saturday hours and 4 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC - Norfolk Estate Planning Attorneys (#1) and Melone Hatley, P.C. (#22). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.
What Google rating do Norfolk estate planning and probate lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 101 rated estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk is 4.6★, with a median of 30 reviews. Bush & Taylor, P.C. has the most, 483 reviews, and ranks #40. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.
How does LawFirmsRanked rank estate planning and probate lawyers?
Each estate planning lawyer gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.
Do estate planning and probate lawyers outside Norfolk count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Norfolk city center, our service radius for estate planning and probate lawyers. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.
Can estate planning and probate lawyers pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?
No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.
How do estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk, VA charge?
Many estate planning lawyers charge a flat fee for wills, trusts and powers of attorney. Probate is billed hourly or, in some states, by a fee set by statute (California Probate Code §10810, for example). Lawyers using Clio billed an average of $391 an hour in this area (Clio Legal Trends data, October 2026; all areas $362). Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.
What happens if someone dies without a will?
State law decides who inherits (intestate succession), usually the spouse and children in set shares, and a court appoints someone to manage the estate. A will or trust lets you decide instead. This is general information, not legal advice.
How is this list of estate planning and probate lawyers in Norfolk, VA ranked?
By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.
Does a lawyer need an office in Norfolk?
No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.
Update log for Norfolk
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 101 estate planning and probate lawyers serving Norfolk.
More estate planning and probate lawyers and Norfolk pages
Estate planning and probate lawyers near Norfolk
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Portsmouth, VA102 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Chesapeake, VA97 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Portsmouth Heights, VA102 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Hampton, VA112 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in East Hampton, VA109 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Virginia Beach, VA69 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Suffolk, VA49 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in South Suffolk, VA41 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Newport News, VA80 ranked
- Estate planning and probate lawyers in Poquoson, VA89 ranked
Other practice areas in Norfolk
- Personal injury lawyers in Norfolk214 ranked
- Social Security disability lawyers in Norfolk13 ranked
- Criminal defense lawyers in Norfolk163 ranked
- Divorce and family lawyers in Norfolk178 ranked
- Bankruptcy lawyers in Norfolk47 ranked
- Immigration lawyers in Norfolk26 ranked
- Employment lawyers in Norfolk12 ranked
- Business lawyers in Norfolk12 ranked
- Real estate lawyers in Norfolk47 ranked
- Tax lawyers in Norfolk16 ranked
- Intellectual property lawyers in Norfolk5 ranked
- Insurance lawyers in Norfolk12 ranked
- Mediators in Norfolk14 ranked
- General practice lawyers in Norfolk331 ranked
- All lawyers in Norfolk