James "JD" Beard is the founder of JD Beard Law PLLC, bringing over two decades of legal experience to his Special Needs Estate Planning practice in Charlottesville, Virginia and Albemarle County. As an attorney and counselor at law, JD is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive estate planning services tailored to each family's unique needs.

JD focuses on Special Needs Estate Planning, drawing from his personal experience as the parent of a child with disabilities and complex medical needs. He understands the challenges and uncertainties faced by families in similar situations and is passionate about empowering parents to secure a safe and stable future for their loved ones. His practice emphasizes creating plans that preserve eligibility for essential government benefits while safeguarding the well-being of beneficiaries.

Before going into solo private practice, JD spent 20 years as an Assistant Public Defender with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. In this role, he was privileged to advocate daily for the civil rights and personal liberties of Virginians. This experience solidified his commitment to justice, equality, and diligent representation—values that now guide his estate planning work.

JD strives to make estate planning accessible and understandable. His services include drafting Wills, Trusts, Advance Medical Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Special Needs Trusts / Supplemental Needs Trusts, all designed to provide peace of mind and protection for his clients and their families.

Through a sliding-scale fee structure, JD ensures his services remain affordable for families across Virginia, demonstrating his commitment to making estate planning an achievable goal for everyone.

Firm Description

JD Beard Law PLLC is a boutique law firm focused on providing compassionate, comprehensive, and client-focused Special Needs Estate Planning to families in Charlottesville, Virginia and Albemarle County.

As the parent of a child with disabilities and complex medical needs, I understand how frightening it can be to contemplate an uncertain future, especially when a loved one has a disability. My goal is to empower other special needs parents to take the steps necessary to Shape the Future to benefit the people they love. If I can make the future a bit less frightening for you, that would be enormously gratifying for me.

I strive to make estate planning accessible and understandable, offering customized solutions that provide lasting peace of mind for individuals and families alike. My services include drafting Wills, Trusts, Advance Medical Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Special Needs Trusts / Supplemental Needs Trusts tailored to safeguard the future for your disabled loved ones, while preserving their eligibility to receive crucial governmental benefits, like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Hours

Day	From	To
Monday	10:00 AM	5:00 PM
Wednesday	9:00 AM	3:00 PM
Thursday	9:00 AM	5:00 PM
Friday	9:00 AM	5:00 PM

Cost

To make Comprehensive Estate Planning more affordable for all families, I offer my services at a Flat Rate based on a Sliding Scale fee structure, determined by your household’s annual income (the Adjusted Gross Income on your most recent federal income tax return, IRS Form 1040, Line 11). For details go to https://JDBeardLaw.com