Justin DeVault helps individuals and families protect what they have built. He works closely with clients at every stage of life on estate planning and tax strategy, creating personalized plans that reflect each person’s goals, values, and family situation.
Justin utilizes traditional estate planning documents such as Last Wills and Testaments, Revocable Trusts, Financial Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney, and Living Will Declarations. Whether preparing for the future or navigating the challenges of estate administration, clients rely on Justin for clarity, responsiveness, and peace of mind.
In addition to traditional estate planning tools, Justin has extensive experience implementing advanced wealth transfer strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families. He regularly advises clients on sophisticated planning techniques, including Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs), Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs), Dynasty Trusts, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs) and Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs). For clients with closely held businesses or concentrated stock positions, he structures tax-efficient transfers involving Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS), often leveraging Section 1202 exclusions and multi-trust “stacking” strategies to maximize tax benefits.
Justin works closely with financial advisors, CPAs, and family offices to design and implement these complex strategies in alignment with the client’s broader financial and legacy goals. His proactive approach ensures not only tax efficiency, but also continuity, flexibility and asset protection for future generations.
Justin also guides personal representatives, executors, and trustees through estate and trust administration, from probate filings to estate tax returns. Clients consistently say he brings calm and clarity to an overwhelming process. One client wrote: ‘When everything in my life became an unknown, I really appreciated your quick responses, no matter the day or time.’ Another noted: ‘The most helpful part was how you always listed, step by step, what I needed to do to complete each phase.’
Justin is frequently called upon to assist with the modification and modernization of irrevocable trusts. He has significant experience using trust decanting, nonjudicial settlement agreements (NJSAs) and court petitions to reform or modify irrevocable trusts in order to address changed circumstances, fix drafting errors or improve tax efficiency. Whether the goal is to update an outdated trust, adapt to evolving family dynamics or achieve greater flexibility in asset management, Justin’s deep understanding of law and strategic use of available legal tools allow him to craft practical, customized solutions that preserve the settlor’s intent while meeting beneficiaries’ current needs.
He is Chair of the Estates and Trusts Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County and serves as a Member At-Large on the Council of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Section.
