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Fred Tansill

Practice Areas

  • Estate Planning
  • Marital Agreements
  • Fiduciary Counsel
  • Estate and Trust Administration
  • Tax Planning
  • Closely-Held Business
  • Asset Protection, International Estate and Trust Matters, Expert Testimony
  • Asset Protection
  • International Estate and Trust Matters
  • Expert Testimony

Bar Admissions

  • Virginia
  • Washington, DC.

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M. in Taxation), 1982
  • Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.), 1974
  • Brown University (B.A., with Honors), 1970

Professional Affiliations

  • Fellow, ACTEC (the American College of Trust and Estates Counsel—elected by peers)
  • Past Chair, Board of Governors, Trusts and Estates Section of the Virginia State Bar
  • Past Co-Chair, Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section of the District of Columbia Bar
  • Member, Washington DC Estate Planning Council
  • Past President, Northern Virginia Community Foundation
  • Past President, Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council
  • Member of the Asset Protection Committee for ACTEC in 2019-2020
  • Board Member, McLean Orchestra (2006 to 2008)
  • Board of Directors of Atlantic Trust Company, a federally chartered, D.C.-based trust bank (1993 to 2001)
  • Board of Directors, Northern Virginia Community Foundation, Executive Committee (1992 to 2001, President/General Counsel)
  • Board of Governors of the Virginia State Bar’s Section on Trusts and Estates (1988 to 1996)
  • Steering Committee of the Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section of the District of Columbia Bar (1995 to 2000)
  • Executive Council of the Wills, Trusts and Estates Section of the Virginia Bar Association (1990 to 1997) and its Legislative Committee (1994 to 2000)
  • Founding Member of the Board of Governors of The Tower Club in Tysons Corner (1988 to 1998)
  • Executive Council of the Virginia Bar Association’s Section of Taxation (1988 to 1990)
  • Chairman of the Fairfax County Bar’s Tax Section (1987 to 1988)
  • Chairman of the Fairfax County Bar’s Wills, Estates and Trusts Section (1986)

With over 40 years of experience, Fred Tansill specializes in tax-oriented estate planning for professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners. His expertise includes estate administration, trust and probate litigation, business tax planning, and fiduciary counsel. He also provides guidance on international estate planning, asset protection, and succession strategies for closely-held businesses.

Fred has held leadership roles in the D.C. and Virginia Bar Associations and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Washingtonian, Virginia Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell’s AV-rated attorneys. His insights have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, CBS Evening News, and industry journals.

A frequent lecturer on estate planning, tax law, and asset protection, Fred has also taught at Georgetown University and presented at legal conferences nationwide.

703.847.1359
fred@tansill-law.com

Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers in America in 2027 and many previous years
  • Top Lawyer and Financial Professional in Washingtonian Magazine in 2025 and many previous years
  • Top Lawyer in Northern Virginia Magazine in 2024 and many previous years
  • Super Lawyer in Virginia, 2006 – present
  • Super Lawyer in Washington, DC, 2007 - present
  • Preeminent Lawyer, AV-rated (top) for 25 years, Martindale-Hubbell 
  • Listed in The Wall Street Journal as a top-rated lawyer in Washington, DC, December 2015
  • Listed in the December 2002 issue of Virginia Business and since as one of the “Legal Elite” in the Taxes/Estates/Trusts category
  • Interviewed on CBS Evening News about President Trump’s trust arrangements, and quoted in The Washington Post and The New York Times and several other media outlets on the same topic
  • Frequently quoted on estate and trust and tax matters in The Washington Post
  • Quoted in Better Homes and Gardens, Parents’ Magazine, Family Circle, and in December 2003 The Wall Street Journal
  • Co-Chaired in 1993-1994 a Joint Task Force of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association which, after study and analysis, recommended certain changes in Virginia law, probate procedure and legal ethics rules relating to lawyers serving as fiduciaries. Recommendations of that Task Force have been adopted by the Virginia State Bar

Publications and Speeches

  • All Posts
  • Fred

Step-Asset Protection

April 1, 2014/

Recent Developments in Offshore and Domestic Asset Protection Planning Presented by Mid-Atlantic Members and Guests Society of Trust and Estate...

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REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Tax-oriented estate planning and administration

  • Trust and probate litigation

  • Business succession and tax planning

  • Asset protection strategies

  • International estate planning

  • Fiduciary counsel for trustees and executors

    Pro Bono Projects

    Mr. Tansill has been involved with the Northern Virginia Community Foundation as a member of the Board’s Executive Committee since 1992 and served as president in 1999-2000. He previously served as general counsel (1992 to 1997), and first vice president (1998-1999) of the Foundation. He has been involved in volunteer leadership positions with the American Heart Association, Boy Scouts of America, American Cancer Society, Junior League, and McLean Orchestra.

    ADDRESS
    6723 Whittier Avenue, Suite 104
    McLean, Virginia 22101-4533

    PHONE
    703.288.0119

    EMAIL
     info@Tansill-law.com

    FAX
    703.847.1359

    PLEASE NOTE: This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

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