John T. Tompkins, III

As Chairman of the firm’s Estate Planning and Taxation Practice Group and over 44 years experience, John has developed an especially refined skill for estate planning and administration.  His philosophy in working with estates and trusts has always been to take what is complex and make it understood by the client.  By accomplishing this goal, John prepares his clients to be well equipped in carrying out the estate plan that best meets the needs for the individual and his or her family.  Having always been fascinated by the uniqueness of family asset bases, family owned businesses, and the uniqueness of individuals generally, John works tirelessly with his clients to provide them the best possible solution to maintain their assets and to protect their family members.

 

Although estate planning often centers on estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes, recent changes in the law have allowed John and his clients to also focus on income tax planning for individual retirement assets.  Because retirement assets can be significant family assets, including these income tax considerations in a client’s estate plan offers clients another level of planning opportunities.

 

John is totally committed to the team approach to estate planning.  Not only must there be a close working relationship between the attorney and client, there also must be an open communication between accountants, insurance agents, and financial planners, as well as bank trust officers when a client is a trust department.  Since today’s clients want to have their financial planning the hands of chosen professionals, John will not interfere with the independence of the client to choose their team.  Instead he stresses open communication and coordination between the entire team of professionals in order to safely and prudently guide the client.  John’s ultimate concern with his clients is their protection and their independence.

 

 

 

Practice Highlights

• Experience in working with the trust departments of local financial institutions
• Referral base

 

Educational and Professional Background

• Hampden-Sydney, B.A. (1962)
• University of Virginia (1965)
• University of Virginia

Master of Law in Taxation 1966)

• Admitted to practice:

Virginia Supreme Court (1965)

 

Activities and Affiliations

 

• Newport New Bar Association, Member
• Virginia Peninsula Estate Planning Council, Member
• Virginia Business Legal Elite, Taxes/Estates/Trusts/Elder Law, 2012, 2013, 2015 & 2016
• Mary Washington University, Board of Trustees, Past Member