103 Rowell Court, Falls Church, VA 22046   
 (703) 538-3600

John Laster, Principal

John Laster

Attorney, Speaker, Adjunct Professor – Aging & Law at Georgetown University Law School.

AV® Preeminent Peer Review (Martindale-Hubbell®), The Best Lawyers in America, Virginia Super Lawyers.

Licensed to practice in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, John Laster concentrates on:

  • Wealth transfer planning
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Powers of attorney
  • Healthcare decision issues
  • Estate administration
  • Estate taxes
  • Elder law
  • Disability concerns

John is a member of the D.C. Estate Planning Council. He has lectured for many institutions, government agencies, civic organizations, and professional associations. He also teaches lawyers planning for incapacity through the D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education program.

In addition, he has served as chair of the Committee on Special Needs Trusts and Long Term Care of the American Bar Association Section on Real Property, Trust and Estate Law. He is a founding member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a charter member of the Academy for Special Needs Planning.

For more than 25 years, his clients have included seniors with grandchildren, “sandwich generation” caregivers, young parents with newborns, couples whose adult child has significant disabilities, individuals in non-traditional relationships, and single people. Some of his clients possess great material wealth; others do not. Some are motivated to preserve assets in a challenging wealth transfer tax environment. Others are primarily concerned with safeguarding the well-being of their dependents. Still others focus their energy on improving life on this planet through charitable means.

All of his clients are united in having chosen to improve the future for someone other than themselves.

He participated in the 1994 Fordham University invitational conference to clarify ethical issues that arise in connection with representing seniors and the 2001 Stetson University invitational Wingspan conference to revisit issues of guardianship reform.

John serves on the board of directors of Community Living Alternatives, Inc., a Northern Virginia organization that serves the needs of persons with disabilities.

John graduated from Oberlin College and Catholic University. He is married to Barbara Laster, a reading professor. Together, they live in Northern Virginia.

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 1979
  • Maryland, 1993
  • Virginia, 1995

Education

  • J.D., Catholic University, 1979
  • A.B., Oberlin College, 1972

Memberships

  • Maryland State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Committee on Special Needs Trusts and Long Term Care (Former Chair)
  • Virginia State Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Estate Planning Council
  • Community Living Alternatives, Inc. (Member, Board of Directors)
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Founding Member)
  • Academy of Special Needs Planners (Charter Member)