Of Counsel
Jo Ann Blair-Davis
- Phone / Fax: Phone: (757) 490-6263
- jabdavis@pendercoward.com
- vCard
Jo Ann Blair-Davis focuses her practice in the areas of wills, trusts, estate planning and administration, taxation and the business needs of her clients.
In her practice, Jo Ann advises individuals in estate planning to minimize estate and gift taxes payable and protect inherited and gifted assets from creditors and predators, including spouses in the event of a divorce; in providing for the needs of disabled family members; in implementing clients' philanthropic goals; and in avoiding probate. Jo Ann also assists clients in administering estates and trusts and developing business succession plans. She counsels clients about durable general powers of attorney for the management of financial assets in the event of disability, and advance medical directives for health care decisions.
A frequent guest speaker at advanced estate planning and administration seminars and conferences, Jo Ann's lecture topics have included:
- Planning for and Dealing with Distributions from Retirement Plans
- Hidden Powers: Traps for the Wary and Unwary
- Business Activities of Tax Exempts and Affiliates.
Jo Ann also served as the Commissioner of Accounts for the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach for over eight years.
Successfully represented numerous clients in estate and gift tax examinations before the Internal Revenue Service frequently resulting in the estate tax returns being accepted as filed or a refund.
- Virginia State Bar, Trusts and Estates Section: Board of Governors, 1992–1999; Chair, 1997-1998
- Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow
- Virginia Beach Bar Association
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Past Member
- Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates, 1995-2022
- Coastal Virginia's Top Lawyers, Wills, Trusts & Estates, 2016
- Old Dominion University Educational Foundation, Board of Trustees, 1999–2004
- Old Dominion University, Board of Visitors, 1994–1998
- To Give or Not To Give Before Dec. 31 - November 2012