Practice areas: Estate Planning & Probate, Elder Law, Family Law; view more
Licensed in Virginia since: 2010
Education: University of Virginia School of Law
Languages spoken: Chinese-Mandarin, English
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2015 - 2025 
Virtual Appointments 
Free Consultation Yao Law Firm, P.C.
3900 Jermantown RdSuite 300
Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-828-5299 Email: Matthew J. Yao Visit website
Details 
Matthew J. Yao, Esq. is an attorney and owner of Yao Law Firm, P.C., which has offices in Fairfax, Virginia and the DC Metropolitan Area. His practice is focused primarily on Estate Planning and Probate matters. Mr. Yao is an attorney that likes numbers, which is an unusual combination that has made him a highly sought-after administrator of Trusts, Estates, and Conservatorships.
Dedicated to providing excellent service to his clients, Mr. Yao has received recognition and awards from SuperLawyers, BestLawyers, and Virginia Business LegalElite, among others. His clients appreciate his responsiveness and his talent for explaining difficult concepts in simple terms.
Mr. Yao is proud to be a double Hoo, graduating from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce in 2007 and the UVA School of Law in 2010. He resides in Fairfax, Virginia with his wife Ellen and their son Moses, where they are very involved with their local church.
Practice areas
Estate Planning & Probate, Elder Law, Family Law, Immigration: ConsumerFirst Admitted: 2010, Virginia
Professional Webpage: https://www.yaolawfirm.com
Bar / Professional Activity
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- Virginia
- Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section
- Virginia Supreme Court, Court Improvement Program, Workgroup on Guardian ad litem Practice, Member
- Virginia Supreme Court, Court Improvement Program, Special Advisors Committee, Member
- Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia.
- Fairfax Bar Association, Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court Committee
- Culpeper Best Practice Courts Team
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
Educational Background
- University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2007-2010
- University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce, B.S., 2003-2007
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Obtaining an SIJS Predicate Order in Virginia Juvenile Court, Presenter, Pro Bono and Special Immigrant Juveniles: Best Practices for Family Court Practitioners, Virginia State Bar, 2014
- Contributing author featured in book on Elder Law and Estate Planning attorneys., Contributing Author, Leading Counsel: Spotlights on Top Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorneys, Book on Amazon, Estate Planning, Elder Law, 2021
- Attorney presenter for Virginia Public Guardianship Program training., Presenter, Virginia Public Guardianship Program Training, Virginia Public Guardianship Program, Guardianship, Elder Law, 2021
- Adult Conservatorship and Guardianship in Stafford County, Guest, The Probate Nation, Elder, Estate Planning & Probate, 2017
- AILA 2017 Update on Special Immigrant Juvenile Issues, Presenter, AILA, Immigration, 2017
- 2016 Fairfax Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Practice Manual CLE, Presenter, Abuse and Neglect Breakout Session, Fairfax Bar Association, 2016
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2026
- Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers, 2025
- Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers, 2024
- Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers, 2023
- Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers, 2022
- Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers, 2021
- SuperLawyers, SuperLawyers, 2026
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2025
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2024
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2023
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2023
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2022
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2022
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2021
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2021
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2020
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2020
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2019
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2019
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2018
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2018
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2017
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2017
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2016
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2016
- Rising Stars, Virginia, SuperLawyers, 2015
- Rising Stars, Washington DC, SuperLawyers, 2015
- Legal Elite, Virginia Business, 2021
- Legal Elite, Virginia Business, 2020
- Top 10 Estate Planning Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2022
- Top 10 Estate Planning Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2021
- Top 10 Estate Planning Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2020
- 10 Best Estate Planning Attorney, American Institute of Legal Counsel, 2021
- 10 Best Estate Planning Attorney, American Institute of Legal Counsel, 2020
- 10 Best Estate Planning Attorney, American Institute of Legal Counsel, 2019
- Top 10 Family Law Attorney, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, 2022
- Top 10 Family Law Attorney, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, 2021
- Top 10 Family Law Attorney, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, 2020
- Top 10 Family Law Attorney, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, 2019
- National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Under 40 in Virginia, 2017
- National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Under 40, 2015
- Top 10 Family Law Attorney Under 40 in Virginia, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, 2014
- National Academy of Jurisprudence, Premier 100 Civil Attorney in Virginia, 2016
- Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, Family Law, American Society of Legal Advocates, 2015
- Top 40 Under 40 in Virginia, Matrimonial and Family Law, The National Advocates, 2015
- The National Advocates, Top 40 Under 40, 2017
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Under 40 in Virginia, 2016
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Law Firms, 2016
- American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, 2016
- Attorney and Practice Magazine, Top 10 Family Law Attorney, Virginia, 2018
- National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Under 40 in Virginia, 2016
- National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Under 40 in Virginia, 2018
- National Academy of Jurisprudence, Premier 100 Civil Attorney in Virginia, 2017
- Avvo Clients' Choice Award, 2013.
- National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Family Law Attorney Under 40 in Virginia, 2015.
- The National Advocates, Top 40 Under 40, 2015
- The National Advocates, Top 40 Under 40, 2018
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Under 40 in Virginia, 2014
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Under 40 in Virginia, 2017
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Law Firms, 2017
- American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, 2017
- Best Attorneys of America, Best Attorney, Lifetime Charter Member, 2018
- National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Under 40 in Virginia, 2016
- American Academy of Trial Attorneys, Premier 100 Civil Attorney in Virginia, 2015
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Under 40 in Virginia, 2014
- American Academy of Trial Attorneys, Premier 100 Civil Attorney in Virginia, 2015
- The National Advocates, Top 40 Under 40, 2016
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Under 40 in Virginia, 2015
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Under 40 in Virginia, 2018
- American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Law Firms, 2018
- Attorney and Practice Magazine, Top 10 Family Law Attorney, Virginia, 2017
Industry Groups
- Fiduciary
- Guardianship/Conservatorship
- Trustee
Office location for Matthew J. Yao
3900 Jermantown Rd
Suite 300
Fairfax, VA 22030
Selections
1 Year Super Lawyers
11 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2026
- Rising Stars: 2015 - 2025