John Kent Kidwell

John Kidwell is a distinguished attorney with over 22 years of comprehensive legal, real estate, and financial experience, serving as the President and Owner of The Law Offices of Kidwell & Kent in Fairfax County, Virginia.

As both an attorney and entrepreneur, John has built a multidisciplinary practice that delivers integrated solutions in estate planning, wills and trusts, tax planning, wealth management, corporate law, real estate law, and personal injury litigation. His client-centered approach ensures personalized strategies tailored to the unique needs of individuals, families, and businesses at every stage of life.

John’s career was shaped by extraordinary resilience and early leadership. At just 24 years old, following his father’s sudden medical crisis, John successfully petitioned the Supreme Court of Virginia for early admission to the Bar so he could protect his family’s firm and its clients during a time of uncertainty. He led the firm through the Great Recession, co-founding Platinum Group Services in partnership with Long & Foster Realtors to create a multistate short sale negotiation platform that saved thousands of families from foreclosure.

In addition to leading the law firm, John owns and operates Old Dominion Title Services, Inc., and is a licensed financial securities and registered representative, offering clients comprehensive counsel across law, real estate, and finance.

John earned his Juris Doctor from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, where he was active in Alpha Phi Omega. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Mary Washington, where he was a four-year varsity basketball player, a scholar-athlete award recipient, and a member of the debate team. His academic foundation and extracurricular leadership have helped shape his disciplined, strategic, and service-oriented approach to his profession.

Throughout his legal career, John has prepared living wills, advance medical directives, testamentary and inter vivos trusts, and has guided clients through probate and estate administration. His corporate law work includes advising clients on incorporation, governance, contract negotiation, and regulatory compliance, helping them navigate complex business environments. He has handled residential and commercial real estate transactions, settlements, refinancing, and related litigation.

John is also an experienced litigator in personal injury, representing clients in negligence, malpractice, product liability, and other tort cases. 

John's expertise and dedication have earned him consistent recognition. John has been named a Top Attorney in North America by the Heritage Registry every year since 2013, and his firm was featured in Fortune and Forbes in 2022 as a Top DC Area Estate and Wealth Planning Law Firm. He has also been honored as a Distinguished Lawyer by the Expert Network, ranking him among the top 3% of attorneys nationwide.

John’s contributions extend beyond his private practice. He previously represented the Sully District on the Fairfax County Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITPAC), where he advised the Board of Supervisors on technology initiatives aimed at improving government efficiency and public access. He is an active member of the Fairfax Business Connection, participates in Fairfax Rotary, and has served as president of his homeowners association. In addition, he founded Alternative Fuels for America, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting renewable energy initiatives.

A published author, John wrote Leading By Example, a political thesis offering solutions to contemporary American challenges, and co-authored 25 Articles on the Law, a series designed to make legal concepts accessible and practical for the public. His personal interests include basketball, writing, science fiction, and time with family. John continues to seek opportunities to serve on boards where he can apply his legal knowledge, business experience, and civic commitment to help organizations thrive.

Character: John Kidwell demonstrates integrity, community commitment, and a client-first mindset rooted in over two decades of legal service and civic engagement.

Knowledge: With deep expertise across estate planning, real estate, corporate law, and litigation, John’s legal knowledge is both broad and highly specialized.
Strategic: John applies a strategic, solution-oriented approach to complex legal and organizational challenges, guiding clients and institutions with foresight and precision.

Communication: As both a published author and seasoned legal advisor, John excels at translating complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for clients and the public.

Areas of Practice
Real Estate
Wills, Trust & Estate Planning
Business & Corporate Law
Personal Injury / Tort Law
Civil Litigation
Traffic (Reckless Driving and DUI) Defense
Family/Domestic Relations Law

Bar Admissions
Virginia, 2006
Minnesota, 2012

Education

George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia
J.D. - 2005

University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia
B.A. - 2002
Major: Political Science

Honors and Awards
Selected by the Heritage Registry of Who's Who as a pillar of the community for my work as an attorney and continued dedication to charitable contributions to the community.

2011 candidate for Man of the Year – Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

John has been named a Top Attorney in North America by the Heritage Registry every year since 2013, and his firm was featured in Fortune and Forbes in 2022 as a Top DC Area Estate and Wealth Planning Law Firm. He has also been honored as a Distinguished Lawyer by the Expert Network, ranking him among the top 3% of attorneys nationwide.

Professional Associations and Memberships
Virginia State Bar
Fairfax Bar Association, Member section on Real Property; Estate Planning
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
American Bar Association
Fairfax City Chamber of Commerce
Fairfax Business Connection
Vice President Member Services, Fairfax County Republican Committee
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee
Business Networking International
Fairfax Rotary Club
Fairfax legislative committee
Friends of Historic Centerville
Screenwriters Guild of America
President Walney Glen HOA
Founder and President, Alternative Fuels For America, a 501(c)(3) charity.

Languages
English

Fraternities/Sororities
Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity