Estate Planning

Many people show up to their first estate planning meeting with good intentions and zero paperwork, you included. Then you watch your Arlington, Virginia attorney spend an hour asking questions that a single folder could have answered. You leave without a finished...

Life rarely stays the same for long. When major events occur in Virginia, your estate plan may no longer reflect your wishes or comply with current Virginia law. Why major life changes should trigger an update An estate plan works best when it reflects your current...

Some people decide to add Totten trusts to their comprehensive estate plans. It’s a wise strategy for many with beneficiaries who may not be traditional or legally-protected heirs. As Totten trusts are not actually trusts, but payable-on-death accounts, beneficiaries...

Going through a divorce necessitates updating legal documents to reflect your new status. And one of those documents is your will. You need to update provisions in your estate planning documents that benefit your former spouse. Here is what you should know: Automatic...

Many people assume estate planning is something to handle later in life. In reality, creating an estate plan often makes sense much earlier than most expect. Estate planning can start when you become a legal adult In Virginia, you can create a valid will once you...

A simple will often fails to protect your family from every legal hurdle. Many Virginia families rely solely on this document, only to find it leaves significant gaps. Because a will only functions after you die, it cannot help you during a medical crisis or sudden...

Many people procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. Some of them wind up dying intestate, meaning they pass away before they have actually made a plan. Others try to draft a will on their own, which may mean that it is not valid or binding when their family...

Debts and taxes can negatively impact an individual's legacy. A personal representative administering an estate generally needs to officially notify creditors of upcoming estate administration. They also have an obligation to file any necessary tax returns on behalf...

Many people delay estate planning because it feels premature. In legal terms, that delay can leave key decisions to state law, court processes and family disagreement. A basic plan clarifies who receives property, who manages it and who makes decisions if you cannot....

Most adults are probably aware that they need to have an estate plan in place, but some don’t realize that the plan should include digital assets. These are assets that are found online and can include things like emails, cloud storage, social media, subscription...