Estate Planning

Starting an estate plan for the first time can feel overwhelming. Most people focus on the obvious items like homes, vehicles and savings accounts because those assets are easy to see and value. Yet an estate is more than the tangible possessions in front of you....

You have guided your children through every stage of life, but the teenage years bring new responsibilities. Your kids may be learning to drive, starting part-time jobs or preparing for college. They are gaining independence, but they still need your support. At this...

An estate plan is a legal document that allows you to control how your assets are managed after you pass away. If you have an estate plan, you are one step ahead of the nearly two-thirds of Americans who do not have a will, trust or other crucial legal documents....

One of the easiest ways to split up assets between multiple beneficiaries is to do it equally. This can sometimes make things go smoothly. A parent with $1 million and four adult children may give them all $250,000, for example. But is this required? It is not. That...

A bespoke estate plan is a customized legal strategy designed to meet the unique needs of an individual or family. Unlike generic estate planning documents that follow a one-size-fits-all approach, a bespoke estate plan takes into account personal goals, family...

The creation of an advance health care directive protects the person drafting the document. They can provide a clear explanation of their various medical preferences. They can also choose someone responsible and trustworthy to act as their medical agent. The primary...

When someone passes away, their estate has to be passed down to the next generation or other beneficiaries. If they have an estate plan and a will, that will be used in the distribution. If they do not, then it is known as dying intestate. State law will make the...

New parents have more of an incentive to estate plan than most other adults. They want to ensure the safety and well-being of their new children. It is easy to put off estate planning immediately after the birth of a child. There is an adjustment period as new parents...

When looking at the rules for probate proceedings, certain details tend to stand out. For example, those hoping to bypass or streamline the probate process generally have to show that an estate is relatively small to qualify for that option.  A small estate affidavit...

Many people believe estate planning is something to worry about during retirement. The truth is, it's a critical step for everyone, especially for young professionals and growing families in Virginia. Starting early is not just a good idea; it provides essential...