For many families, COVID-19 has brought estate planning to the top of the priority list. Unfortunately, most law offices are closed or limiting their availability due to stay-at-home orders or other state restrictions. Estate planning attorneys are still able to complete meetings by phone and can send clients documents by email or mail for signature. …
For couples that were facing separation and divorce before the stay-at-home order, Executive Order 55 added complication to the separation process. In order for couples to divorce based on separation in Virginia, they must have been living separate and apart for 6 months or 1 year before filing, depending if they have minor children or …
As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the United States, more Americans are facing new realities. Dealing with school closures, quarantines, and stay-at-home orders has impacted businesses and families in new ways. During times like this, more families are getting to their “to-do” lists that may have been lingering on their minds for some time. These …
In Executive Order 55, Governor Northam issued a stay-at-home order for all non-essential purposes and limited social gatherings to less than 10 people in Virginia. The order specifically addressed child custody and visitation, stating that individuals may “leave their residence for purposes of … traveling required by court order or to facilitate custody, visitation, or …
Is Mediation Right for My Case? The divorce process can be unfamiliar, stressful, and painful during an already difficult time in your life. Facing the legal system for the first time while dealing with personal affairs can add complication. Cases that go through litigation often take months, or even years before they are resolved. Along …
The term “estate planning” can be a bit of a misnomer. The term “estate” can summon images of a stately manor full of housekeepers and stables out back. The truth is that every single person has an “estate” – whether that means assets, liabilities, or dependents that rely on them for everyday care and financial …
So you’ve made the responsible decision and purchased a life insurance policy to ensure your dependents will be cared for in the unfortunate event something happens to you. Naming a beneficiary should be the easy part, right? But mistakes made when choosing your beneficiary can lead to unforeseen consequences. When a mistake happens, it can …
A parenting plan is a written agreement between parents who are divorcing, or maybe have never been married but no longer wish to live together, that outlines the responsibilities and expectations for custody, visitation, financial obligations, and other parenting issues that may be specific to your situation. Though often included as part of a separation …
Being a single parent has added responsibilities, including making sure that your minor children are taken care of in the event you no longer are there. What would happen to your children if you died, or became incapacitated and could no longer care for them? Where would they live? Who would take care of them? …
The Commonwealth of Virginia has the second largest military population in the United States. In 2008, the legislature enacted the Virginia Military Parents Equal Protection Act, which addresses the concerns of deploying parents regarding custodial and visitation decisions. The Virginia Military Parents Equal Protection Act defines who is considered to be a deploying parent, including not …
An estate plan has several objectives. It should provide for your family’s financial security, ensure that your property is passed to your beneficiaries as you wish, and determine who will manage your assets and make sure that your estate is distributed properly after your death. Military families need to consider some special estate planning issues …
Though the term prenuptial agreement or “prenup” screams celebrities and the ultra-wealthy, that really isn’t the case anymore. As couples marry later and bring assets to the marriage, prenuptial agreements have become more commonplace. Whether you’re talking about a prenuptial agreement created before the marriage, or a marital agreement created after the marriage, the objective …
Active duty military service members, as well as their families, make large sacrifices in service to their country. The long separations, frequent relocations, and the challenges of active duty may stress and take a toll on these marriages. A Virginia military divorce creates several unique issues as compared to the typical civilian divorce and can …
As discussed in previous blogs, it’s important to have a will and estate plan in place. But though there are many advantages to creating a will, there are some things a will simply can’t do. A will is the perfect document for parents with minor children to use to designate a guardian for their children, …
Estate planning can be a complicated and tricky business. Without a legal document detailing your wishes and how and when you want your estate divided and distributed, your assets could end up in the hands of a son or daughter before he/she has a clue about how to manage money wisely, or even a relative …
President Trump signed the new tax reform bill December 22, 2017. Among the many changes to tax law, the final bill eliminated the tax deduction for spousal support or alimony payments. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, alimony, the legal obligation imposed on a person to provide financial support to their spouse after marital separation or …
Let’s start with a short case study… a very sad and unnecessary scenario: A client’s domestic partner died in an automobile accident. They had been together for eight years and at the time of his death, she was three months pregnant. The house, car title, and bank accounts were all in his name only. He …
In Virginia, a married couple’s assets and property are generally divided into two categories: marital (also referred to as joint property) separate property Marital property is property and income that is acquired or received during a marriage by either spouse, regardless of whose name is on the title. This includes earnings, retirement contributions, homes, cars, …
