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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, …

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 …

An advance medical directive, also sometimes called an advance health care directive, or living will is a legal document that gives you control over who makes medical decisions during times when you cannot make them for yourself because of incapacity, serious illness, or an accident.  These directives allow an individual, known legally as the declarant, to …

The Internet has made it very easy to find answers and instructions on just about anything, including how to develop a do-it-yourself (DYI) estate plan. There are websites and software packages, along with DIY estate planning books and kits that tell prospective customers that you no longer need an attorney to create a will, trust, …

In our last blog, we discussed revocable living trusts and their benefits.  In this blog, we’ve created a simple case study to illustrate the value of a living trust and estate planning, and how it is used once the grantors have gotten older, incapacitated, or have died. Meet Jim and Susan.  They have been married …

A revocable living trust in Virginia, also called a living trust or inter vivos trust, has become a popular estate planning option because of the many benefits it offers.  A revocable living trust is flexible and the terms can be changed at any time, or the trust may be cancelled entirely. Currently, about 20% of Americans have …

When it comes to estate planning, most families have the same objectives: to provide income for their children or other descendants. Parents want their children to continue having the sa me comfortable lifestyle and the freedom to pursue their education and career objectives. But what happens if your children are still under 18? What happens …

Perhaps you are remarried, and now not only have a new spouse and a bright future, you also have a new, blended, extended family, including stepchildren. While there can be much joy involved in a second marriage and having a blended family, along with some normal bumps and bruises along the way, it is likely …