According to a 2023 survey by Caring.com, only 34 percent of Americans have a last will and testament, despite 64 percent agreeing that it is important to have one. No matter how young or old you are, there is no better time than today to start estate planning. A will provides peace of mind that even …
Virginia trust and estate laws will likely impact you at some point in your life. Preparing your estate planning documents now can save you time later, smooth over the probate process, and allow you to plan for unexpected occurrences like becoming incapacitated. You are never too young to start creating an estate plan. Need help …
Filling out your estate planning documents and meeting all necessary requirements can be overwhelming. Filling out essential legal documents for your estate planning process can be complex and time-consuming, especially when you account for the research needed to understand the legal documents that you will need. A Virginia trusts and estates lawyer can work with you to …
Did you know that 10% of animals in shelters are there because their owner died? While you love your pet as part of the family, if you pass away without a care plan, they could end up at the mercy of an animal shelter. A pet trust is a legally binding way of providing for their long-term care …
According to our Virginia trusts and estates lawyers, living wills and advance healthcare directives are legal guidelines that specify your preferences for medical care and decisions if you become incapacitated or too ill to care for yourself. A living will is a type of advance directive, as is a durable power of attorney, a do …
Taxes can quickly become complicated when you have to deal with the federal Internal Revenue Service and the Virginia Department of Taxation at the state level. Understanding what you owe is important to avoid penalties. The Virginia trusts and estates lawyers at Melone Hatley, P.C. are knowledgeable about Virginia tax codes and can help with …
Guardianships and conservatorships can be very complex in Virginia. We know that dealing with these kinds of issues can be emotionally draining, and having to conquer the legal matters as well quickly becomes overwhelming. As a loved one’s health deteriorates, the need for legal safeguards is even more substantial. Any delays or errors can devastate …
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Negotiate a fair and equitable arrangement with the help of our compassionate Virginia divorce lawyer. We will guide you every step of the way. Separation in Virginia Clients often ask “how can I legally separate from my spouse?” The answer in Virginia is quite simple. Once you start sleeping separately from your spouse with the …
Negotiate a fair and equitable arrangement with the help of our compassionate Virginia family lawyers. We will guide you every step of the way. Whether or not you are entitled to custodial or visitation rights with your child, the court may require payment of child support. Each state provides its own guidelines to calculate the …
Negotiate a fair and equitable arrangement with the help of our compassionate family law attorneys. We will guide you every step of the way. Questions about: divorce law, child custody law, visitation rights, child support law or spousal support law. Call for a free consultation today! Divorce Divorce is one of the most stressful and …
No matter how “friendly,” divorce is never easy. At the very least, it’s a life-changing decision affecting your entire family, your financial life, and your future. Whether you are facing a fairly straightforward divorce or a complex legal dispute, having the right legal team can make all the difference. At Melone Hatley, P.C., our award-winning …
Entering into a child custody battle can create tumultuous emotions between co-parents. Losing custody of your child is devastating and is often a cause of concern for parents in this situation. You want to protect your parental rights, and you are scared that the custody arrangements may grant your ex-spouse sole custody, legal or physical. …
Your marriage can end for any number of reasons. However, when one spouse is in the military, there is a higher probability of divorce, and deployment increases that likelihood. Tensions can and almost always do run high with a divorce. You likely go through many different distracting emotions that take your attention away from the …
For people under thirty, the military consistently ranks as one of the top ten jobs with the highest divorce rate. Military families face additional challenges beyond the usual family law disputes in a divorce case. Deployment can delay a military divorce case, navigating benefits and dividing a military pension can be tricky legal matters. If …
In a 2013 study by the Rand Corporation, researchers found a direct correlation between the length of deployment and divorce rates for military service members, with 97 percent of those divorces occurring after a return from deployment. Divorce is hard enough on everyone involved, from the division of marital property to child custody issues and …
Special Needs Child Custody Lawyers in Virginia Caring for a special needs child can be difficult, especially when you feel a lack of support from your spouse. Sometimes it can even lead to the dissolution of your marriage. In fact, parents of children with disabilities have a divorce rate as high as 87 percent. Recent estimates …
Whether your case is contested or uncontested, if you, or your spouse, is in the military, it can create unique challenges. From jurisdiction to deployment to child custody determinations, these cases have more moving parts than most. As a result, it is important that any military family facing divorce has the knowledge and insight of …
