A medical emergency can leave family members facing a difficult decision with little to no warning. If an adult in Virginia cannot communicate and has not signed an advance medical directive, state law decides who can make healthcare decisions. The process follows a...
Being appointed to care for a parent or manage their finances brings duties that continue after the court case ends. Knowing what to file and when can help you stay organized while protecting your loved one. A guardian oversees personal and care decisions, while a...
Virginia courts appoint a guardian to oversee an incapacitated adult. When that happens, family members often assume that this person can make all the important decisions of life, but that is not always the case. When a guardian handles many personal choices of an...
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that authorizes an individual to step in and manage another person's finances and legal affairs in certain situations. It is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the unexpected, such as a serious illness, accident...
Discovering that someone is contesting your loved one's will can trigger anxiety. Whether the challenge comes from an estranged family member or a distant relative, the stakes can be high. However, understanding how Virginia courts evaluate these disputes can help...
Many couples remain in long-term committed relationships for years and even decades – often until one of them passes away. If you’re in one of those couples, you and your partner may feel like you’re married, but in the eyes of the law, you aren’t. That means when one...
When you think about the future, protecting your loved ones likely ranks high on your priority list. Creating a will in Virginia might be one of the most thoughtful steps you can take to ease their burden during an already difficult time. Here are three ways a will...
Did you know that most Americans do not have an estate plan? Roughly a third do, but the other two-thirds do not, so the majority of Americans have not yet written a will or taken any other important steps to protect their future in the event of their incapacitation,...
There are many scenarios in which families may have questions about the validity of estate planning documents or what the deceased person truly intended. The discovery of multiple different estate plans drafted by the same person can leave everyone questioning what...
Older adults often expect Medicare to help them cover basic retirement health care expenses. However, as their support needs increase due to advanced age or medical challenges, they may find themselves in need of Medicaid benefits. Medicaid covers long-term care...
