Your estate plan lets your loved ones know what you want to happen with your assets when you pass away. It may also contain instructions that will come into the picture before you die. It’s imperative that you set the estate plan up carefully. You also need to take...
Estate Planning
What are the key responsibilities of a fiduciary in Virginia?
During the course of estate planning conversations in Virginia, the term fiduciary will often arise. However, understanding exactly what this term means is not always straightforward. Essentially, a fiduciary is a person who has been legally appointed to act in the...
Do you need an advance medical directive?
An advance medical directive helps explain what kind of care you want to have if you cannot speak on your own behalf due to an injury or illness. It is a good idea for any adult, no matter their age, to have an advance directive. Whether you are young and healthy or...
Will taxes destroy the legacy you leave behind when you die?
There is a saying that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes. However, there is a lot of uncertainty about where those two issues overlap. People often hear and believe inaccurate information about so-called death taxes that apply to their property...
Estate planning documents to update following a divorce
Divorce is an emotionally taxing event that often leaves drastic life changes in its wake. You may need to settle in a new home, adopt a new lifestyle, create a new schedule for the kids and focus on the future. However, you must never forget to update important...
Estate planning: Next steps after a dementia diagnosis
Getting diagnosed with a progressive disease like dementia or Alzheimer’s can feel like your whole world is crumbling. Most people in Manassas, Virginia, fear losing the ability to make life decisions. They also worry about what will happen to their family if they...
Can aging adults name their own guardians for their future care?
When age or medical conditions leave someone unable to care for themselves, they need a guardian. Typically, the Virginia courts will only name a guardian when someone has already experienced cognitive decline and lacks the testamentary capacity to act in their own...
Medicaid planning: Why it is wise to start now
As you get older, there may come a time when you require long-term care at home or in a care facility. Paying for these services can be expensive. While Medicaid can cover these costs, too many people wind up exhausting most of their personal resources before they are...
Who can contest a will?
Most people’s wills go unchallenged. People assume that what the deceased wrote is what they wanted to happen to their assets. Yet, occasionally someone has a reason to doubt the veracity of the will contents. When that happens, they may want to mount a challenge to...
What are the two varieties of living trust?
Both living trusts and wills can be powerful forces in your estate plan. However, while the majority of Americans are at least casually familiar with what a will does, living trusts are far less well understood. There are two major types of living trusts. Which one is...

