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...
How wills and irrevocable trusts differ
When creating your Virginia estate plan, you have options, and different estate planning tools enable you to accomplish different estate planning objectives. Many people working on their estate plans choose to create wills, irrevocable trusts, or both along the way....
The role of a court-appointed guardian
Injury, illness, age and various other factors may leave people unable to speak or to make decisions for themselves. When loved ones cannot care for themselves because of physical or mental incapacities, family members may consider asking the court to appoint...
Who handles finances after death?
Losing your loved one is a tragedy, but finances can add a hassle on top of it. Nevertheless, there are likely to be several complex requirements before the estate settles fully. Nobody wants to do these things, but someone has to. Depending on the situation, you...
