Blogs

A living trust is a valuable tool in estate planning. You can manage it while you’re alive while passing control of your affairs to someone else upon your incapacity or death. The assets in the trust can also avoid probate, allowing successor trustees immediate access to the funds they need without going through a long, drawn-out court process. Successor trustees… Read More

You’ve spent a lifetime working to care for yourself and your family. When you reach your golden years, you may wonder what it is you’ll leave behind. What will your legacy be, and what can you do to give back to those who have enriched your life? One answer our Woodbridge estate planning attorneys may suggest is establishing a charitable… Read More

A death doula, also referred to as an end-of-life doula, guides a person who is transitioning to death and assists their loved ones, according to the International End of Life Doula Association. "Doula" is a Greek word that reentered the modern vocabulary when non-medical support people began assisting at births. Just as birth is a significant moment in the life… Read More

When planning for the second half of their lives, our Manassas elder law attorneys have found that most people do not anticipate an increase in happiness. Research shows, however, that happiness does grow as people age. The comprehensive Second Half of Life Study conducted by AARP in collaboration with National Geographic examines the general outlook of people at various stages… Read More

Parents who have children with special needs spend a lot of time thinking about the future. They may wonder, “Who will care for my child when I’m gone someday” or “How will we afford a lifetime of care?”  The answers to these questions can feel so overwhelming that parents may feel stuck when it ultimately comes to creating a legal… Read More

Inheriting a retirement account, such as a 401(k) or an IRA, can benefit a person struggling with their finances. It can help pay bills and create more stability. However, any Woodbridge inheritance lawyer will tell you that ignoring federal regulations can lead to significant tax penalties! The rules applying to your inherited account depend on your relationship with the deceased.… Read More

Many people confuse dementia and mental illness. Although dementia can affect mental health, it isn't a mental illness. It is a brain disorder that causes issues with communication and memory loss. Sometimes, people with dementia display troubling behavioral problems, such as physical violence, verbal outbursts, and aggression. When someone with dementia starts acting violently, knowing how to handle it is… Read More

Designating your estate as the beneficiary of your IRA might make sense to you. It's simpler than choosing one or several loved ones as beneficiaries. It can also prevent future arguments and lawsuits among your family since you’re not naming one person over another. However, naming an estate as an IRA beneficiary is problematic and comes with a range of… Read More

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. It prevents people from talking, walking, and, eventually, breathing. Typically, patients diagnosed with ALS die within three to five years of their diagnosis from respiratory failure. However, some live longer. Approximately 20,000 people in the United States live with… Read More

A funeral is a traditional method of honoring a person's life after death. However, some people don't feel comfortable having one. Choosing not to have a funeral is entirely acceptable. Your loved ones don't have to attend the sad event if you want to spare them the burden. If you don’t have a funeral, other options are available. You might… Read More