Blogs

If your estate plan includes a revocable living trust, you may consider including a pour-over will to ensure that any remaining assets transfer to your trust when you die. This can simplify the probate process, saving your family time and money. Managing the deceased person’s finances can be an added stress for a family during their time of grief, so… Read More

If you have an aging or chronically ill loved one, you may often find yourself wondering if there are ways to help them both relieve their pain and feel more comfortable. Many forms of treatment that focus on curing a person’s condition actually make them feel worse rather than better. Fortunately, there is a medical option known as palliative care… Read More

If you have an aging loved one, there will likely come a time when you begin to have concerns about their physical or cognitive health. You might notice that they are forgetting to take their medications or asking the same questions again and again. Or maybe it’s that they don’t seem as capable of managing the stairs or keeping up… Read More

Northern Virginia estate planning lawyers are often asked by their clients to explain what comprises a basic estate plan. Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question because an estate plan all depends on the situation and the needs of the individual. For instance, a basic estate plan for one person might include a Revocable Living Trust, while for another,… Read More

It’s often difficult to stay in touch with a loved one after placing them in a nursing home. You have a busy schedule, your own family to care for, and other responsibilities that get in your way. Planning a visit to the nursing home might not be that easy. However, you want to spend quality time with your family member… Read More

Social Security benefits are available to individuals who paid Social Security taxes while employed and have reached a particular age. Many people don't know that benefits may also be available to eligible family members, such as a spouse. Additionally, if the insured passes away, their spouse might be able to collect survivors’ benefits. What Are Survivors’ Benefits?  Survivors’ benefits are… Read More

Creating a trust can be a vital part of the estate planning process. A trust can protect your assets and benefit the family members who receive them. It’s critical to understand state laws and the steps you need to take to create a trust. Common errors can invalidate someone’s trust and prevent surviving heirs from receiving the property left to… Read More

No matter how much you love your stepchildren and want to plan for their futures, Virginia laws don’t recognize stepsons and stepdaughters as immediate heirs. Knowing that, if you don’t specifically list your stepkids in your estate plan, they won’t have any legal rights to your assets. That means when you pass away, they could be left with nothing. When… Read More

Deciding to live abroad can be an exciting time in anyone’s life. A lot of planning goes into making such a drastic move, but one area that Prince William County trust lawyers see commonly overlooked is estate planning. While estate planning is not the most exciting element to think about when planning a new life in a foreign country, it’s… Read More

A caregiver agreement, also referred to as a personal service contract, is a contract between an individual in need of care and the person taking care of them. Typically, an adult child will assume the role of caretaker for an older or incapacitated parent. It’s a job many people take on when someone they love requires assistance to perform basic… Read More