Wills and Trusts

Writing your Last Will and Testament is a crucial step in planning for your future. But did you know that it’s also possible to create a plan for the way you want your funeral and memorial service to be conducted? It may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn how you can make your funeral…Read More

When creating a trust, one important decision to make is who will act as the trustee. Choosing to name a non-family third party as the trustee of your trust can provide several benefits. Here, we will explore why this option may be considered when deciding who will oversee the trust. Objective Decision Making A third-party trustee has no personal ties…Read More

The last thing you want after you pass is for your family members to squabble over your estate. Unfortunately, even with forethought and planning, loved ones may challenge the validity of your will and final wishes, throwing your estate into a potentially long, drawn-out legal process. So, how can you avoid having your will contested by family members? A Prince…Read More

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

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

Some seniors don’t expect to remarry after a divorce or the death of a spouse. However, life is full of surprises. You could meet someone at any age, even during your retirement years. Many older adults bring various assets and debts into a new relationship. They might also have children from a previous marriage, one or multiple businesses, and collections…Read More

When creating a trust with a Prince William County trust lawyer, it is important to understand the specific roles involved. The grantor or settlor is the person who establishes a trust. The designated beneficiary is the person who receives the assets held in trust when the grantor dies. Probate is unnecessary because trust property passes outside the last will and…Read More

For many decades, wealthy families relied on bypass trusts as critical aspects of their estate plans. However, in recent years, Prince William County trust attorneys have seen a shift away from the use of this type of trust. This is mainly due to the increase in gift and estate tax exemptions, as well as what is known as the “portability”…Read More

There are many reasons why some people might find the idea of a handwritten will attractive. Also known as holographic wills, handwritten wills might seem cheaper and simpler to execute than non-holographic wills. However, handwritten wills are not legally valid in every state. Furthermore, in the states that do recognize handwritten wills, there are a number of guidelines to which…Read More

Thinking about what will happen if your physical or mental health starts to decline can be a daunting prospect. Even more overwhelming can be the idea of imagining how the people you love will manage after you die. However, it is important to plan for these eventualities to ensure that your affairs will remain under control while you’re still alive…Read More