Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.
– Denis Waitley
A properly executed will is always high on the list of essential documents in sound estate planning. The decision to write a will is fundamentally important, but so are the choices made in storing the paper document once it has been produced. Somewhat surprisingly, it has been estimated that only 30 percent to 50 percent […]
Proper estate planning includes tracking a will’s location Read More »
In divorce cases, child custody and child support (its possible financial corollary) have, traditionally, been skewed heavily in the mother’s favor. But changing legal doctrines, social mores and economic factors have been changing the balance. Statistics from recent decades show that women were consistently awarded custody of children from 1993 through 2007 — 83 percent
Women Have Usually Trumped Men in Child Custody, But More Men May Win custody Cases Read More »
Increasingly, divorcing spouses who wish to conceal their assets are turning to electronic currencies like Bitcoin. Bitcoin is the most popular of a host of computer-generated currencies that are used to buy all manner of goods and services. It rivals cash in terms of its anonymity and surpasses it in its ease of transfer and
Watching for deception: Bitcoin may be used to conceal assets in divorce Read More »
Disabilities that sometimes develop with age can inhibit long-term planning skills. If you deal with such a condition, you may need to adjust your plans for the future so that they can support you and adhere to your wishes under any circumstance. The best advice is simply to start early. If Alzheimer’s or another form
Extra estate planning support may be necessary for those with dementia Read More »
One of the advantages of a living trust is that the assets held within it are not subject to probate, which can be a complicated, drawn-out and costly process. As such, many people automatically choose living trusts as they plan their estates. But there is another type of trust: a testamentary trust. While probate is
Because estate planning involves preparation for the disposition of assets after death, people often feel uncomfortable discussing it. It can be especially challenging for people to face planning with their children. But serious challenges can arise from a lack of communication between estate grantors and their children (their most likely beneficiaries and executors) before death
Good estate planning depends on good communication with loved ones Read More »
Divorce proceedings can be expensive as well as time-consuming and emotionally draining on the main parties involved. An array of issues, including the division of property, child custody, alimony and other items of contention can prove to be the catalyst for a contentious, drawn-out affair in court. Mediation is often suggested as a viable alternative
When Mediation Is Not the Best Way to Resolve a Divorce Read More »
The term probate may evoke foreboding thoughts among many who hear it, but essentially the word means the act of validating and recording the will of a deceased person with the court that has jurisdiction. In the case of the commonwealth of Virginia, that court is the Circuit Court, and it is the proper filing
Where There Is a Valid Will There Is a Proper Way to File in Probate Court Read More »
It is usually considered an honor to be asked to assume the role of the executor of an estate for a relative or friend. Still, the challenges of the position, particularly those of more complex estate situations, can sometimes overwhelm an executor. In such circumstances, the services of an experienced attorney can provide excellent support.
The Role of Executor of an Estate May Call for an Attorney’s Help Read More »
A famous purveyor of gemstones and the author of the James Bond spy novels would remind us that diamonds are forever, and that is as romantic a thought as it is geologically accurate. However, for couples whose romance is on the rocks, it is probably wise to remember that web postings are forever as well.
Spouses with Fondness for Online Flirting May Rue Act If Marriage Ends in Divorce Read More »
