If you missed it, October was National Estate Planning Month. Why? Because more than half of all adults in the U.S. don’t have an estate plan—or even a will—it is certain that estate planning is an often-overlooked component for financial…
Even though you may feel that you don’t have an “estate,” it’s clear that everyone needs estate planning. And though you may be young and healthy, and not really thinking about your mortality, this is the time to “get your…
Being a single parent has added responsibilities, including making sure that your minor children are taken care of in the event you no longer are there. What would happen to your children if you died, or became incapacitated and could…
You may have gotten married or divorced, blended a family, gotten your dream job, bought a house or started a new business, even had twins. You own assets now, and you have people that depend on you and for…
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, only “interested parties” can contest a last will and testament. An interested party is any individual that has standing to challenge the estate and is usually someone who is entitled to receive property under the…
Let’s start with a short story… a very sad and unnecessary scenario: A friend’s domestic partner died in an automobile accident. They had been together for nine years and at the time of his death, she was five months pregnant.…
We’ve all heard the term probate - that a will “has to go through probate.” But, what exactly does the term mean, what is involved once probate begins, and how does it affect beneficiaries of a will? Probate is the…
Over 55 percent of American adults have neither a will nor any other type of estate plan in place. This number has remained fairly steady for the past fifteen years. Without a will or some other estate plan in place,…
Of course, it is possible to prepare your own will—just as it is possible for you to stitch up your own forehead with a needle and thread instead of going to all the trouble to go see a doctor, meaning…
There are many different types of wills—certainly one which will fit most any situation—yet far too many people do not have even the simplest of wills. In fact, according to research done by AARP, although most adults know they should…