f
Follow us
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Our Hours Mon. - Fri. 434.589.2958 Call us in Troy, VA 804.598.1348 Call us in Powhatan, VA
  >  About

We are Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys in Central Virginia. We focus on Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Long Term Care Planning, Special Needs and Guardianships. In Central Virginia we serve the communities of Fluvanna, Zion Crossroads, Louisa, Lake Anna, Albemarle, Charlottesville, Scottsville and Powhatan

Michael Winget-Hernandez

I like practicing law. I’ve been doing it since 1984, and it gets better with time. It also helps that I get to work with my wife, who is a really great lawyer and a wonderful person. Lelia and I tend to agree about the main things and disagree about the details. This keeps us both on our toes and constantly works to the benefit of our clients. I got my business and law degrees at Baylor. Much of my career was at the Texas Attorney General’s Office. In 2000, while with the General Litigation Division, I became one of a small team of lawyers from different divisions who were tasked with prosecuting a whistleblower case against a number of large, multi-national drug manufacturers for defrauding Texas Medicaid.

Lelia Winget-Hernandez

I have had experiences and opportunities that have become an integral part of my personality and why I love to practice law. I had the opportunity to attend the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law and graduated in 2000 with honors. Upon graduating, I came back home to Virginia and clerked for United States Magistrate Judge David G. Lowe. Following my clerkship, I spent five years in private practice. I had my son, Zach, between my second and third year of law school, and was pregnant with my daughter, Madeleine, when I took the Virginia bar exam in 2001. So, my early law career was a balancing act between gaining legal experience and parenting two young children.
Angela Keating1

Angela Keating

Angie grew up in Alaska and has lived all over the country, but she found her home in Western Albemarle County. After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, she decided to complete her education and earned an MBA with a concentration in Health Care Management. She spent several years managing the Charlottesville branch of a large home care company before joining Commonwealth Life & Legacy as their Firm Administrator. In that role, Angie continues to maintain her professional focus on supporting and advocating for the senior population by Chairing the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Aging in Place Business Network, being a member of the Dementia Friends Charlottesville/Albemarle action team, and most currently, studying to become a Certified Senior Advisor. In her free time, Angie enjoys cooking, camping, and crocheting, and spending time with her two teenage sons.
Stacie Payne

Stacie Payne

Stacie joins Commonwealth Life & Legacy Council as a legal assistant/office administrator for the firm’s Powhatan office. A native of Richmond and raised in Chesterfield County, Stacie has been a resident of Powhatan since 2001 where she and her husband have proudly raised their family. For the last 20 years, Stacie has been actively involved in the Powhatan community with volunteering at her children’s schools, PTO’s and sports leagues. As a new empty-nester she joins Lelia at her Powhatan office for Commissioner of Accounts. Stacie has extensive experience assisting civil and criminal trial attorneys. She has enjoyed helping clients with their estate planning and real estate settlement closings. One of Stacie’s most satisfying accomplishments was in her position with the Commonwealth of VA presenting administrative hearings before the VA Real Estate Board. Stacie is passionate about problem solving, streamlining office processes and serving the Powhatan community. She enjoys traveling, cooking, entertaining and a newfound craft in quilting.

Michael and Lelia Winget-Hernandez are

experienced lawyers

with years practicing in the state and federal courts, and have successfully handled cases worth millions of dollars. As a husband-and-wife team, they often work on matters together, and this always works to their clients’ advantage. Because they like to work together, and their skills and abilities complement one another, these two lawyers are better than one. They are also your neighbors right here in Troy; they want you to have the representation and the result you deserve.

Commonwealth Life and Legacy Counsel

Michael and Lelia are a caring team that wants to establish what’s best for you and your family, whatever your situation. They are experienced and compassionate, as well as committed to causes that benefit not just themselves, but also the community.

Lelia is President of the Board of Directors of the Oakland School. Oakland is a private, non-profit school located on 450 acres in Fluvanna County. It is a small co-ed boarding and day school that enables bright children who benefit from small class sizes and individualized programs to reach their academic and personal potential. Lelia’s daughter, who has learning challenges, attended Oakland School for 4 years. Through her daughter, Lelia witnessed first hand the difference Oakland makes in their students’ learning ability and personal confidence and she is dedicated to advancing the mission of Oakland School. Lelia also serves on the Board of Directors of the Lake Anna Business Partnership. As a resident of Louisa County and a business owner in Lake Anna, Lelia is committed to Lake Anna Business Partnership’s mission to promote business and responsible growth that preserves the intrinsic beauty of the Lake Anna area. Lelia also teaches yoga at her own studio (Twig Yoga).

Michael is a member of the Fluvanna Rotary Club, which emphasizes service to school-age children in the county. He has served on the boards of directors of several local, regional, and statewide non-profit organizations in Virginia and in Texas. These organizations primarily promote the interests of children with special needs, and in some cases reflect his personal interest in the fine arts and music. He also advances the cause of access to civil justice through regular pro bono work.

About Us

Michael and Lelia Winget-Hernandez are

experienced lawyers

with years practicing in the state and federal courts, and have successfully handled cases worth millions of dollars. As a husband-and-wife team, they often work on matters together, and this always works to their clients’ advantage, because they like to work together, and their skills and abilities complement one another, these two lawyers are better than one. They are also your neighbors, right here in Troy, so they want you to have the representation, and the result you deserve.

Commonwealth Life and Legacy Counsel

Michael and Lelia are a caring team that wants to establish what’s best for you and your family, whatever your situation. They are experienced and compassionate, as well as committed to causes that benefit not just themselves, but also the community.

Community Involvement

Lelia is President of the Board of Directors of the Oakland School. Oakland is a private, non-profit school located on 450 acres in Fluvanna County. It is a small co-ed boarding and day school that enables bright children who benefit from small class sizes and individualized program to reach their academic and personal potential. Lelia’s daughter, who has learning challenges, attended Oakland School for 4 years. Through her daughter, Lelia witnessed first hand the difference Oakland makes in their students’ learning ability and personal confidence and she is dedicated to advancing the mission of Oakland School.

Lelia also teaches yoga at her own studio (Twig Yoga).and to the students at Lafayette School. Lafayette School is a private non-profit school for children and adolescents with special needs who benefit from a therapeutic day school environment.

Michael is a member of the Fluvanna Rotary Club, which emphasizes service to school-age children in the county. He has served on the boards of directors of several local, regional, and statewide non-profit organizations in Virginia and in Texas. These organizations primarily promote the interests of children with special needs, and in some cases reflect his personal interest in the fine arts and music. He also advances the cause of access to civil justice through regular pro bono work.

Client Testimonials

Partners and Memberships