The Role of the Commissioner of Accounts in Virginia Probate
Handling an estate after a loved one passes can feel like trying to sort through the pieces of a large puzzle. Many families soon discover that Virginia adds one more player to the process, the Commissioner of Accounts. At Commonwealth Life and Legacy Counsel, we focus on estate planning, elder law,
Need Help with Probate? Our Guide to Estate Administration
Losing someone you care about is never easy. On top of the grief, there’s the legal side—often unfamiliar and full of questions. That’s where we help. At Commonwealth Life & Legacy Counsel, we guide families through the probate process with clarity and calm. What Probate Means in Virginia Probate is how Virginia
Can Siblings Contest a Will?
It’s not uncommon for tensions to rise when a will is read after a loved one’s passing. Siblings may feel confused, disappointed, or suspicious if the terms don’t reflect what they believed their parents intended. At Commonwealth Life and Legacy Counsel, we support families across Central Virginia through these sensitive situations. In
How to Get Power of Attorney for a Parent With Mental Illness
Caring for a parent with a serious mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or severe depression, can feel overwhelming. Important decisions about finances, health care, and daily needs often fall to family members, but without legal authority, your hands may be tied. At Commonwealth Life and Legacy Counsel, we help
How to Create a Transfer on Death Deed in Virginia
A Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) in Virginia offers a simple way to transfer property directly to a beneficiary, avoiding probate. At Commonwealth Life & Legacy Counsel, located in Central Virginia, we help clients leverage TODDs to create a seamless assignment of property in their estate plan. What is a Transfer
Should My Loved One in Need of Care Live with Me?
Increasingly, the concept of aging in place is becoming more popular. However, many of us face the issue of what to do when we notice an older loved one is having difficulty living safely at home. Signs such as a dirty home in poor repair, unpaid bills, piles of mail,
App That Stores Crucial Information That Can Save Lives
Now that we have reached the digital age more Americans than ever before are storing and providing information through digital apps on smartphones and tablet devices. Whether engaging in online banking, using a mobile plane boarding pass, or creating work calendars, shared in the cloud, the internet of things provides
Does Your Estate Plan Account For a Pandemic Like COVID-19?
COVID-19 will probably be with us humans forever, endemic in large swaths of the world in varying degrees of intensity. According to National Geographic, COVID-19 may eventually transition into a "mild childhood illness," joining the four endemic human coronaviruses which contribute to the common cold. Three determining factors, human immunity retention
Act Now to Validate Aging Powers of Attorney
My uncle is in the hospital and needs me to pay bills on his behalf. In 2002, he named me as his financial power of attorney, so I could write checks for him when he couldn't, like now. But the bank is rejecting the document. They say it's too old.
Why It Is Essential To Make a Will
If you have loved ones, then creating a will for your peace of mind and their protection is the right thing to do. Your last will and testament communicates your wishes regarding your dependents and how to dispose of your property when you die. Though crafting your will can make