The Trustee’s Role in Virginia: Key Responsibilities and Duties
At Commonwealth Life & Legacy Counsel, we understand the integral role that trusts play in estate planning. These powerful legal tools enable Virginians to safeguard their assets, ensure they're distributed as per their wishes, and potentially sidestep the often burdensome probate process. Yet, the efficacy of any trust largely hinges
Understanding Virginia Inheritance Laws with a Will
Every person leaves behind a story, a legacy, and a footprint on the sands of time. While memories and stories keep us alive in the hearts of our loved ones, how we manage our tangible assets leaves a practical impact on their lives. In the beautiful state of Virginia, drafting
The Importance of a Living Will
(We like to call this a “Directive to Physicians.”) Older adults are more likely than younger adults to think about their preferences for medical care if they were to become incapacitated through a stroke, dementia, or other condition. But the fact is that an accident or illness can cause these conditions
Estate Planning for Blended Families (Stepchildren/Remarriages)
Estate planning for blended families involves unique challenges. The complexity of blended family structures, which often involve several children from previous marriages, often calls for more intricate estate planning. Drafting a comprehensive estate plan as early as possible will help protect everyone’s interests, reduce conflict, and avoid legal pitfalls. Why Careful
Estate Planning for Divorced Families
If you’re divorced, you probably made sure your divorce agreement includes all the major financial aspects of property division, child support, and alimony. Now it’s time for the next step: updating your estate plan. Estate planning for divorced families involves unique challenges, and any mistake or oversight could have far-reaching legal
Digital Estate Planning: What Happens with Your Digital Assets When You Die?
In the past, estate planning used to be about deciding who will inherit and manage your finances and physical assets after you die. Today, a big part of our lives happens online, driving demand for a new service: digital estate planning. At Commonwealth Life & Legacy Counsel, our experienced estate
A Lawyer Can Help You Get SSDI Approval Faster
If you are applying for disability benefits, it makes sense to have a disability attorney represent your interests. Hiring a disability attorney can streamline the process for faster approval. Federal law regulates the fees when hiring a disability attorney to correlate to your date of entitlement or disability payback which is generally 25
Planning Your Estate with Life Insurance
Your surviving loved ones shouldn't be forced to inherit assets only to find they can't access them to meet their financial obligations after you pass away. Homeownership and retirement accounts make up most retirees' assets, so you need to sell them in order to get cash. In order to manage
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
Keeping Up With Your Mental Health During Covid
Since the Coronavirus infected the world, we have faced unprecedented challenges during this coronavirus crisis in America, and it has increased anxiety and fear levels in all of us. The reactive part of your brain called the amygdala, a human physiological response when faced with fear, takes control of your