Blog
How Does The “Death Tax” Work?
How does the death tax work? Actually, there is not just one “death tax”, but several types of taxes that can affect your estate at death:
Maintaining Your Estate Plan: Our Guardian Program
Maintaining Your Relational Estate Plan Estate plans only work well when they are maintained. As your beneficiaries, personal representatives, agents, and assets change due to life events, the only solution is regular maintenance. Our Guardian program is designed to...
What to Expect When You Create a Trust
Most people find that the convenience, privacy, and flexibility of a trust make it a better option for planning their estate than using a last will and testament alone. If you are considering creating a trust for yourself or your family, here is what you can expect as...
Who Has the Right to Care for You if You Become Incapacitated?
When someone becomes incapacitated or disabled due to aging, injury, or illness, provision needs to be made so that their loved ones have the legal right to care for and make decisions for them. But how does this happen? If you become incapacitated, who will take care...
How to Use a Special Needs Trust for Your Loved One with Disabilities
Special Needs Trusts: An Effective Way to Help Your Loved One Navigate Unique Challenges Third-party special needs trusts (often shortened to special needs trusts) are a legal arrangement designed to protect and provide for people with disabilities. If you have a...
3 Tips for Estate Planning with Cryptocurrency
Many people have made thousands, some even millions, with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency may have lost some of its value due to recent scandals that are under government scrutiny, but it is here to stay. Even if you do not own this asset yourself,...
What are a Trustee’s Responsibilities?
If you are using a trust as part of your estate plan, it is crucial that you choose a trustee who will be the right person to handle your trust after you pass. You are giving this person access to your assets and a lot of influence in how things unfold after your...
Should I Use a Trust or a POD Account?
There are many tools you can use to distribute your assets when you pass. Two of the most common options are trusts and payable on death (POD) accounts. Both of these tools allow you to transfer assets to your beneficiaries without going through probate. However, if...
Virginia Intestate Laws
What does intestate mean? “Intestate” is the legal term for someone who dies without a valid will or some other type of estate plan. If you die intestate, your state’s default rules for how your assets should be distributed are applied to your estate. Who administers...