What is it? There are a lot of buzzwords going around - “green burial,” “greener death,” “natural burial,” and “eco-friendly...

What is It? Let’s start with the basics. A “will” is a legally enforceable document that specifies how a person (the testator) wants...

What is It? A will is a legally enforceable document that specifies how you want your family taken care of and your property distributed...

What is it? Probate is the legal process where a person’s final affairs are settled and their property distributed. This can happen...

I recently read an article in the New Hampshire Bar News: While there were parts that I think would be helpful to an audience that isn’t...

What is it? To understand what an estate plan is, you first need to understand the meaning of the word “estate.” Your estate - and yes,...

What is It? Your estate consists of everything you own after you die. Yes, everything. This includes tangible things like your vehicles...

What is It? A Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) is a type of marital trust that lets the grantor (the entity whose assets are...

What is It? A marital trust is a type of trust wherein the settlor (person establishing the trust) bestows management duties on a trustee...

What is It? A trust is a fiduciary relationship in which the settlor (person whose assets will be held in the trust) gives the trustee...

A cautionary tale... We all have been victims of procrastination at one time or another. “Maybe I’ll set up my estate plan next week, or...

Definitions for Commonly Used Legal Terms of Art 120-hour Rule - A person must survive more than 120 hours after the decedent’s death to...

The Four Ways to Write a Will and their Pros and Cons There are several ways to make a will in Virginia. They range from handwriting your...

Testamentary capacity is simply the capacity to make a will. Virginia Code § 64.2-401 sets out who may make a will. The statute requires...

Selecting the right attorney to represent you could be one of the most important decisions you ever make. It’s a decision that many...