Effective August 1, 2019, you can meet with a Dominion Law Group Estate Planning attorney in Great Falls, Virginia. Our new office is located at 774-A Walker Rd., and you can reach us directly at 703-865-2525. Our Leesburg office is always available at 20 W. Market St., and you can call us at … [Read more...] about Dominion Law Group now has an office in Great Falls, Virginia
Virginia: Changes to the “Elective Share” and “Augmented Estate”
Effective January 1, 2017, the laws governing the “elective share” changed. This law concerns the entitlement of a surviving spouse to a specific share of the deceased spouse’s estate, if the deceased spouse died without a will or with a will leaving less than the statutory amount to the … [Read more...] about Virginia: Changes to the “Elective Share” and “Augmented Estate”
Family LLC: Something to Consider in Estate Planning
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a frequently-used business entity that provides liability protection to confine any at-risk assets to just those of the LLC. Personal assets of an LLC owner are protected from business risks. A Family Limited Liability Company (FLLC) is a legal entity for … [Read more...] about Family LLC: Something to Consider in Estate Planning
Filing after the Death of a Federal Employee or Retiree
Identifying the Places to File and the Forms to Use! A close family friend who was a federal retiree (under the Civil Service Retirement System) passed away recently, and it was an honor to help the family manage the correspondence needed to file for survivor benefits and life insurance. Many … [Read more...] about Filing after the Death of a Federal Employee or Retiree
Digital Assets, an Update
As we all get ready for tax season, this is also a good time to think about organizing and planning for our “digital assets”. The newsletter has covered the topic over the years and will use this edition of the newsletter to update in depth. What are digital assets? Generally they break down … [Read more...] about Digital Assets, an Update
Dying Intestate
If you don’t have an estate plan, the state has one for you, known as the Laws of Intestacy. In Virginia that is codified in the Virginia Codeunder the Descent and Distribution section of the chapter on Wills and Decedent’s Estate. There are two key matters, what assets pass by the laws of … [Read more...] about Dying Intestate
Guidance for the Recently Widowed
Despite the grief and sense of loss experienced at the death of a spouse, there are steps that should be taken to settle the decedent’s estate and ensure the survivor’s planning is up to date. The survivor is advised to request as many as 20 certified copies of the death certificate, as they will … [Read more...] about Guidance for the Recently Widowed
Special Needs Planning
One of the most important aspects of estate planning for families with a special needs child (no matter what age) is to preserve the child’s eligibility for public benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and subsidized housing. Many parents seek a way to leave an inheritance … [Read more...] about Special Needs Planning
Financial Abuse of Elders
Fraud, Scams, Undue Influence, Theft, Deception , Oh My Elder Financial Abuse is broadly defined as illegal or improper use of an elder's income or assets. It can range from breach of fiduciary duty when an agent named in a power of attorney uses that authority for personal benefit, … [Read more...] about Financial Abuse of Elders
Prince and Estate Planning
People who practice estate planning are always looking for examples to set before their clients of the value of planning. The death of celebrities often creates that kind of a learning experience. (see earlier article) Much has been made of musician Prince’s lack of a will after his unexpected … [Read more...] about Prince and Estate Planning
