You may have a will that you prepared many years ago. Your life has changed in many ways since you signed that will. Named beneficiaries or executors may no longer be living. You can cancel your last will and make a new one to reflect your updated circumstances....
Simple Wills
The role of witnesses in Virginia estate planning
Virginia imposes very strict rules on the creation of a will or estate plan. When you create a will specifically, you will need two competent adult witnesses. If you do not have witnesses present when you sign your will, then the Virginia probate courts may not...
How can I avoid common estate planning mistakes?
An estate plan not only protects your assets. It can also spare your family a great burden after you are gone. Accordingly, all people should have estate plans in place, regardless of age or level of wealth. According to Kiplinger, you must also take steps to avoid...
When is a will valid in Virginia?
When you die, the court may not recognize your wishes if they do not appear in a valid will. Each state has different laws about what makes a person's will valid. As you begin the estate planning process, review the requirements for a legal will in Virginia, even if...
Can I edit my will after I validate it?
Your relationships, financial situation and other factors may change after creating a will in Virginia. Just because a certain inheritance or estate planning decision made sense at the time you created your will does not mean that you are stuck with it. Changing your...
Reviewing Virginia’s intestate succession regulations
If you view the need to being the process of planning out the administration of your estate in Forest with a certain degree of trepidation, you certainly are not alone. Indeed, statistics show that more than half of American adults do not have a will. One of the...
Can you get away with a simple will?
You know you need to plan for the distribution of your assets and the care of your children should you unexpectedly pass but, if you are like many people, you put off the chore for various reasons. One such reason may be the fear that creating a will can be complex...
When a person cannot sign a will
In order to properly validate a will, you need to add your signature to it. However, some people have older parents who, although they need to make out a will, suffer from health challenges that do not make it possible to legibly sign a document. Fortunately, Virginia...
Holographic wills in Virginia
A holographic will is one that the testator writes out by hand. Over half of the states in the country, including Virginia, recognize the validity of a holographic will. Eleven states do not recognize holographic wills at all, while nine states recognize them only in...
How to establish a guardianship in Virginia
If your parent or another loved one is no longer able to manage his or her affairs, a guardianship may be the best choice for your family. With this arrangement, the appointed guardian can make decisions about where the person will live, the medical care he or she...
