Sometimes there’s very little fanfare when a new law is passed. We don’t know what hit us until the law affects something close to us. While it was on the news a lot recently, tax reform may still be somewhat mysterious to most of us. Tax reform may shape your most important documents – your […]

Virginia’s Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act empowered agents and personal representatives across the state. In the past, it was difficult for personal representatives to access a testator’s digital information if the testator died or became incapacitated. That authority, however, only goes so far. If your personal representative if unable to find your digital […]

Serving as someone’s representative can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially when life or death decisions are involved. Before agreement to be a loved one’s agent, make sure you know what’s involved when you’re the decision maker. First, Some General Information about Health Care Powers of Attorney. In Virginia, a health care power of attorney is also […]

Maybe you’ve got a great idea for a new business. Your business plan is in final form and financing is set. Now you just need to learn how to name and register your business in Virginia. Preliminary Stuff Carefully choose the type of business you’ll use. Why? Because the business entity you choose makes a […]

Steve McNair was a star quarterback who played 13 seasons in the NFL. At age 36, McNair was murdered by his girlfriend, leaving behind a wife and four sons. At the time of his death, his estate was worth more than $19 million. As brilliant as he may have been on the football field, he […]

Divorces are cataclysmic. While going through a divorce, everything in a person’s life is affected, including where they will live and what property they will get to keep. Estate plans, also called life care plans, also change from the moment the divorce is initiated until the final settlement papers are approved. Estate Plan: Your Strategy […]

Employers sometimes ask employees to sign non-compete agreements or non-disclosure agreements. But documents with similar names don’t always have the same effect. Whether you’re the employer or the employee, understand how non-disclosure and non-compete agreement work. Non-Disclosure Agreements Protect Confidential Information. Proprietary information may set one business apart from its competitors. Research, trade secrets, client […]

In 2011 or 2012, an IT services company called The Funny Guy, LLC, signed a contract with client Lecego, LLC. Little did they know, that contract – and the breach of it – would lead to litigation that would travel all the way to Virginia’s highest court. It’s been about four years since the original […]

During probate, some claims take priority. For example, Virginia Code contains provisions to give surviving spouse and dependent children some relief after the death of a spouse/parent. The amounts allowed for exempt property and family allowance may make a big difference at a bad time. Exempt Property When an estate goes through probate, the estate’s […]

New parents often hold their babies, dreaming of the future. Of course, they only imagine good things happening: the first smile, the first steps, the prom, college… But they also might want to consider something else in that baby’s future – student loans. Fortunately, there are several ways to save for a child’s future college […]