Does Virginia Recognize Wills from Another State? Ashburn Estate Planning Lawyer Provides the Answer

[vc_row triangle_shape="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] According to migration data tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 264,000 people relocated to the Commonwealth of Virginia from another state in recent years. This likely means thousands of people who drafted a Will in another state will need to get the answer to an important question: Does Virginia recognize a Will drafted and notarized in a different state? Here is the answer: A Last Will and Testament created and effectuated in a different state will generally be considered valid in Virginia if it meets the legal requirements. Requirements to Create Legally Enforceable Will in Virginia If you do not...

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Having That Awkward Conversation – Family Inheritance

UBS Wealth Management published a report revealing how badly families are talking about inheritance. The report indicates that it’s easier to have a will (83 percent of respondents had one) than discuss the will with children (about half have had a conversation about the will), and it’s even harder to tell children what the assets are in the will (only 34 percent of respondents discussed the will in detail). The issue of not discussing family inheritance spans the economic spectrum including both wealthy and not-so-wealthy people, according to the New York Times. The UBS report showed that only 55 percent...

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LegalDoom: Cookie Cutter Estate Planning Site LegalZoom Being Sued For Flawed Documents

In 2007, Anthony J. Ferrantino was suffering from a terminal illness, so he sought the assistance of his niece to help him write a Last Will and Testament and Revocable Living Trust. They decided to use a popular web site, LegalZoom. Unfortunately, once the LegalZoom documents were created and signed, Mr. Ferrantino's assets could not be funded into the Revocable Living Trust because the financial institutions that held Mr. Ferrantino’s money would not accept the LegalZoom documents as being valid. LegalZoom provided no assistance to Mr. Ferrantino’s family when they had questions and needed help in getting the trust funded....

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