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Questions Answered by Dominic Paul Lascara
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Land Use & Zoning for Virginia on
Q: Should I put my home that sits on agricultural land into a land trust or LLC to protect it?
Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Dec 16, 2024

There are many ways to answer this question, but much more information is needed to best answer it and point you in the right direction. Do you rent a portion of the property to any third parties for farming? Do you have an estate plan in place? I curious as to what led you to ask this question.... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Probate for Virginia on
Q: Who inherits property after the last spouse dies?

My mother passed away 10 years ago with no will. She had married a man with children and together they had brought a home. The deed of trust is in both names and listed as tenants by the entireties with the right of survivorship. The husband is now dead. Are ONLY his children entitled to the... View More

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Sep 4, 2024

I am answering this question with the assumption the parties resided in the State of Virginia. With the real estate being owned by your mother and your step-father as husband and wife and as tenants by the entirety with the right of survivorship, when your mother passed the property became the... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: Two brothers co-own a property in VA. What is the law when Brother #1 wants to sell and Brother #2 is reluctant?

If Brother #2 does not want to buy out Brother #1, what rights does Brother #1 have if he wants to sell?

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Jun 13, 2024

Brother 2 should cooperate with Brother 1 and sell the property. If Brother 2 does not cooperate with Brother 1, Brother 1 can file a Suit of Partition to force the sale of the property and all fees and costs (title examiner, appraisal, etc, will be shared by the parties, generally.

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: Someone’s deed says they have the right to use my property. The deed has transferred 4-5 times. Do they?
Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Jun 11, 2024

To answer your question, an attorney would need to see both your Deed and subsequent deeds to the property along with the other parties' deed. The right to use someone else's property is generally considered an easement and that easement had to be created in a prior deed. IF the current... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Virginia on
Q: My commercial lease promised water and central heating and air in the building 6 months later owner refuses to install.

My contract promises the water and heating system but owners 6 months later still won’t install them or turn the water on.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Jun 5, 2024

If your lease provides for water and a heating to be provided by your landlord and they refuse to install the system or water, it would be a clear breach of the lease and the landlord could be subject to damages. If you contact an attorney make sure you provide a copy of the executed Lease. Good... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: How can I get remainder of trust from trustee who never gave annual Acctg but did give tax returns?

5 total beneficiaries: 2 trustees, myself, and 2 compliant. 8 mos ago trustee said a remainder but never recd.

1 trustee took $ and Ivwas told he would show record of money he spent. Never happened. 11 yrs ago parent passed and both trustees had trust checks accounts that were never told if.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on May 30, 2024

It seems odd that the Trustee would give you copies of tax return, but not provide to the beneficiaries annual statements of receipts and disbursements. If you have a copy of the trust document, please review the sections that deal with the obligations of the Trustee to account to the... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning, Land Use & Zoning and Probate for Virginia on
Q: Can someone will property to another person when I was deed certain parts of the property 19 years ago?

If I was deed certain parcels of a property but they also will the entire property to someone else ( I assume this world be including my parcels considering it’s all one address) how does this work? Would I have to create a new address to live on my property or is that even possible?? What does... View More

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Apr 17, 2024

Your question is not clear as to what you are asking, so I am going to guess that you are asking if someone can devise (gift) real estate under a Will, when part of the real estate was subdivided with several parcels being conveyed out during the decedent' lifetime. The Will can effectively... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Virginia on
Q: Can any of the surviving children take step mother to court during probate in Virginia?

A man and a women get married, joining each other with 1 child each from a previous marriage. Together they have 1 child together. Over 30 years pass and the mother dies suddenly without a will. Father gets everything. Father remarries someone from a foreign country, she has two adult children and... View More

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Mar 6, 2024

First of all, if the first wife in your questions dies without a will in Virginia, the laws of intestate succession govern the distribution of her probate assets. In this case, the husband would receive one-third (not including potential spousal claims) and all of the children of the wife would... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: Donation of property requested for easement

I live in Virginia. I just got a letter today from the city asking for me to donate over 1000 Sq ft of my property for a utilities easement. This section would cover the entire width of my front yard back 13ft from the road including my only access to my driveway (its a dead end) and a section of... View More

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Feb 22, 2024

By donating the property, the City will get use of that portion of your property for free. You may get a reduced property assessment from the loss or the shared use of the property, resulting in lower taxes, but the value of your property will also be reduced. If this portion of your property can... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: What is the Virginia statute of limitations involving a third party promissory note with a deed of trust?

Last payment made Dec 2014. Have not heard from note holder until Feb 2024 threatening foreclosure, interest, and legal fees.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Feb 15, 2024

Keep in mind that in the State of Virginia the statute of limitations on the enforcement of the underlying Deed of Trust is 10 years from the maturity date (VA Code Section 8.01-241). If the Deed of Trust does not state the maturity date, the statute of limitations on the enforcement of the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Banking, Business Formation and Business Law for Virginia on
Q: Do I only need a DBA in the state where my business is located or do I need DBAs in all 50 states and/or counties?

In general, are DBAs only required when market and run a domain under a different name, conduct bank transactions under a different name, or both?

For reference, I am attempting to engage in e-commerce as a sole proprietor under a different name. The business involves selling physical products.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Feb 12, 2024

If you are operating your business under an "assumed" name, "trade" name or a "fictitious" name, you should file the propert fictitious name certificate in every state that you are doing business and you should confirm that your entity is authorized to do business in those states.

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Virginia on
Q: How can we sell my mother's house when one of the coowners on the deed died before signing off on the deed?

My mother has moved to a senior living home and needs to sell her house. She is coowner (60%) along with 5 of her children. The sale cannot go forward since one of the children died last year and his will presumably naming his wife as executrix is hung up in probate court in the US Virgin... View More

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Feb 8, 2024

With the issue of the one child's estate being hung up in probate in the Virgin Islands and not knowing the terms of the child's last will and testament, you only course of action may be to contact a local attorney where the property is located and file a suit for partition. The court... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Probate for Virginia on
Q: Can the estate be responsible for the medical bills of the decedent ?

As the husband of the decedent, I am the only person in the estate.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Feb 6, 2024

Generally speaking, the Executor or the Administrator of a decedent's estate is responsible for the debts of the estate, assuming the estate has sufficient assets to pay the claims. Virginia Code Section 64.2-528 provides the order of priority when paying debts.

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Probate for Virginia on
Q: My father died over two years ago. My brother is the executor. He is not communicating with me anymore.

I have contacted the circuit court and they are saying my brother is failing to provide information. I think my brother is hiding something. Should I hire my own attorney?

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Jan 24, 2024

You may need to hire an attorney to look into your brother's actions while serving as the Executor in your father's estate. Your brother has a fiduciary duty to protect your interest and deal fairly and openly with you. His actions or inactions could warrant his removal as the Executor.... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Virginia on
Q: Do proceeds from real estate go into an estate account or directly to beneficiaries/next of kin?

My father died a year ago and we are still settling debt and selling property. There was no will. The estate is handled by an administrator. We sold a property and our closing lawyer says we get the proceeds and they do not go into the estate account. There are still debts to be settled. If we... View More

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Dec 5, 2023

Unfortunately, I need more information to properly answer your questions. Was there a will? Is the estate being handled by an Executor or an Administrator? Does the fiduciary have power of sale over the real estate? Normally, if there are debts and claims owing by the estate, no probate assets... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Foreclosure and Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: I am trying to find the law/order on mortgage/promissary statute of limitations in the state of virginia

Mortgage lender hasn't contacted me for over 9 years with no payments made for 9 years. Now received a letter stating it is from a "debt collector" which appears to be an attorney's office.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Nov 20, 2023

In Virginia, a deed of trust with a stated maturity date has a statute of limitations of 10 years from the maturity. If there is no maturity date, the statute of limitations is 20 years from the recordation date of the deed of trust, except for credit line deeds of trust. With a credit line deed... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Real Estate Law and Family Law for Virginia on
Q: Who can assist me with a quitclaim deed document?

I’m getting an uncontested divorce and under the terms of our agreement, refinance is scheduled to occur in a timeframe not to exceed 4 yrs. The loan is joint and so is the title. We have decided, I will stay in the house; can I change the title to my name via a quitclaim deed? Is it straight... View More

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Nov 15, 2023

Any attorney that practices in the area of real estate should be able to assist you. I have drafted many deeds being executed pursuant to a divorce or a settlement agreement. However, when both parties are on the title to the property, I have never used a "Quitclaim" deed, but instead I... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Virginia on
Q: Virginia Estate distribution to heirs:there were 3 siblings, no other family, spouse or children. That is a 33.3% split

1 sibling passed away leaving 3 children. Is the estate then split (2 siblings = 66%) and (3 children sharing the remaining 33%)? There is no will.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Dec 4, 2024

If a person in Virginia dies intestate (without a Will) and is unmarried at the time of their death, with no children or other lineal descendants, and no parents, but is survived with by two siblings and three nieces/nephews from a third siblings that predeceased the decedent, then the estate would... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: Our house is in my husbands name. He passes away. Do I have to go through probate in virgina?

Is a living trust needed?

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Nov 14, 2024

You should not have to go through probate in the typical fashion because the real estate should pass directly to the heirs at law pursuant the intestate laws of Virginia. I highly recommend you contact an attorney to understand your rights and the process.

3 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: Does this give me an out if I don’t like the layout of the land?

“This offer is fully contingent upon on a formal survey and the buyers being satisfied with the boundaries”.

Dominic Paul Lascara
Dominic Paul Lascara
answered on Oct 30, 2024

Initially, it would appear that the buyer can terminate the contract based on a dissatisfaction with the survey, but I would have an attorney that practices real estate law review at the entire contract before taking any action. The clause could be taken out of context.

Thanks,

Dominic Lascara

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