Ask a Question

Get free answers to your Estate Planning legal questions from lawyers in your area.

Lawyers, increase your visibility by answering questions and getting points. Answer Questions
Virginia Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Elder Law and Health Care Law for Virginia on
Q: See below.

My partner and I have moved back to the Charlottesville area to provider assist with his grandmothers care. It is the hope of my partner and his family that his grandmother can qualify for Medicaid, once she has Medicaid, she can be moved into an assisted living facility paid for by Medicaid. The... View More

Ross Cameron Hart
Ross Cameron Hart
answered on Apr 4, 2022

You are asking a very complex question on a short answer forum and mis-understand some of Medicaid rules. Aunt may or may not be wrong - there are several ways this can be handled.

You need an Elder Law Attorney to advise you, and Charlottesville has several very good ones who are...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: Should Dad's house be included in his will or should it be listed separately?
Shafeek Seddiq
Shafeek Seddiq
answered on Mar 21, 2022

It depends on what your dad wants. What does separately mean? I would recommend your dad reaches out to an estate planning lawyer and explain what he wants. Then, the lawyer can tell him what estate documents he needs.

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Virginia on
Q: My landlord has given me a 60 day notice to leave as he “wants to sell” the home. We have been here a year and lease is

About to expire. I’ve talked with previous tenants and the landlord has done the same to them and refused offers that was given to buy. What can I do to stay?

Steven Krieger
Steven Krieger
answered on Mar 13, 2022

It depends on the specific language in your lease agreement. If there's a provision that permits the owner to terminate the agreement for purposes of a sale, then you're in a more difficult position. I'm sure anyone who responds would be happy to hep if you'd ie to hire an attorney. Good luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Virginia on
Q: I am the trustee of mother’s estate & beneficiary of her house. Upon death, can I transfer it to my son directly?

She has dementia. I want my son to have the house instead of me. Would he be able to inherit it at the stepped up value?

I was hoping I could just change the title from my mother’s name to his.

James H. Wilson Jr.
PREMIUM
James H. Wilson Jr.
answered on Mar 2, 2022

The phrasing of your question is a bit confusing. An estate does not usually have a trustee, the personal representative of an estate is either an executor or an administrator. It is possible for a pour over will to automatically transfer assets into an existing trust, such that the trustee of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Virginia on
Q: My aunt's husband passed away and there was unpaid credit card debt. Does she owe this if it is not in her name?

What do we do if it's not in her name and only her deceased husbands name? There is one credit card that she is a joint user for. We have gotten death certificates so far but nothing else.

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Feb 10, 2022

The wife is not liable for credit card debt she did not contract to pay by being on the card or using the card. She may be liable if the charges were for something the law calls necessaries, like medical care, food, clothing, and other needs of her spouse, but that is liability for the necessary... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: Estate question at Mother’s request- my father died 4 year ago. All assets were held jointly or with TOD to my mother.

Assets include property, bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds and vehicles. There is no debt whatsoever. After fathers death, my mother had all assets, except vehicles, changed to her name with a TOD to my 2 siblings and me. Property deeds were also changed to include a TOD. Question 1- when she... View More

Ross Cameron Hart
Ross Cameron Hart
answered on Jan 10, 2022

All great questions, and NOT suitable for a quick internet messaging site such as this. There are a lot of variables you haven't considered and not fully understanding them can cost you thousands.

Elder Law Attorneys handle this type of matter and can give you good advice. Most of...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Virginia on
Q: Do I have to return my husband’s inherited property to his siblings after his death?

My father in law passed in 2013. His home and belongings stayed empty for 2 years before my husband, our young children and me bought out his siblings for the home. Before us moving in, the siblings and husband, split up their fathers belongings. My husband passed away in 2020 and the deed to our... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Dec 18, 2021

As I understand the facts, your father-in-law passed in 2013, and the personalty in the estate was divided among the heirs and the estate closed. Around 2015, you and your husband bought the house and its contents, and they belonged to him or both of you. Your husband passed in 2020, and now his... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: My mother lives in Newport News VA. She wants to leave me her house that still has a mortgage. What is the best way
Sonja Aoun
Sonja Aoun
answered on Dec 17, 2021

Generally speaking, a house that has a mortgage on it can still be transferred upon the owner's death. Most people use a will or a trust to do this, but it does matter which type of trust is used. For example, if someone attempts to leave their house to another person and retitle it into the... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Virginia on
Q: If an executor of an estate fails to perform his duties and all property sits unclaimed for years, can heirs claim it?

My ‘well to do’ great-great aunt died in 2005 with a will naming her nephew as executor, he and his wife as beneficiaries, and my father as an heir. This nephew died intestate in 2003. His wife died in 2005, five months after my g-g aunt. 2 months prior to wife’s death she appointed a friend... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 22, 2021

Your description is too imprecise to render an opinion, but it sounds like you need a probate attorney licensed in Virginia to re-open the estate of Wife. I don't understand from your description what Father's rights are. You call him an heir, but you tell me that the sole beneficiaries... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Estate Planning, Family Law and Workers' Compensation for Virginia on
Q: What happens when someone's in the process of getting a divorce by a online divorce site but passes before its processed

My fiancée passed away and he had filed for divorce but he was told he had to send $66 more and then the papers would be mailed out but he passed before he could pay the $66 can i do anything to stop his wife from getting his Medicare set aside assistance because he didn't want her to have... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 21, 2021

She is the widow, and you are not.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Virginia on
Q: After being married to and living with a man for 8 years we separated but did not get divorced. We had 2 boys.

We never lived together again. 10 years after we separated he had a heart attack, suffered brain damage, and had to be put in a home for 10 year. He recently passed away. All he has left is about $330K in his IRA. While incapacitated his mother created a will leaving all money to his sons and... View More

James H. Wilson Jr.
PREMIUM
James H. Wilson Jr.
answered on Oct 10, 2021

Property often transfers at death through nonprobate transfers, including survivorship on title, beneficiary designations on accounts, payable on death bank accounts (POD), and transfer on death investment accounts (TOD). Nevertheless, such transfers are still subject to legal requirements of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Tax Law for Virginia on
Q: What is the inheritance order in Virginia when there is no will?

My mother inherited two vacant lots when a friend passed away. They were sold recently in a tax sale. A lady from a Recovery company contacted me saying that they would get a third , I would get a third and my nephew's would get a third to split three ways from the tax sale. Now my mother... View More

James H. Wilson Jr.
PREMIUM
James H. Wilson Jr.
answered on Oct 8, 2021

If a Virginia resident dies intestate, without a will, the state essentially writes a will for that person - the law of intestate succession. Virginia's law of intestate succession appears in Chapter 2 of Title 64.2 of the Code of Virginia, specifically Sections 200 and 201 describe the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: My sister (66) receives disability SSI and medicaid. She lives with my mother (88). When my mother passes is my sister

allowed to have home placed in her name without losing her benefits? They reside in Va. There is currently a reverse mortgage on the home,but my mother has a large life insurance policy to pay they lean off. My sister has lived with my mother her entire life and has no other assets. I live in Ky... View More

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 3, 2021

Ownership of a home is not disqualifying, so that is not much of a concern. But if your sister is going to inherit anything else besides the home such as cash or life insurance proceeds or a car, etc., your mother would be doing your sister a huge favor by contacting an estate planning attorney to... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Civil Rights and Communications Law for Virginia on
Q: Can my father's living siblings & children successfully fight for the right to properly bury my father who has no will.

My father is born and raised in Danville, VA. He remarried to make his oldest daughter a legal citizen which wasn't completed. His baby mother has refused to allow us to have his body for our funeral & burial. They expect our entire family to drive 8 hours to visit my father, plus they are... View More

Benjamin Inman
Benjamin Inman
answered on Sep 21, 2021

Im sorry that you lost your father. Losing a parent at any age can be extremely difficult.

I dont think there is enough information in your question to give you an answer. My best guess from reading between the lines here is that your father died outside of Virginia in a state where he was...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: How do primary beneficiaries of an IRA work? What about secondary beneficiaries?

Wills and Estates

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Sep 13, 2021

I have seen the terms use incorrectly before, so it is useful to have context, but the usual meaning go a primary beneficiary is the person, persons, or entities that are first in line to receive the proceeds upon the death of the grantor. A secondary or contingent beneficiary takes only if the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning and Personal Injury for Virginia on
Q: If a witness in a case has a criminal record, how does that impact their credibility if they are asked to testify?
James H. Wilson Jr.
PREMIUM
James H. Wilson Jr.
answered on Aug 31, 2021

A witness may be asked about felony convictions and misdemeanors involving moral turpitude - lying, cheating and stealing. These types of crimes reflect on the credibility of the witness.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Virginia on
Q: My Mother in law willed her home to all 6 of her children. Her eldest son died having only a wife no children. His wife

Just died in the middle of the sale of the home. My mother in laws will states that if any of her children that do not have children their part goes back to the other children. Can my sister in law will her part of inherited land that was willed to her husband from his mother to her sister or does... View More

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 27, 2021

The exact timing matters and the exact wording of the will matters too. There is not enough information here to answer your question. You should schedule a consultation with a probate attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: I am the executor of my aunts will divided as follows- my father 35% Me 35% brother 1 15% brother 2 15%

Father passed a month after aunt did. So where does his portion go, his wife is still alive. And if it goes to 'him' does it go to my mother (his wife) or to my fathers estate?

James H. Wilson Jr.
PREMIUM
James H. Wilson Jr.
answered on Aug 11, 2021

If a Virginia resident dies intestate - without a will, his or her assets, including the present right to an inheritance, are part of his or her estate and would pass, if at all, according to the law of intestate succession, as administered by the personal representative of the estate - an... View More

1 Answer | Asked in DUI / DWI, Employment Law, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Virginia on
Q: What comes out in discovery during a lawsuit?
Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Aug 1, 2021

The answers to the interrogatories asked, the documents subject to a document request, the admissions that the parties make in response to requests, the oral answers to depositions of parties and witnesses, and the documents and things that are sought to be examined. What those things are is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Virginia on
Q: Hi. My father recently passed away and myself and my sister are his heirs. There is no will. What do we do from here?

There are 2 properties in Puerto Rico in his name of which one shows his ex-wife listed. He divorced many years ago and to my knowledge there was a separation of their properties done. Where can we gain the knowledge of whether or not the property is indeed his ex wife's as well? Also, what... View More

Richard Sternberg
Richard Sternberg
answered on Jul 27, 2021

It very much matters where your father was domiciled when he passed. You should consult counsel licensed in that state. If the only assets are Virginia real estate, you might avoid formal probate, but, in all likelihood, you'll need a probate in Virginia and an ancillary probate in Puerto... View More

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.