If you don’t write the plan, the state writes one for you.
Who would raise your children? Who would manage their money — and would they receive it all at 18? Without documents in place, those decisions can end up with a court. A few hours of planning today can save your family months of stress, cost and uncertainty.
Without a will, Virginia law decides who inherits — and a court may decide who raises your children.
If a minor is named as beneficiary, a court-supervised process may be needed to manage the money — and they may receive it all at 18.
A will generally goes through probate, which can take months and becomes public record. A properly funded trust can help your family avoid it.
Most parents know they need a will. Most don’t have one. Someday only matters if it arrives before the unexpected does.
Leaving a large sum to an 18-year-old with no structure rarely ends well. A trust lets you decide when and how your children receive it.
A will says one thing; beneficiary forms say another; the trust was never funded. When documents conflict, your wishes can be lost.
The problemThey have life insurance naming their children as beneficiaries, but no will or trust. If something happened to both of them, a court would get involved.
Strategies we might explore: wills naming guardians, and a trust to receive the insurance and manage it for the children until they’re ready.
The problemA couple with children from previous marriages wants to provide for each other — and make sure every child is treated as they intend.
Strategies we might explore: a trust with clear instructions, carefully aligned beneficiary designations, and permanent life insurance to create an inheritance for each side.
The problemThey set up a living trust years ago. Since then they’ve bought a new home and opened new accounts — none of which were placed in the trust.
Strategies we might explore: reviewing what is and isn’t covered, updating beneficiaries, and getting updated documents signed and notarized.
The problemThey want to leave a meaningful legacy to their grandchildren, but don’t want to give up savings they may still need.
Strategies we might explore: permanent life insurance, which can turn a modest premium into a larger, generally income-tax-free inheritance.
Illustrative scenarios, not real clients. We are not attorneys and do not give legal advice — for legal documents, we work alongside qualified estate attorneys.
If you hesitated on even one, a 20-minute conversation is worth your time.
We’ll walk through what you have, what’s missing, and the simplest way to get your wishes documented, aligned and notarized.
Or call Aman (703) 672-3989 · Shubhra (571) 274-0187