Estate Planning Lawyers in Manassas
Serving Woodbridge, Manassas, Prince William County, Fairfax, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Loudoun Counties in Virginia
Estate Planning Law If You Are Not Married
If you are not married, estate planning may take a slightly different shape than if you have a spouse to consider. However, planning for your future is still vitally important, perhaps even more so. Your estate plan reflects many decisions that direct the transfer of your wealth.
Click here if you are unmarried to access our easy-to-use estate planning intake forms.
Considerations
Former spouses
For estate planning purposes, it helps to know whether a previous marriage ended through divorce or death.
Domestic/life partner
If you have a domestic or life partner, you may decide to provide for that person through your estate plan.
Children
Information about your children assists in determining how and to whom you want to transfer your wealth. You should examine—
- Each child's current status, including married, single, divorced, widowed, minor, adult, adopted, stepchild, or foster child
- The health of each child and if any are disabled, whether they are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits or other governmental entitlements
- Whether any child has issues with AIDS, drugs, alcohol, money, or relationships
- Grandchildren, if any, as recipients of your wealth
Family members
Our Manassas estate planning attorneys advise an assessment of family members and any issues they might have with AIDS, drugs, alcohol, money, or relationships helps you decide whether you would want to leave them with any of your hard-earned assets.
Financial
Your estate planning lawyer needs to have a complete understanding of estate planning laws in Virginia and of your financial situation, including the following:
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The above information is easily compiled in our estate planning confidential intake form for unmarried people. Print one out now and begin your estate planning journey.
Your intent to distribute
Careful decisions should be made about how you want to distribute your assets. For example, do you want to provide for your partner first and for your children second? Do you want to treat all your children equally? An experienced estate planning attorney will also make sure you consider the timing of the distribution, and leaving any assets to grandchildren, charities, or any other beneficiaries.
Naming your administrators
While none of these decisions are to be taken or made lightly, you may find it most difficult to name an estate executor, a trustee, and a guardian for any minor children. Our Manassas estate planning attorneys will advise you to list two choices in each of these categories.
Planning for your future
When you meet with one of our estate planning lawyers, we review your answers to our intake form. We discuss the relevance and use of each of our estate planning tools, including wills, living wills, trusts, and advance medical directives to formulate the best possible estate plan for you.
