Legal strategies and considerations Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors. The presence of a mental illness can significan...
Protective orders can be obtained in two different ways in Virginia. First, protective orders can be automatically issued for the protection of a crime victim following a defendant's arrest. Second, any person can make a sworn statement before a magistrate. Both methods can result in the issuance...
Many people utilize tracking capabilities in their devices to prevent the loss of those devices and keep track of loved ones. Unfortunately, though, some use these tracking capabilities to harass others or even assist with criminal activity. As highlighted in Good Morning America, Apple AirTags a...
If you're facing a charge alleging domestic violence, you have the right to a defense. However, the idea of defending yourself against such a charge can be overwhelming, especially if there are ongoing family law issues as well. There's no one specific way to defend against a domestic violence ch...
From parental to property rights Unmarried couples living together face unique challenges, as they aren't afforded the same protections married couples are given under Virginia law. Knowing your rights as a partner in an unmarried, cohabitating relationship is essential. The Fairfax child custody...
The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren is a special one. However, in situations involving divorce, illness or death, family strife, or estrangement, a grandparent may be unable to see their grandchild. Depending on the circumstances, grandparents in Virginia may have rights to cust...
Under Virginia law there are times when Commonwealth Attorneys (prosecutors) can elect to have a child charged with a criminal offense tried “as an adult.” When a minor is in that situation, the stakes are high, not just for their liberty but for their future. Keep reading for more from our trust...
There are many ways for a person to structure their estate plan. Sometimes a Last Will and Testament is sufficient, other times, a Revocable Living Trust is required to ensure that assets are divided pursuant to a person's intent. Regardless of which estate planning vehicle is used in your plan, ...
Like DUIs, many assume there is no defense against a reckless driving charge. Changing your mindset about this is critical because these charges have severe consequences in Virginia, ranging from significant fines to losing your driver's license and potential jail time. When you face a reckless d...
Estate planning is critical in terms of protecting assets and ensuring your wishes are carried out. Although you may be an adult that has a plan in place, do your parents? The older a person is before getting a plan in place, the greater the risk that they will not have the capacity to sign their...
In March of 2023, we published a blog about how to split retirement accounts during a divorce. Because we have offices in Northern Virginia and North Carolina, our family law attorneys work closely with military members and people the government employs. In terms of the divorce process, a civilia...
When most people hear the word “assault,” they think of someone getting physically struck by another person. However, that is NOT the definition of assault in Virginia or many other jurisdictions. Assault means someone has only threatened to hurt another person physically and accompanied that thr...
The revocable living trust, sometimes called a living trust, has many attractive qualities that make it a powerful estate planning tool. One of these attributes is the ability to offer you incapacity protection over the assets that are placed into your trust during your lifetime. Incapacity plann...
One of the many reasons a divorce is such a significant event in your life is because it questions your future. Accumulating and protecting assets is a method for securing a future. Regardless of your long-term goals, you must be in the right financial position to pursue them. Think about how muc...
CNBC reported that 67% of Americans live without an estate plan. There is no singular explanation for why people avoid it, but several common themes exist. I don't have enough assets. (You have more than you think.) Everything will go to my wife, so I don't need one. (What happens when your ...
Select Law Partners, PLLC, houses attorneys skilled at estate planning and family law. Anyone who spends time understanding these practice areas will see how much overlap there is between them. When we work with clients with family law or estate planning issues, we notice a general expectation th...
Although this topic could apply to multiple practices, we are talking about it in the context of estate planning and family law. They are different sides of the same coin. Family law focuses on dividing your assets between you and your spouse, whereas estate planning is about preserving your asse...
To fully understand how valuable communication is in estate planning and family law matters, you need to know that a lack of communication is the source of significant problems. In a divorce, spouses may be entirely out of touch with one another. By the time one or both choose to initiate the div...
There is no law in Virginia that requires you and your former spouse to create a parenting plan during the divorce process or any custody and visitation proceeding in the juvenile court. As attorneys who also build estate plans, we should highlight how no law requires you to have a will or a revo...
When someone is considering putting an estate plan in place, people sometimes focus only on death planning or only on documents to assist with the care or management of a loved one's assets during their lifetime. It is important that both types of planning are included in your estate plan. Impor...
DUI or DWI convictions can have long-term consequences. In addition to being traumatic for first-time offenders, these consequences can affect the rest of your life. Your driver's license may be restricted or revoked, and you may face a jail term, fines, and probation. You may also experience a n...
There are several invaluable reasons to create a trust, especially if you have young children. After an estate planning attorney has established a trust, you can place your assets, money, and property inside it. By doing this, you are funding the trust. When you pass away, a trustee distributes t...
There are many myths about trusts including what they are for and who should use them. Most commonly, it is believed that trusts are only for wealthy individuals or families. This misconception results in too many people missing out on the many benefits of revocable trust planning including proba...
When people hear the term “pet trust,” they may think that it is not possible to create such a trust or that a pet trust is only for extremely wealthy people with very lucky pets. In reality, pet trusts do exist and they are an important tool for every pet owner for both incapacity and death plan...
Naming a guardian for your minor child and your child's property is a vital (yet often overlooked) element of the estate planning process. Though it may come as a surprise, the person you choose to be the child's guardian does not have to be the same person who oversees their assets. The person...
Select Law Partners, PLLC is committed to answering your questions about Family Law, Estate Planning and Criminal Defense law issues throughout Virginia.
We'll gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.