Virginia Estate Planning Insights
Clear, practical guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and planning for the unexpected.
Weekly articles from The Bowman Firm to help Virginia individuals and families make confident decisions—and know when to seek counsel.
Virginia Estate Planning Made Clear.
This site is The Bowman Firm blog: a weekly resource covering wills and trusts, probate and estate administration, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and elder-law considerations. Our goal is to help you understand your options, avoid common pitfalls, and take the next step with confidence.
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Insights for Protecting Your Family, Your Assets, and Your Future
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Why you should almost never name a minor child as a direct beneficiary…
One of the most common—and costly—mistakes parents make is naming their minor child directly as the beneficiary on life insurance, retirement accounts, or investment accounts. It feels logical. Of course you want the money to go to your child. That’s the entire point. But what most parents don’t realize is that naming a minor child
Frequently asked questions
General information to help you get oriented. For advice about your specific situation, please consult an attorney.
Often, yes. Many trust-based plans still include a “pour-over” will to address assets not titled in the trust and to nominate guardians for minor children.
A durable power of attorney authorizes someone you choose to handle financial and legal matters if you cannot. “Durable” generally means it remains effective if you become incapacitated.
An advance medical directive (sometimes called a healthcare directive) lets you name a healthcare agent and state preferences for medical care if you cannot communicate your wishes.
Probate is the court-supervised process for validating a will (if any), appointing a personal representative, paying debts and taxes, and distributing assets. The details depend on the estate and how assets are titled.
We aim to publish new Virginia estate-planning insights weekly.
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