Law Office of Patricia E. Tichenor, P.L.L.C.

07/27/2023

You will be missed. Rest in peace. 🙏😞

The musician said she was “proud to be a troublemaker,” and made headlines for protesting sexual abuse during a performance on “Saturday Night Live.”

07/27/2023

A fun read:

Tom Forsythe, a Utah photographer, created dozens of images depicting n**e Barbie dolls posed with kitchen appliances. His “Food Chain Barbie” series included “Malted Barbie,” showing Barbie placed on a vintage Hamilton Beach malt machine. Another, which Forsythe titled “Barbie Enchiladas,...

07/08/2023

https://apple.news/ADhBnV1xQRAuI71zTEqTPKQ

New Tesla facility in Buffalo was supposed to house a huge solar-panel operation, but the project hasn’t turned out as planned.

02/13/2023

As parents age, children need to have tough conversations with them to keep their care and assets in the right hands. Our latest blog offers a helpful guide for adults with parents who may be getting older, or are in declining physical or mental health, and need assistance preparing their estate plans.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/how-to-help-your-aging-parents-make-their-estate-plans/

01/23/2023

While your last Will can ensure your descendants receive personal effects and assets on your passing and assign a guardian for minor children, there are limits to what it can achieve.

Here are a few things a Will cannot be used for, as well as items you can't legally add to your Will if you want it to be considered valid after your death.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/what-a-virginia-will-cannot-do/

01/10/2023

Undue influence in estate planning occurs when a person’s Will, trust, or other estate planning documents are manipulated by an outside party. In many cases, the influencer or manipulator aims to take advantage of the testator (the person creating the estate plan) by exploiting their weakened mental or physical state and encouraging that person to change their Will, trust, and other estate planning documents for the influencer’s benefit.



Here’s how to recognize potential undue influence over yourself or a loved one based on Virginia’s new legal standards and what you can do to counteract it.
https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/how-to-identify-undue-influence/

12/27/2022

The new year is the perfect time to review and update your estate plan. Here are seven estate planning resolutions to make for 2023.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-resolutions/

12/12/2022

Preparing your future estate executor to do their sometimes-challenging job with confidence and ease can be just as important as drafting a clear and valid Will. Here are five steps you can take now to make your executor’s job easier when the time comes.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-executor-preparation/

11/28/2022

It’s critical to review and update your estate plans after big life milestones like changes to your marital status, family members, or assets. Otherwise, your most up-to-date wishes may not be carried out if you pass away unexpectedly.

Here are six major life events that warrant an update to your Will and other estate planning documents.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/life-events-update-your-estate-plan/

11/17/2022

11/10/2022

It’s never too early to start creating an estate plan.

Estate planning allows you to dictate what happens to your assets in the event of your death or incapacity. Planning ahead will ensure a smooth probate process for your loved ones and beneficiaries, or help them avoid probate altogether.

To get started with your estate plan, follow these five steps. https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-checklist/

10/24/2022

Though it can be difficult to discuss estate planning with your aging parents, it’s an essential conversation to ensure their wishes are honored after their passing or if they become incapacitated during their lifetime.

Here are five ways to approach estate planning with your elderly parents and encourage them to get their affairs in order, regardless of their current circumstances or health.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/discuss-estate-planning-with-aging-parents/

10/11/2022

Lifetime gifting can help you reduce the size of your taxable estate at death. Here's how you can use this strategy as an estate planning tool.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/lifetime-gifting-estate-planning-tool/

09/23/2022

Many people choose family members, such as a spouse or adult child, as their executors when making their estate plans, but relatives are not the only option.

If you don't have or want a family member to handle your estate, here are some alternative third-party options to explore, like a trusted friend, attorney, CPA, or a financial institution.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/third-party-estate-executor-options/

09/12/2022

Thinking about DIYing your estate plan? You may want to think again.

While plenty of tools exist to create generic estate planning documents, only an experienced attorney can help you ensure your wishes are properly documented and accounted for in a way that best suits your circumstances.

Read on to learn why a do-it-yourself approach to estate planning can do more harm than good.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/reasons-not-to-diy-estate-plans/

08/22/2022

Your pets are a part of your family. Just like with human family members, you can protect your pets’ future well-being by including them in your estate plans.

Specifically, you can create a pet trust to earmark funding and provide specific care instructions for your beloved fur babies in the event of your incapacitation or death. In our latest blog, we explore what a pet trust is and why it’s such an important estate planning tool for pet owners.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/what-is-a-pet-trust/

08/11/2022

Many people don't start thinking about estate planning until later in life. However, it's never too early for an adult to start thinking about their plans.

Here are some expert estate planning tips for every age, from your 20s through your 60s and beyond.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-tips-for-every-age/

07/20/2022

With the passage of the Uniform Electronic Wills Act in 2021, a testator can now execute a Will electronically in Virginia. Here’s what you need to know about the requirements for a valid electronic Will and why they’ve become so popular in recent years.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/electronic-wills-in-virginia/

07/19/2022

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/health/oximeters-covid-black-patients.html?smid=url-share

A study showed that the devices, which measure oxygen levels in the blood, were three times more likely to give misleading readings among African-American patients.

07/11/2022

Special needs trusts can help protect vulnerable beneficiaries’ personal assets or the assets left to them by a parent or loved one as inheritance after their death. Although planning for such an event can be emotional and overwhelming, it’s best to prepare as early as possible
In our latest blog, we explore why special needs trusts are so important and how you can create one as part of your estate plans in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/special-needs-trust-virginia/

07/11/2022

Hand painted by L.Afremov

07/08/2022

A federal appellate court on Thursday upheld a $15 million damage award to a Missouri peach farmer whose crops were damaged by pesticides that drifted off

07/03/2022

For my friends in Texas, this article caused me great concern. I really hope there’s a path towards cleaning up this mess. I’m sure it’s ridiculously expensive to do so; but it’s still the right thing to do when you’re talking about basically poisoning the water for plants, animals, and people.

https://apple.news/ATmKXH7I9QyO1YYP_rxaCCQ

After an abandoned well began spewing toxic, salty water onto her Permian Basin land, Ashley Watt would stop at nothing to determine the cause—and to hold Chevron accountable.

06/23/2022

Whether you and your spouse both have children from a previous marriage or only one of you is a stepparent, it’s important to review your estate plans carefully to ensure all of your intended beneficiaries are in line to receive the assets you want them to have.

In our latest blog, we offer a few tips and strategies for stepparents who are creating or updating their estate plans.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-tips-for-stepparents/

06/20/2022

06/10/2022

In the event of an unexpected death, a childless couple’s inheritance may be tied to individuals they are related to or associated with by intestate succession laws. That’s why it’s so important for couples to establish their estate plans early and designate their beneficiaries upfront.

Here’s what childless and child-free couples need to know about making their estate plans, regardless of their age or financial status.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/estate-planning-for-childless-couples/

05/24/2022

Think you can use your Will to leave property to your pet or overrule the listed beneficiary on a “payable on death” account? Think again.

Here are 5 things you can’t put in your Will in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/virginia-estate-law-cant-put-in-will/

05/12/2022

Keeping communication between an attorney and their client confidential – known as attorney-client privilege – is an important part of an attorney-client relationship. When working with a lawyer, it’s important that you know the limitations and exceptions of this privilege.

In our latest blog, we explore the definition of attorney-client privilege in Virginia, including what it covers, what it doesn't, and what role it plays in estate planning conversations.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/attorney-client-privilege-in-virginia/

04/23/2022

This was a very well-written news article on the new federal law to stop patients from receiving surprise medical bills. https://apple.news/AZ5iVZcOWQwCNwpReKAfKxw

The search for why my emergency flight cost $86,184 led me to a hidden culprit: private equity.

04/21/2022

Mediation is an option for couples seeking an amicable divorce, but a mediator is not the same as an attorney.

In our latest blog, we explore the basic differences between a mediator and a divorce attorney, and when to use one over the other.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/divorce-mediator-vs-attorney/

03/23/2022

Should someone be able to profit from using your name and likeness after you die? And if so, who exactly should be able to benefit from it?

While "postmortem right of publicity" is commonly associated with celebrities like Michael Jackson, whose posthumous name and image were valued at $4 million by a Tax Court, this does impact people outside the "celebrity" sphere. In states like Virginia, for instance, any individual can qualify for this right for a certain period of time after they die.

Here's what post-mortem right of publicity entails and how it impacts estate planning.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/post-mortem-right-of-publicity/

03/08/2022

From the rise of electronic Wills to earlier planning, here are some estate planning changes that have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/covid-estate-planning-changes/

02/11/2022

As NFTs gain traction, many who purchase them wonder if they can leave these digital assets to their heirs when they die.

Cryptoassets are unique assets that can be complicated to account for when it comes to estate planning. Here's an overview of what you need to know about including NFTs in your Will.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/can-i-include-nfts-in-my-will/

01/27/2022

If you haven't drafted a Will yet, the beginning of the year is a perfect time to start. Our latest blog explores what you need to know about creating a Will with an experienced estate planning attorney.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/how-to-write-a-will/

01/10/2022

Life isn't stagnant, and your estate plans shouldn't be, either. Here's how to change or revoke a Will in Virginia.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/how-do-i-revoke-or-change-my-will/

12/15/2021

Under President Biden's proposed American Families Plan, changes to the current stepped-up basis provision would affect some key estate planning laws that have been in place for the last five years. Could this proposal impact your plans?

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/proposed-changes-to-stepped-up-basis/

12/02/2021

Dying without a Will, also known as dying intestate, can have some serious consequences for your loved ones and their inheritance. Here's what could happen to your estate and your family's inheritance if you pass away without a valid Will in Virginia.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/die-without-will-in-virginia/

11/11/2021

While an executor and an attorney-in-fact are both appointed to carry out your wishes, their duties are slightly different and carried out at different times.

Read on to discover more about each of these essential estate planning designations and what to consider when drafting a Will or power of attorney.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/will-executor-vs-power-of-attorney/

Learn the differences between a Will executor and the “attorney-in-fact” designated in a power of attorney document, and each one’s role in handling your affairs.

10/29/2021

There's plenty of estate planning advice out there for people who are married and have a family. However, many individuals are now marrying later in life, opting not to remarry after a divorce, or never marrying at all — and this group may require a different approach to estate planning than their married counterparts.

In our latest blog, we offer six estate planning tips for the unmarried.

https://www.novaestatelawyers.com/6-estate-planning-tips-for-unmarried-individuals/

10/24/2021

As we reflect on former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s legacy, we are reminded of his thirteen rules of leadership which have guided so many of our colleagues and principals. We are grateful for his love of the State Department and his legacy that we still feel in the workplace. Secretary Powel...