Shannon L. Adams, Esq.

02/08/2024

Here is a scenario: Husband and wife are happily married for years. Most property is titled in both names. Suddenly, one day, Husband has a stroke - he is incapacitated and required long term care. Wife needs to sell some property - a car, an acre of real estate - to help pay.

PROBLEM. She cannot do so.

Why? Because all of their property is in both names - she should be able to sell, right? Wrong. She inherits everything - but Husband did not pass away. He is living...yet does not have capacity to sign. All jointly titled property is stuck in limbo until a guardianship and/or conservatorship can be petitioned in Circuit Court - which is expensive and takes time.

A General Durable Power of Attorney would save the day.

THE RELIANCE LAW GROUP
www.reliancelawgroup.net

Bristol: (276) 644-0992
Cedar Bluff: (276) 522-1220

Reliable, Trustworthy, Effective Legal Representation.

02/02/2024

Do you know what a "life estate" is in a deed? A life estate (or life tenancy) is the ownership of immovable property for the duration of a person's life. In legal terms, it is an estate in real property that ends at death when ownership of the property may revert to the original owner, or it may pass to another person. The owner of a life estate is called a "life tenant".

PROVIDENCE TITLE INSURANCE, INC.
(276) 663-4184
www.providencetitleinsurance.com

11/08/2023

Estate Planning is important. Seriously.

Have you ever thought about a general durable power of attorney? Do you know what a POA's purpose is? Do you know how they work?

A POA grants someone you trust authority as your agent to perform tasks you authorize in your behalf. In truth - it is a glorified permission slip. You can limit it. You can revoke it. In no way does a POA give the agent any authority over you as principal.

If you should be come incapacitated, who will pay your bills? Who will operate your business? Who will have access to your records? If you are married and become incapacitated, your spouse will be stuck - unable to sell property that is titled in both names and more.

THE RELIANCE LAW GROUP
www.reliancelawgroup.net

Bristol: (276) 644-0992
Cedar Bluff: (276) 522-1220

Reliable, Trustworthy, Effective Legal Representation.

10/11/2023

Divorce - Did you know that the FIRST recorded divorce in North America occurred in Virginia? Yep. In 1643, just 19 years after the English settled in Jamestown, a man named Robert Cooper sought and was granted a divorce from his wife, Catherine Cooper, on the grounds of adultery. This case, known as the "Divorce of Robert Cooper," is documented in historical records and predates many other divorce cases in the American colonies.

Need a divorce? THE RELIANCE LAW GROUP can help. Offices in Bristol and Cedar Bluff.

THE RELIANCE LAW GROUP
888-374-5078
www.reliancelawgroup.net
Reliable, Trustworthy, Effective Legal Representation.

10/09/2023

Happy weekend from The Reliance Law Group! www.reliancelawgroup.net

09/16/2023

Auto accidents are no joke. But what if someone hits you and injures you and THEY have NO INSURANCE?

This is an important issue. Many folks have only minimum policy limits in Virginia - that is only $25,000. Some don't have insurance at all. If you are injured in an accident, your insurance becomes the payee under your "uninsured/underinsured" component of your policy. This means that your policy limits are applicable to your injury. Since this is the case, I strongly encourage every reader of this post to check out your policy limits. Discuss with your agent. Get minimum coverage of $100,000/$300,000 to protect yourself and others. Also be certain to obtain medical payments coverage to pay your out of pocket deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and medications. Med pay is stackable by the number of autos on your policy as well.

THE RELIANCE LAW GROUP
www.reliancelawgroup.net

Cedar Bluff: (276) 522-1220
Bristol: (276) 644-0992

Reliable, Trustworthy, Effective Legal Representation.

09/13/2023

09/13/2023

THE RELIANCE LAW GROUP
Reliable, Trustworthy, Effective Legal Representation. Bristol & Cedar Bluff.

06/06/2023

Advice to live by!

THE RELIANCE LAW GROUP
Bristol: (276) 644-0992
Cedar Bluff: (276) 522-1220

www.reliancelawgroup.net

05/18/2023