Richmond Virginia Estate Planning, Probate and Living Trusts Attorneys Lee Law Office, PLLC
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Richmond Estate Planning Attorneys
Thank you for visiting the Estate Planning Information Center for Richmond, Virginia, brought to you by Lee Law Office, PLLC. We are estate planning attorneys based in Richmond, VA whose mission is to provide residents of Richmond and surrounding areas with quality estate planning resources. When you visit or call our office, we want you to feel comfortable discussing such an important issue concerning both you and your family. We want to arm you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your family's future.
 
LATEST NEWS

 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Recognized by Money Magazine Again

Carolyn Bigda’s article “Rethink Your Legacy” in the June issue of Money Magazine explores the five questions you should be asking regarding your estate. The article recommends the American Academy’s website, www.aaepa.com, as a source to find a qualified estate planning attorney. The Associate Director of Education at the Academy, Steve Hartnett, was also interviewed in the article and lent his expertise to one of the five questions. This is the fifth mention of finding a quality attorney on the American Academy’s members list by Money Magazine in the last 21 issues.


 Consumer Reports Recommends American Academy

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys was recommended in the January 2009 Consumer Reports Money Adviser newsletter. The article “How to Avoid Inheritance Feuds” focuses on techniques for avoiding conflict after a loved one passes away. The article recommends using the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys as a source for selecting a qualified estate planning attorney. The article also warned consumers to be explicit in their will in order to avoid disagreements. Other advice included deciding what is fair for each heir versus just dividing assets evenly and to keep everyone in your family informed of decisions beforehand.

Consumer Reports Money Adviser is an independent, non-profit newsletter that offers expert advice.

Click here to find out why our American Academy membership is so important to our firm and the many families we provide guidance to each year.


  Money Magazine Recognizes American Academy!

In the January 2009 issue of Money Magazine, Walecia Konrad’s article entitled “Keep It In The Family” focuses on making sure the wealth you’ve worked so hard to accumulate will go to the people you love. The article recommends the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys as a source to find an estate planning attorney who can tailor a plan for your situation and address your state rules. It also includes a useful estate planning checklist and valuable tips for putting together a proper estate plan that will safeguard your hard-earned assets from estate taxes, lawsuits and probate. This is the fourth time in 16 issues the American Academy has been recognized. Click here to find out why our American Academy membership is so important to our firm and the many families we provide guidance to each year.


  American Academy Mentioned in Money Magazine!

Robert Armstrong, President of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, was interviewed by Money Magazine senior writer Penelope Wang for her article " A Midlife Money Checkup" in the March 2008 Issue. The article was part of the Cover Story "A Boomer's Guide to Financial Freedom" that included multiple articles focusing on financial trends, aging well and other issues Baby Boomers are facing today. This is the third mention of the American Academy of Estate Planning by Money Magazine in the last seven issues.

The "Midlife Money Checkup" is a nine-step test that highlights questions Boomer's should be asking themselves at this point in their lives. Mr. Armstrong's expertise in estate planning was highlighted in question five, "Is your estate plan in order?" Make sure you don't have to ask yourself that question by meeting with a qualified attorney.


  American Academy Mentioned in Money Magazine

The September issue of Money Magazine has an article entitled,"20 Timeless Money Rules." Rule 17, Exiting Gracefully, is particularly significant because it emphasizes the importance of putting together your estate plan. The recommendation of Money Magazine is that you search for a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys: "To find a lawyer, ask friends and colleagues for recommendations or get referrals online at the website of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (aaepa.com)." The American Academy is an exclusive membership organization for law firms dedicated to estate planning. We are proud of our Academy membership and pleased to be the only law firm in the greater Richmond, Virginia area accepted into this prestigious organization. For more information about why our membership is so important to your family, click here.


 Attorney Melanie Lee Quoted in the Wall Street Journal

Ms. Lee was quoted in a Wall Street Journal article on April 1, 2007 entitled “In Times of Grief, Scam Artists Arrive.”

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 Attorney Melanie Lee Completes Extensive IRA Training

Estate Planning Attorney, Melanie Lee, recently completed in-depth training on planning with IRAs at an educational conference in Las Vegas. The instructor is the nationally known IRA expert, Ed Slott. Mr. Slott is the author of the widely acclaimed book, “The Retirement Savings Bomb…and How to Defuse It.” He has lectured extensively for years to financial professionals across the country on the complex IRA rules and how to properly plan to preserve and then transfer IRAs to family members.

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ESTATE PLANNING NEWS
 Pet Planning - Not Just for the Rich and Eccentric

When people think of someone setting up a Trust for their pet, they might imagine Leona Helmsley's pet Maltese named Trouble drinking Perrier from a crystal bowl in a lavish Manhattan penthouse. However, you don't have to be rich and eccentric to set up a Pet Trust to care for their beloved pet(s). Pet Trusts are most commonly set up by caring individuals who just want to make sure that their non-human family member is taken care of in the event of their own death or disability. This article discusses the 3 easy steps necessary to set up a Pet Trust for your furry and feathered family members. Remember, without you planning for them in advance, they may face the same awful fate that awaits so many other orphaned pets. You will sleep better knowing that they will continue purring or wagging their tail even if you're no longer able to care for them.

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ESTATE PLANNING NEWS
 A New Tax and Retirement Opportunity in 2010

We all know the importance of saving for retirement. However, those earning above $100,000 have had one retirement saving opportunity denied to them: the Roth IRA. If you fall into this category, you are now in luck! Beginning in 2010, there is no income limitation for converting from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. There are two methods to get money into a Roth IRA: Contributing money to the Roth IRA or converting a regular IRA to a Roth IRA. The rules are different depending on which method is used. In this article, you will learn how a Roth IRA works and the advantages you may gain if you convert. A Roth IRA can be a great way to save for retirement. But remember, these and other valuable assets in your estate are governed by beneficiary designations. A qualified estate and retirement planning attorney, who focuses their practice in that area, can help tailor an estate plan that coordinates the beneficiary designations and can help you decide whether switching to a Roth IRA is right for you.

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CLIENT NEWSLETTERS
 Your Estate Matters Newsletter, Vol. 14.3

  • The Next Time Around
  • Stay Sharp Physically and Mentally
  • Go Green!
  • Trust Administration
  • What’s In a Legacy?
  • Re-Entering the Workforce
  • Fraud Loss
  • Diabetes Warning Signs
  • Winning Recipe

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EDUCATIONAL ALERTS
 Court of Appeals Affirms Recognition of Social Security Disability Income Assigned to a First Party Special Needs Trust for Purposes of Nursing Home Share of Cost Calculations

This Alert examines a case involving the use of a Special Needs Trust (SNT). SNTs can be very useful in allowing individuals to keep the benefit of some assets and yet still qualify for Medicaid or other resources. Unfortunately, the Court of Appeals in this case held that the SNT could not be used to shelter the individual's Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). The case illustrates the importance of seeking assistance from a qualified estate planning and elder law attorney when planning for clients with current or future special needs (of themselves or their beneficiaries).

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EDUCATIONAL FYIs
 Stimulus Payments for Seniors

$250 Recovery Payments to go to SS and SSI beneficiaries in May 2009.

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