Estate Planning Blog • Don Shaw Law, PLLC

It usually starts with something small. A missed utility bill here, a strangely large "donation" there, or maybe a loved one mentioned they can't quite remember how to log into their bank account anymore. For many families in Northern Virginia, these moments aren't just frustrating, they’re the first signs that a parent or spouse might be losing the ability to manage their own financial world. When someone can no longer handle their money, property, or bills safely, the legal system has a way to step in and help. In Virginia, we call this process conservatorship. Navigating the court system while ...

When we sit down with families in Northern Virginia, one of the most common points of confusion we hear about is the difference between a guardian and a conservator. Usually, these conversations start because a loved one, perhaps an aging parent or a child with special needs reaching adulthood, is no longer able to make safe or sound decisions for themselves. It’s an emotional time. You’re already worried about their health and safety; the last thing you want to deal with is a tangle of legal terminology. But understanding these two roles is the first step in making sure your ...

Losing a loved one is hard enough. Between the grief, the family gathering, and the endless "to-do" lists, the last thing anyone wants to deal with is a mountain of paperwork from the circuit court. If you’ve been named the Executor in a will or appointed as the Administrator for someone who passed away without one, you probably feel like you’ve been handed a second full-time job. We see it all the time here at Don Shaw Law. You want to do the right thing and honor your loved one’s wishes, but the Virginia probate process can be a bit ...

It’s hard to believe we’re already well into 2026. If you’re like most of our neighbors here in Maryland, life hasn’t slowed down one bit. You’re busy with the grandkids, maybe planning a trip down to the shore, or finally getting around to those home renovations you’ve been talking about for years. But there’s one thing that often sits on the back burner, gathering dust in a drawer or a digital folder: your estate plan. We see it all the time. People think, “I did my will back in 2018, I’m good.” Or, “My trust was set up years ago; ...

If you’ve ever sat down to look at a Will or a Trust, you’ve probably run into some Latin terms that look like they were pulled straight out of a dusty 18th-century textbook. One of the most common: and most important: is per stirpes. It sounds fancy, but at Don Shaw Law, PLLC, we believe that your estate plan shouldn't feel like a foreign language lesson. You’re trying to protect your family, not win a spelling bee. So, what exactly is per stirpes, and why does it matter so much for families right here in Washington, DC? We’re going to ...

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news lately, you probably heard a lot of chatter about the "2026 tax cliff." For years, we were all told that the federal estate tax exemptions were going to drop off a ledge, potentially leaving families in Northern Virginia and across the Commonwealth with a massive tax bill. Well, we have some good news for you: 2026 didn't bring a cliff. Instead, it brought a lot more clarity and some very specific changes to how we protect our families. At Don Shaw Law, PLLC, we spend our days helping parents and families ...

Let’s be honest: talking about what happens after you’re gone is about as fun as a root canal or sitting in traffic on I-95. Most of us would rather organize our sock drawer than think about legal documents. But here’s the thing, if you’re a parent or a homeowner in Virginia, avoiding this conversation doesn't make the "future" go away; it just makes things a lot messier for the people you love. At Don Shaw Law, PLLC, we see it all the time. Families think they have everything under control with a simple will, only to realize later that they’ve ...

If you’ve recently been named the Executor of a loved one’s Will, or perhaps you’re stepping up as the Administrator because there wasn't a Will, first of all, we are so sorry for your loss. It’s a heavy time, and honestly, the last thing anyone wants to deal with after a funeral is a mountain of paperwork and the looming shadow of the Virginia court system. But here’s the thing: being an Executor or Administrator isn't just an honorary title. It’s a job. And like any job, if you mess it up, there are consequences. In Virginia, those consequences can ...

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences life throws at us. Between the grief and the logistics of a funeral, the last thing anyone wants to think about is a stack of legal paperwork. But then, it happens, you find out you’ve been named the "Executor" or "Administrator." Suddenly, you’re in charge of a process called estate administration (often just called probate), and it feels like you’ve been given a second full-time job that you never applied for. At Don Shaw Law, PLLC, we talk to families every day who feel overwhelmed by the Virginia probate process. ...

If you’ve ever sat down at your kitchen table, looked at your family, and thought, "I really need to get our affairs in order," you aren't alone. Most of us know we need something in place, but the jargon can be a major roadblock. You hear about Wills, and then someone mentions a Revocable Living Trust, and suddenly it feels like you're trying to learn a second language just to protect your kids. At Don Shaw Law, PLLC, we hear these questions every day from families across Virginia. Is a Will enough? Is a Trust only for the ultra-wealthy? (Spoiler: ...