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Eastern Shore Virginia Wills & Power of Attorney Lawyers
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Key Takeaways
● Williams DeLoatche, P.C. offers simple estate planning services, including wills, power of attorney documents, and advance medical directives ensuring your wishes are followed during disability and/or after death.
● Personalized guidance is available to address concerns regarding protection of both real and personal property.
Estate planning can often feel daunting, particularly when it comes to decisions about your assets, healthcare, and the management of your affairs. The fear of leaving your family vulnerable or making costly errors is completely understandable. At Williams DeLoatche, P.C., we are committed to providing you with comprehensive, legally sound documents that are personalized to your unique needs. Let us offer you peace of mind, knowing that both your future and your family’s future are in secure hands.
What is a Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a powerful legal document that grants another person—known as your attorney-in-fact or agent—the authority to make decisions on your behalf in the event you’re unable to do so. This includes a wide range of areas such as handling bank accounts and signing legal documents. As one of the most impactful estate planning tools, a POA allows you to transfer the decision-making power that is typically yours to someone you trust.
What is Required for a Power of Attorney in Virginia?
To create a power of attorney in Virginia, the following requirements must be met:
- The principal (the person granting authority) must be a competent adult (at least 18 years old).
- The power of attorney document must be signed by the principal and notarized to be legally valid.
- The principal must have the mental capacity to understand the nature of the POA and the authority they are granting to their agent.
What Are the Different Types of Powers of Attorney?
There are several types of power of attorney (POA) designed to address different needs. Here are the most common types:
- Medical Power of Attorney: Allows an agent to make health care decisions on behalf of the principal if they become incapacitated and are unable to communicate their preferences.
- Durable Power of Attorney: Remains in effect even if the principal becomes incapacitated, allowing the agent to act on the principal’s behalf for both financial and medical decisions.
A POA serves a specific purpose to ensure your needs are managed when you can no longer make decisions for yourself.
Estate Planning Services Williams DeLoatche, P.C. Provides to the Eastern Shore
At Williams DeLoatche, P.C., we provide a limited range of estate planning services to help you secure your future and protect what matters most. From drafting powers of attorney, advanced medical directives and including preparation of wills, our team ensures your plans are thorough and compliant with Virginia law.
- Durable General Power of Attorney
- Durable Medical Power of Attorney
- Advance Medical Directives/Living Wills
End-of-Life Documents
At Williams DeLoatche, P.C. we have worked with generations of families to help them prepare for the decisions that need to be made prior to and after departure of life. Before you pass on, you should appoint someone to make decisions for you. After you pass, you will need a will outlining the distribution of your assets. Here are the documents that we can prepare for you:
- Last Will & Testament
- Durable General Power of Attorney
- Durable Medical Power of Attorney/Advanced Medical Directive aka. Living Wills
Why Choose Williams DeLoatche, P.C.
With decades of experience, Williams DeLoatche, P.C. is a trusted name on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We specialize in helping clients create wills, prepare powers of attorney, and establish advance medical directives to ensure their wishes are honored. Our team combines in-depth knowledge of Virginia law with personalized service to provide comprehensive solutions for your needs.
We understand the importance of planning for the future. At Williams DeLoatche, P.C., we are committed to providing clear guidance and peace of mind as you plan for yourself and your loved ones.
Testimonials
At Williams DeLoatche, P.C., we take pride in providing personalized, trusted guidance for estate planning and beyond. But don’t just take our word for it—see what our clients have to say about their experiences working with our dedicated team:
“Very helpful. Great service and best of all they are very understanding. Josh is the best attorney in my opinion. Flexible with your schedule also.” – Wilmer G.
“The firm is friendly, competent and took care of our legal needs quickly and efficiently. Happily surprised it didn’t cost as much as I thought it would!” – GO.
“If you need a good lawyer, go see them. I would definitely recommend them if you need an attorney.” – Bryan T.
We Are Here to Help with Your Simple Estate Planning Needs
At Williams DeLoatche, P.C., we are committed to guiding you through every step of your simple estate planning process. Let our experienced team provide the expert advice you need to ensure your future is secure.
Call us today at 757-787-8900 or visit our Contact Page to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help you protect what matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical directives explain your medical wishes and instructions in case you are unable to communicate these decisions yourself at the time they are needed. You will appoint someone to make and carry out your wishes. You should discuss your wishes with the person you choose to be your health care proxy. No matter how unpleasant it might be for you and your loved ones to discuss, it is necessary and will save a great deal of emotional trauma in the future.
A will is a legal document that provides clear instructions for how your property and assets should be distributed after your death. It ensures that your wishes are honored, and your loved ones are provided for according to your desires.
Typically, a will includes details on the distribution of real property, personal property, financial assets, and any specific items of value, such as heirlooms or investments. It also designates an executor to manage the estate and ensure everything is carried out as outlined.
All families have challenges and sometimes, these issues spill over into the planning and settling of an estate. There are several things you can do to make your intended arrangement more likely to be upheld once you are gone:
Ensure your will is properly executed by working with an experienced attorney
Explain your decisions to family while you are still alive
Your last will and testament is a legally binding document that clearly states your final wishes, ensuring your estate is distributed exactly as instructed. If you’re young and single and have few or no assets, a simple will might suffice.
If you’re married, your spouse will most likely be the beneficiary of your estate. A will is still helpful to have in case questions arise.
If you’re married, your spouse will most likely be the beneficiary of your estate. A will is still helpful to have in case questions arise.
The short answer is, “yes.”
Having a power of attorney (POA) is important for managing your financial affairs in the event of incapacity, but it does not cover what happens after your death. A POA expires upon the principal’s death, meaning the person holding the POA loses all decision-making authority at that point.
An Advanced Medical Directive explains your medical wishes and instructions in case you are unable to communicate these decisions yourself at the time they are needed.
To ensure your wishes are carried out after your passing, you will need a will. A will provides clear instructions on the distribution of your assets, designates an executor, and addresses any other important decisions that will take effect after your death. It’s essential to have all three documents in place for complete estate planning.
Written By Jonathan R. DeLoatche
Jonathan R. DeLoatche is a partner and co-founder of Williams DeLoatche, P.C., where he advocates for injury victims across Virginia. With over 25 years of trial experience and prior work defending major insurers, he offers unique insight into complex injury claims. A Super Lawyer and Top 100 Virginia attorney, Jonathan is also a community leader through the Chesapeake Rotary Club.
