Virginia Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney, Melanie Lee offers insights and advice to help families protect themselves and those they love and preserve their assets in a practical and easy manner
I am an estate planning attorney because estate planning or someone’s lack of planning touched my life in a very real and personal way. The truth is, I remember the very day I became interested in Estate planning. After graduating from Law School, I was completing a clerkship and headed to work at a law firm in the Washington, D.C. I decided to purchase a home and I was standing with my real estate agent outside of the property when my mother called to tell my sister and I that my father was dying.
Immediately, I moved back to my home town of Richmond, VA to help my family deal with the “administration” of my father’s death. Over the next two years, my family lived through a horrible probate and even possible estate litigation. Often, I refer to my father’s estate as “the probate of my life”. Due to my family’s experience, I decided that my life’s work would be to educate about the importance of estate planning.
Like a lot of my clients, I was thrust into handling my family’s affairs not just because I was an attorney but because I was the Eldest daughter and caretaker child. While most families I help, do not have an oldest child that is an attorney; in every family, someone is the “go-to” child, niece or nephew to help parents or other loved ones in planning their affairs or handling financial matters.
I am creating this blog for that person.
As an attorney, I am often asked questions about estate planning and elder law in the grocery store, in shopping centers even at church. The truth is I love helping people and I have found that providing information is the best
way for me to help. Often, people tell me it is difficult talking to attorneys to get information in “plain” English. Therefore, this blog is being written for anyone looking for advice on estate planning and elder law that is straightforward and easy to understand. I am writing for Anyone looking for advice from their oldest daughter (or sibling). We will share information weekly that’s important to you and your family, educating you on how you can best protect your legacy and hopefully, occasionally informing and entertaining you.
If you would like more information or have a specific topic you would like to see in future blog posts, visit my firm website at www.mleelaw.com.
- Advice from Your Eldest daughter: Estate Planning and Elder Lawblog - January 31, 2017
- Updating Your Estate Plan Is Essential - October 13, 2014
- Blended and Pureed Families: Protecting Your Loved Ones - September 5, 2014