Christopher T. Craig

REAL ID in Virginia- Do I Need It?

January 6, 2025

What exactly is REAL ID and do I need one as a resident of Virginia? Beginning on May 7, 2025, the federal REAL ID Act will be enforced. This act passed in Congress in 2005 to set identification standards such as driver’s licenses and Identification (ID) cards. So, what is a REAL ID and who needs one? The REAL ID Act establishes minimum standards for the issuance and production of licenses. Under the act, federal agencies may not accept certain non-compliant licenses or identification cards for official purposes. For example: Accessing certain federal facilities Boarding federally regulated commercial aircrafts Entering nuclear power plants The big one for most people is of course flying. Starting May 7, 2025, you will not be able to fly on a commercial airplane without a REAL ID or passport. A REAL ID is an upgraded version of your driver’s license or ID card. It has a star in the upper right-hand corner. While REAL ID is optional, without it you won’t be able to board a domestic flight or enter secure federal facilities or military bases. REAL ID is optional in Virginia so you may not need one if you have another federally accepted ID,

Schedule a Consultation with an Estate Attorney-Fairfax

November 25, 2024

Many people avoid thinking about estate planning and retaining an estate planning attorney. While the thought of death can be morbid, the thought of leaving your loved ones with no plan, no direction, and nothing ensuring your last wishes can also be troubling. Planning NOW can save your family stress and heartache. To ease this stress, you may want to consider scheduling an estate planning consultation with an attorney. What Can an Estate Planning Attorney Help With? Estate planning attorneys focus on state and federal laws related to estates, trusts, and probates. They can help create or update an estate plan that ensures your last wishes are respected. This is important for everyone, but especially those in high risk jobs (e.g., military and first responders) and older Americans. We proudly offer a 10% discount on estate planning for military (active or retired), law enforcement, and first responders. An estate attorney will help with: Creating a last will and testament. Creating an Advance Medical Directive and Power of Attorney. Creating or transferring assets to a trust. Designating beneficiaries. Your attorney will explore your options and advise you on specific questions, such as how to employ trusts or how to create an

When to Hire an Elder Law Attorney Near Me

September 16, 2024

Do I need an estate planning attorney? The answer might be yes for many reasons. Such attorneys help seniors through legal situations and can help soon-to-be seniors with legal planning. Here are some reasons to seek the assistance of an elder law attorney in Virginia. Estate Plans Creating an estate plan can help keep assets out of probate. The plan typically involves reviewing beneficiary and co-ownership of assets, wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives and oftentimes a revocable living trust. The plan is an essential part of preparing, and can save your loved ones time, effort, and money. Hiring an estate planning attorney can help with this process. They can prepare documents and make sure your plan complies with any changes in the law while providing advice in related areas. Financial Exploitation Unfortunately, with elderly people, there is a significant risk of financial exploitation. Seniors can fall victim to scams and frauds. The best way to avoid elder fraud is through education, open communication, and strong privacy measures. If your elderly loved ones call you about something regarding money, listen to them. You may be the only thing preventing a stranger from accessing their financial information. Medical Malpractice Many

Small Entities Must File New Beneficial Ownership Information Reports in 2024

May 6, 2024

Beginning January 1, 2024, a new law went into effect that will impact over 30 million entities in 2024. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) created a new reporting requirement. Most entities, including single member LLCs, must file online reports with the federal government and disclose information about the “beneficial owners” of the entities. Existing entities have until January 1, 2025 to file a beneficial ownership information (BOI) report. Entities created or registered after January 1, 2024 have 90 days to file their first reports. Entities must report updated information within 30 days of the update. There are limited exceptions to those that may be relieved of this requirement. The CTA was enacted to help prevent money laundering, corrupt financial transactions, and financial terrorism. Specifically, the government stated that collecting BOI will “help to shed light on criminals who evade taxes, hide their illicit wealth, and defraud employees and customers and hurt honest U.S. businesses through their misuse of shell companies”. Under the CTA the government may share the information with government agencies, financial institutions, and financial regulations. A Beneficial Owner is an individual who directly or indirectly exercises substantial control over the reporting company. Among other definitions, a person who

FAQ Small Business Law Fairfax Virginia

January 24, 2024

Whether you are a seasoned business owner or just toying with the idea of starting a new venture, a business lawyer can help you understand the legalities involved and protect your assets. Here are some of the most FAQ about small business law. Do I need a lawyer to start an LLC in Virginia? No. But it helps when you are trying to decide what type of business association is best for you and your business. What does business law cover? Everything from planning and creating a business entity, executing governance documents (Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, Resolutions), handling contracts (Services, buy-sell and stockholder agreements, loans, leases, protecting intellectual property, copyright, trademark and information and the like), human resources, and insurance just to name a few. How do I choose the right business entity? Factors in choosing the right business entity include: who and how many will own the entity? Do you plan on selling the entity some day? What is the degree of liability related to the services or goods produced? Taxation? And the like. Can I be my own registered agent in Virginia? Yes, you can; you can apply on the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Do I need