Portsmouth Legal Blog
When can police enter your Virginia home?
The freedom from unreasonable searches and seizure of your property is one of the most basic rights you have as an American. That is why it is in the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution as part of the Bill of Rights. Unfortunately, if people do not understand the way...
Probable cause and electronic information
When Virginia police officers want to search a suspect's home, car or possessions, they generally must first obtain a search warrant, and the judges who issue these warrants only do so when they are presented with probable cause to believe that useful evidence will be...
Power of attorney may be your most important legal document
While most of us would prefer not to think about it, a person’s cognitive abilities decline as they age. Once we reach an age where we can no longer manage our financial and medical affairs, we need someone we trust to step in and help make those decisions. That is...
The first step in estate planning is often the hardest
For many Virginia residents who realize the importance of creating an estate plan, getting started is often the most difficult step. The reluctance to face the harsh reality of one's ultimate death is certainly a factor, but there are other considerations as well. One...
False confessions and ignored evidence in high-profile cases
Police officers in Virginia and around the country are often put under great pressure to make an arrest when the cases they investigate attract a lot of media attention. A study published in the Northeastern University Law Review suggests that this pressure results in...
Good reasons to start estate planning immediately
Virginia residents and others may put off creating an estate plan for various reasons. However, it is generally a good idea to put one into place before getting sick of experiencing other significant life events. Significant life events include the birth of a child or...
Living wills and living trusts are not the same
Virginia residents are sometimes confused by the amount of paperwork that can be included in an estate plan, and their bewilderment sometimes grows when they find out that some of these documents have names that sound alike. It would be reasonable to assume that...
Simple things to keep your kids from fighting about your estate
As a parent, the last thing that you want is for your children to fight over your will when you die. When you pass, you want your children to be there for one another, and to lean on one another. You don't want them to be arguing over your assets and everything that...
When children want to change the custody plan
Separated parents in Virginia may go through challenging times when their children say they want to change the custody arrangement. There are several reasons why a kid would make these requests. Examples range from serious situations like abuse or neglect to simply...
Rights children have after a divorce
Children of divorce in Virginia often experience a wide range of emotions when a marriage comes to an end. Parents may be able to make the transition to a two-household life easier by being mindful of unofficial "rights" that their children have after a marriage...
