Posts by Matthew Schottmiller

As you gather with family for the holidays, creating an estate plan is probably the last thing on your mind.  However, an estate plan can make things easier for the people you love in the event that something unfortunate happens to you or a close family member.   Although no one can predict the future, if…

In the movies, people are always driving at breakneck speeds, because of a race, an action-packed chase, or other situations. Surprisingly, these drivers are able to get away with speeding, but this is not the case in real life. When you drive at fast and furious speeds along Salem’s highways, you will most likely get…

Estate planning isn’t anyone’s favorite topic of conversation, but the fact remains that it is one of critical importance.  One option to consider as you do your planning is to create a trust.  Trusts have several general benefits, the chief of which is helping to avoid the costs, privacy concerns, and delays of probate court. Other…

I recently posted about the different types of trusts one might consider when estate planning.  The next major decision to make after starting a trust is selecting someone to manage it.  However, you might not have someone in your life that you have faith in to manage such an important matter properly.  Not only that,…

Well, here you are. You gave it your best shot and probably played by all the rules in your bid to avoid insolvency, and yet…here you are. As distasteful as it may sound to the average individual who has no adequate knowledge of the term, opting to file for bankruptcy is not always the end.…

Repetitive physical and psychological abuse can prompt people to commit violence against their tormentors. In this case, the defendant may claim abuse defense. An example of this is the Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS), a mental condition associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that is currently admissible in most states, including Virginia.  One of the best…

Some people think they can handle small legal matters on their own, without legal advice from a licensed attorney. Two areas of the law where this belief is common are traffic law and estate law. The benefits of hiring a lawyer in these areas, however, are great while the risks of going without one are…

The untimely passing of Hollywood actor Paul Walker in late November 2013 left a significant impact on the entertainment industry, especially among those he worked with in the Fast and the Furious movie franchise. It also posed some issues with passing down his estate to his family, according to Forbes contributors Andy and Danielle Mayoras. Both authors noted some…

Most individuals who are suffering through a financial crisis – either due to poor financial decisions or rough circumstances – do not realize the consequences of being caught in such a predicament. Unfortunately, if they do undergo such a predicament, most don’t know how to get out of it. Bankruptcy is, to put it simply,…

Roger “Dean” Gillespie, a man who served 20 years in prison, shared his experience in a criminal behavior class in Bluefield State College about his incarceration experience and eventual release (as he was determined to be wrongfully convicted). Gillespie was convicted of aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and rape in February 20, 1991. He recalls his arrest,…