In firm news, the Norton Pelt team is very excited to announce that we won the Best Law Firm Category in the 2023 Best of the Burg contest!   We'd like to extend a big thank you to our community for all of your support - this couldn't have been achieved without you. We look forward to continuing to provide excellent legal services to Fredericksburg and the Commonwealth.

Navigating Discovery in Family Law

Understanding family law cases requires exploring a critical phase known as the discovery process. Through it, your attorney can gain essential information about the other party’s case before trial. Because both sides will engage in it, the discovery process facilitates transparency. Through this systematic procedure, each party can understand the opponent’s case in-depth. The goal is to ensure the trial or Read More

Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA): A New Chapter in Disclosure

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) introduces unparalleled transparency requirements for numerous legal entities. The Act demands that most entities disclose specific details concerning their owners, leaders, and key stakeholders to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). One of the more pervasive questions surrounding it—outside of its ramifications—is what sparked the initiation of the CTA. There was Read More

Can You Refuse a Breathalyzer in Virginia? Insight From Norton Pelt 

Driving under the influence (DUI) charges often come with a flurry of questions. Because of how many people consume alcohol recreationally, people generally offer a wide range of advice regarding your rights when you are pulled over. For instance, can you refuse a breathalyzer? At Norton Pelt, we understand the complexity and confusion that may surround these questions. When asked to take one, your decisions will Read More

How Electric Vehicles, Lobbyists, & A New Law In Virginia Are Connected

You’ve seen them. When you go to a parking garage, grocery store, gas station, or shopping mall, you’d be hard-pressed not to see an electronic vehicle (EV) charging station. Though technology will evolve, the average EV can run on one charge for about 250 miles. The distance they can run on one charge is impacted by the battery's size, the vehicle's weight, driving conditions, and the use of the car’s accessories. Read More

The Criminal Consequences Of Exploiting Vulnerable Adults

If you were inclined to do so, you could look up § 18.2-178.1 in the Code of Virginia to learn about the penalties associated with the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. Although we will explain what a vulnerable adult is and what exploitation looks like, it is essential to note that this is now a crime. Previously, they were strictly civil matters, but breaches of fiduciary duties are now criminal Read More

Persons With A Legitimate Interest

Consider the following scenario: John and Jane give birth to their first and only child, John Jr. Shortly after the child is born, John and Jane separate and begin dissolving their marriage. John Jr. was only a year old when the divorce decree was issued. However, there are no provisions in the divorce decree concerning custody of John Jr. Ultimately, John Jr. remains with his father, and Jane has visitation rights. Read More

Virginia Veterans Treatment Docket

States have incorporated “drug courts,” which offer sentencing alternatives to specific individuals. After defendants accept a plea, they enter into a supervised process to break their addiction and avoid being sent to prison. Though most jurisdictions offer these, few have begun offering something along the same lines to veterans known as “veterans dockets.”  This program is in its early stages and has only Read More

How to Put Business Interests into a Trust

When forming your business, you may choose to structure it as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Each type of structure offers different levels of asset protection and affects how much you pay in taxes. But owners can exert further control over their business—both while alive and after they pass away—by placing business interests in a trust.   Typically associated Read More

How to Put Business Interests into a Trust

When forming your business, you may choose to structure it as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Each type of structure offers different levels of asset protection and affects how much you pay in taxes. But owners can exert further control over their business—both while alive and after they pass away—by placing business interests in a trust. Typically associated with Read More

Protecting Your Parental Rights During A Deployment 

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces live under an umbrella of unique circumstances. For example, their actions are governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and are subject to the constant possibility of relocations and deployments. Although a military divorce follows the same process as a civilian one, several factors must be considered. One of the biggest concerns that many military members have is how Read More