Virginia Estate Planning: What is the difference between a “living will” and “last will and testament”? | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney

Virginia Estate Planning: What is the difference between a “living will” and “last will and testament”? | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney
Nothing lasts forever, and however good your health or stable your finances, it never hurts to prepare for the worst. This is especially true if your family or finances have changed recently. It is also a good idea to periodically review whether your old estate plan needs amendments. Many of the terms used for the various estate planning documents can be... Read More

Virginia Business Dissolution: What happens when business co-owners can’t agree? | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney

Virginia Business Dissolution: What happens when business co-owners can’t agree? | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney
Virginia Business Litigation Attorney: When business partners can’t agree, what happens with the business? Note: In this article, I use the term “partner” and “partnership agreement” loosely. The rules governing each are slightly different. For example, dissolution of a general partnership will be slightly different than for a stock corporation. Business partnerships can go wrong for many reasons.  When you are in... Read More

Virginia Employee Law: Employee Duty of Loyalty to Employer | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Business Attorney

Virginia Employee Law: Employee Duty of Loyalty to Employer | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Business Attorney
Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters.”* *I did not include the Bible verse above in an attempt to win converts. This verse (or at least the concept) has often been used by Virginia courts in the past when explaining the common law duty of loyalty that an employee owes to their employer. When a job applicant is searching for employment,... Read More

Elder Financial Abuse: Protecting Your Loved Ones from Exploitation | Ryan C. Young |Richmond, Virginia Estate and Guardianship Law

Elder Financial Abuse: Protecting Your Loved Ones from Exploitation | Ryan C. Young |Richmond, Virginia Estate and Guardianship Law
As tragic as it is, the elderly often fall victim to those determined to exploit the most vulnerable. To protect your loved one’s money and safety, be on the lookout for financial abuse. What does financial elder abuse look like? Financial abuse occurs when friends, family, caregivers, or businesses trick or coerce the elderly out of their money. The most... Read More

Non-Disparagement Clause in a Contract | Ryan C. Young | Civil Litigation and Contract Attorney in Richmond, Virginia

Non-Disparagement Clause in a Contract | Ryan C. Young | Civil Litigation and Contract Attorney in Richmond, Virginia
If you’re a party to any kind of contract in the state of Virginia, you’ll want to learn about non-disparagement clauses. These can appear in all kinds of contracts, and you may see one if you’re an employee or if you and another person are partners for any reason. Additionally, you may see this kind of clause if you receive... Read More

Civil Litigation: Virginia Computer Crimes Act | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney

Civil Litigation: Virginia Computer Crimes Act | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney
Computers, and the Internet in general, play a more important role in our lives with each passing day. This is especially true in the world of business, where many organizations are shifting towards cloud-based or other digital storage options in lieu of traditional print information. To protect businesses and consumers from misuse or theft of these resources, the Virginia Computer... Read More

Virginia Contract Law: Damages in Breach of Contract Litigation | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney

Virginia Contract Law: Damages in Breach of Contract Litigation | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney
When two parties sign a contract in the state of Virginia, that document represents an exchange that is expected to be made. If you’re a homeowner and you sign a contract with a contractor to build a new deck on the back of your house, for example, the exchange is very simple: you will pay the contractor a specified amount... Read More

Brief Overview: Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney

Brief Overview: Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney
With the Commonwealth of Virginia’s adoption of the Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act (also commonly referred to as the VUTSA), many people have begun to wonder exactly how it will affect the business environment that they operate in on a daily basis. At its core, the Act was designed to both protect innovation by companies that depend on such advancements... Read More

Defenses to Trade Secret Litigation in Virginia | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney

Defenses to Trade Secret Litigation in Virginia | Ryan C. Young | Richmond, Virginia Attorney
Trade secrets are vital to many business interests and thus important to the American system of commerce. Trade secrets are one of the unique products of a business that may set that company apart from its competitors. In the interest of fostering competition, the government and the law has an interest in helping institutions protect their trade secrets. In the... Read More