East Coast Elder Law

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East Coast Elder Law We guide seniors and individuals with disabilities, and their families, through life's transitions with dignity and peace of mind.

We provide comprehensive estate planning and elder law services.

This morning, our founder Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, CELA, joined the Coast Live team on WTKR News 3 to take the scare out...
10/13/2026

This morning, our founder Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro, CELA, joined the Coast Live team on WTKR News 3 to take the scare out of estate planning, just in time for Halloween. 🎃

For a lot of families, thinking about wills, powers of attorney, and long-term care feels like walking into a haunted house: you know you should, but you’d rather not look around the corner. Shannon shared why putting a plan in place now is one of the kindest things you can do for the people you love, and how the right guidance can turn something intimidating into real peace of mind.

The truly frightening scenario? A health crisis or a loss with no plan in place, leaving your family to sort it out under stress.

Have questions about protecting yourself or a loved one? East Coast Elder Law is here to help families across Virginia.

🗓️ Today, 10/13 at 9 AM 📺 Coastal Live, WTKR Channel 3Catch Shannon's live interview this morning!
10/13/2026

🗓️ Today, 10/13 at 9 AM 📺 Coastal Live, WTKR Channel 3

Catch Shannon's live interview this morning!

10/12/2026

MYTH: "If something happens to my spouse or parent, I can automatically make decisions for them — we're family."

FACT: Being a spouse, adult child, or next of kin does not automatically give you legal authority to make medical or financial decisions for an incapacitated loved one. Without a power of attorney in place beforehand, families often have to petition the court for guardianship or conservatorship — a process that takes time, money, and a judge's approval, often during an already stressful moment.

📌 Family doesn't equal legal authority. Documents do.

10/05/2026

MYTH: "Medicare will cover the cost if I ever need nursing home care."

FACT: Medicare only covers limited, short-term skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay — typically capped at 100 days, and only if specific conditions are met. Long-term custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing and dressing) generally isn't covered by Medicare at all. Planning ahead — through Medicaid planning, long-term care insurance, or other tools — is how families actually protect themselves from these costs.

📌 "I have insurance" and "I'm covered for long-term care" are two very different things.

East Coast Elder Law was honored to sponsor the Women Against Violence luncheon, a joint endeavor with Samaritan House. ...
10/02/2026

East Coast Elder Law was honored to sponsor the Women Against Violence luncheon, a joint endeavor with Samaritan House. Attorneys Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro and Rachel Anderson joined team members Skyler Lucas and Bria Felton.

The keynote speaker, Haley Robson, shared her experience with Jeffrey Epstein and spoke about the signs of coercive control. Her courage was a powerful reminder that abuse is often gradual and hard to recognize from the inside.

Coercive control is a pattern of behavior used to dominate another person, often through isolation, monitoring, financial control, and intimidation.

This isn't only a younger person's issue. In our work with older adults and their families, we see the same tactics in elder abuse and financial exploitation, often by someone the person trusts.

If something feels off for you or someone you love, trust that instinct. Reach out to a trusted person, a local advocate, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Thank you to Women Against Violence and Samaritan House for bringing our community together and for the vital work you do.

Estate and trust planning isn't just paperwork — it's catching the details that make the difference down the road. Shann...
09/29/2026

Estate and trust planning isn't just paperwork — it's catching the details that make the difference down the road. Shannon and our team take the time to dig into the specifics of each family's situation, flagging things clients often haven't thought to ask about, and walking through exactly why they matter.

That's the kind of guidance that turns a good plan into the right plan for your family.

09/28/2026

MYTH: "A Power of Attorney, a Will, and a Trust are all basically the same thing — I just need one of them."

FACT: Each document does something different. A Power of Attorney lets someone act for you while you're alive. A Will directs what happens to your assets after you pass, through probate. A Trust can manage and distribute assets during your life and after, often avoiding probate. A comprehensive plan usually needs more than one working together — not a single document standing in for all three.

📌 One-size-fits-all doesn't fit an estate plan. Let's build yours around what you actually need.

❓ FAQ: "What's actually the difference between a will and a trust?"A will takes effect after you pass away and typically...
09/25/2026

❓ FAQ: "What's actually the difference between a will and a trust?"

A will takes effect after you pass away and typically goes through probate — the court process of validating and administering an estate. A trust can take effect during your lifetime, allows assets to pass to beneficiaries without going through probate, and can offer more control over how and when assets are distributed.

Most comprehensive estate plans use both, working together — not one instead of the other.

📖 Word of the Week: HIPAA AuthorizationA signed release that allows specific people you name — like a parent — to access...
09/23/2026

📖 Word of the Week: HIPAA Authorization

A signed release that allows specific people you name — like a parent — to access your medical records and speak with healthcare providers on your behalf. Without it, providers legally cannot share your health information, even with immediate family.

🔑 Especially relevant for: college students, adult children living independently, and anyone who wants a loved one to be able to get real answers in an emergency.

Estate planning isn't a one-and-done transaction — it's an ongoing relationship. This family has had a great experience ...
09/22/2026

Estate planning isn't a one-and-done transaction — it's an ongoing relationship. This family has had a great experience not just with Shannon, but with our team every step of the way, and we're looking forward to continuing to support them for years to come.

Welcome to the East Coast Elder Law family! 💛

Address

160 Newtown Road, Suite 201
Virginia Beach, VA
23462

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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