Sarah E. Messersmith
Biography
Sarah is an attorney in the Hampton and Newport News offices. Her estate planning and administration work with clients ranges from the initial structuring and implementation of their estate plans to the resulting estate and trust administration. Sarah helps clients create wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney and advance medical directives and assists clients with tax planning and succession planning issues. She also represents clients who are administering an estate or trust after a family member has died, providing assistance through the trust implementation or probate process. Sarah is CRESPA certified and her real estate practice consists of representation of buyers, sellers and lenders in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate purchase and sale transactions and the associated financing. She represents clients engaging in residential and commercial leasing as well as land use and rezoning. Sarah’s practice also includes creation of new business entities and working with owners of existing closely held businesses.
Industries
Representative Matters
- Represented estates involving substantial assets, multiple beneficiaries, issues about advancement of inheritance and complex accounting reports to the Commissioner of Accounts
- Represented clients with complex tax and estate planning needs, including preparation of and funding revocable living trusts, and preparation of trusts to provide for children upon the death of both parents
- Represented clients with the preparation of leases and contracts of purchase for residential and commercial properties
- Represented clients with the creation of new corporations and limited liability companies
- Assisted with property rezonings in Hampton, Virginia for residential and commercial development
Recognition & Honors
- Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars; Estate Planning and Probate, 2017-2019
- Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ Magazine, 2019
- LEAD Peninsula, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2016
- Junior League of Hampton Roads Liz Jones Community Commitment Award, 2014
- Articles Editor; William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law, 2004-2005
Associations
- Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- Virginia Living Museum, Board of Trustees, 2018 – Present
- Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2008 – 2018
– President, 2014 – 2017
– First Vice President, 2011 – 2014
– Associate Treasurer, 2010 – 2011 - Peninsula SPCA, Board of Directors, 2013 – Present
– Chair Fur Ball Committee, 2014 – Present
– Strategic Planning Committee, 2014 – Present
– Development Committee, 2016 – Present - Hampton Public Library Foundation, Board of Directors, 2016 – Present
– Secretary/Treasurer, 2016 – Present - Hampton Bar Association, 2005 – Present
- Newport News Bar Association, 2012 – Present
- Virginia Bar Association, 2005 – Present
– Young Lawyers Division Executive Council, 2006 – 2014 - Peninsula Estate Planning Council, 2011 – Present
- Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate, 2012 – Present
- Junior League of Hampton Roads, 2010 – 2014
Education
- College of William & Mary; B.S., summa cum laude, 2002
- William & Mary Law School; J.D., 2005
Press & Publications
- Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys: 18 Named as Super Lawyers & 6 Named as Virginia Rising Stars in Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2019
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2019 in CoVaBiz Magazine
- Private Client Services Update – 2018 Virginia Legislative Update
- 31 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers and 5 Named As Rising Stars 2018
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2017 and 5 Named as Rising Stars 2017
- Private Client Services Update – Length of Marriage Now a Consideration for Surviving Spouse’s Rights Under Virginia Law
- Private Client Services Update – 2014 Virginia Legislative Update – Trusts & Estates Law Changes
- Private Client Services Update – What Really is Inherited with a Limited Liability Company Interest?
- Private Client Services Update – 2013 Virginia Legislative Update – Trusts & Estates Law
- Private Client Services Update – It’s Not Set in Stone: Reciprocal Wills Do Not Automatically Create an Irrevocable Estate Plan
- Private Client Services Update – 2012 Virginia Legislative Update – Trusts & Estates Law
- Private Client Services Update – Use of Small Estate Affidavits to Clean Up After Probate Avoidance Trusts
- Private Client Services Update – 2011 Virginia Legislative Update – Trusts & Estates Law
- Private Client Services Update – Lifetime Funding of Revocable Trusts for Couples: Avoiding Probate While Maintaining Creditor Protection
- Private Client Services Update – The Special Opportunities for Disclaimers in 2010
- Private Client Services Update – It’s For the Kids: Creation of a Children’s Trust
- Private Client Services – 2009 Virginia Legislative Update