About Melissa N. Moser
Melissa N. Moser is a Shareholder at Midgett Preti Olansen. She focuses her practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, elder law, business law, nonprofit law, and tax law.
Within her estate planning practice, she prepares Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives (healthcare powers of attorney and end-of-life declarations), and Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts. An animal lover herself, one of her passions in this area is Estate Planning for Pets, wherein she works with clients to help ensure their pets are provided for in the event the client can no longer care for the pet. Melissa has provided many hours of pro bono estate planning through the Wills for Heroes program and the Wills for Seniors program.
The passing of a loved one is a most difficult time. Melissa’s background in counseling helps her to guide clients through the probate and estate administration process with empathy, compassion, and respect.
With her extensive knowledge of the Virginia Uniform Trust Code and the Virginia Uniform Prudent Investor Act, coupled with her experience in trust administration, Melissa advises her clients on their fiduciary obligations and the intricacies of the fiduciary role, both statutorily and under the governing document.
When a loved one becomes incapacitated but does not have a Durable Power of Attorney or Advance Medical Directive in place, Melissa assists families with Guardianship and Conservatorship appointments.
Entity formation, corporate compliance, and business succession planning are among the business law aspects with which Melissa assists her clients. She also assists clients with forming nonprofit corporations and obtaining and retaining tax-exempt status.
With her background in tax law, she not only prepares and files individual income tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns, gift tax returns, and estate tax returns, but also advises clients on advantageous tax strategies and charitable giving.
Outside of her law practice, Melissa loves spending time with her husband and rescue pup, running on the beach, and traveling.
Attorney Details
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
- Virginia
Education
- Salmon P. Chase School of Law, Northern Kentucky University Juris Doctor, Certificate in Transactional Law, Certificate in Tax Law
- University of Cincinnati Master of Science
- Wittenberg University Bachelor of Arts
Court Admissions
- Virginia Supreme Court
- United States Tax Court
Honors & Awards
- Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- CoVaBiz Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
- Top 40 Under 40
- Wittenberg University Alumni Servant Leader Award
- VBA Young Lawyers Significant Service Award
- VBA Young Lawyers Program of the Year
- Most Dedicated Law Student to the Cincinnati Bar Association Award
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Virginia State Bar
- Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association
- Hampton Roads Estate Planning Counsel
- Hampton Roads Gift Planning Counsel
Community Involvement
- Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council, Vice President (2024-Present); Board of Directors (2019-Present)
- Hampton Roads Community Foundation Professional Advisors Committee (2024-Present)
- Norfolk SPCA, Board of Directors, Executive Committee (2022-Present)
- Animal Legal Defense Fund, Pro Bono Attorney (2019-Present)
- Run OV, President (May 2021-Present)
- Wills for Heroes, VSB YLC Co-Chair (2018-2021)
- Team Red White and Blue, Leadership Team (2016-2018)
- Beach Ambassadors (2016-2018)
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Fundraiser and Advocate (2006-Ongoing); $10,000+ Fundraised Award
- Give Back Cincinnati (2010-2015)
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (2013-2015)
