Gregory S. Bean

Partner
Gregory S. Bean

Gregory S. Bean

Partner
Richmond T: 804.977.1241 F: 804.9771281
Virginia Beach T: 804.977.1241
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Gregory S. Bean

Gregory S. Bean

PARTNER
gbean@whitefordlaw.com
RICHMOND
T: 804.977.1241
F: 804.9771281

VIRGINIA BEACH
T: 804.977.1241
Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Bean focuses his practice on community associations, estate and trust litigation, general commercial litigation, and real estate litigation.
 
Trust, Estate, and Fiduciary Litigation
 
Mr. Bean’s trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation practice includes bringing and defending challenges to wills and trusts.  He has represented executors, administrators, trustees, heirs, and would-be beneficiaries in numerous will and trust disputes throughout Virginia, including claims against executors and trustees for breach of fiduciary duties and removal. These include claims for undue influence, fraud, dissolution of trusts, rescission of wills and deeds, and lack of contractual or testamentary capacity.  He has helped clients challenge and defend transfers made before the death of a loved one, such as altered beneficiary designations on financial accounts, deeds to property, unauthorized gifts, and improper transfers of funds. 
  
Mr. Bean also assists in interpretation of wills and trusts. This may range from a comprehensive office consultation to assist executors, administrators, and beneficiaries understand the terms of a will or trust to bringing and defending declaratory actions asking a Court to interpret disputed provisions of wills and trusts.
 
Mr. Bean further represents clients in matters for guardianship and conservatorship. He has helped clients in actions to replace a current guardian or conservator, appoint a guardian or conservator when there is none in place, and for claims against guardians and conservators for breach of fiduciary duties. The laws relating to guardianship and conservatorship are detailed and complex, and Mr. Bean has successfully navigated these laws in helping his clients get appointments of guardians and conservators for loved ones in need.

Mr. Bean also represents clients in matters involving Powers of Attorneys, including proper reporting, breach of fiduciary duties, and challenging improper actions taken by agents under a Power of Attorney.
 
Community Association General Counsel and Litigation

Mr. Bean advises community associations on their general legal and litigation matters, including those involving covenant enforcement and collections actions. He has assisted community associations in all aspects of governance and document creation and provides regular legal advice on interpretation and application of governing documents. He has litigated many issues on behalf of community associations, including land use disputes, contract issues, enforcement actions, collection matters, and judicial foreclosures.  He is an active participant in Virginia’s various chapters of the Community Association Institute, and serves on multiple committees for several chapters. He regularly speaks and writes on issues relating to community associations in Virginia.
  
Other Litigation Experience
 
Mr. Bean also has experience litigating on behalf of individuals and businesses in matters relating to residential construction, business contract disputes, land use (including easements, life estates, and zoning/code violations), and commercial and residential real estate (including lease enforcement actions, commercial evictions, UCC property sales, title disputes, and collections). He has significant trial and general litigation experience in the state and federal courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has represented clients before the Virginia Court of Appeals, Virginia Supreme Court, and 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
 
Greg lives in Williamsburg and regularly represents clients in the York County, Williamsburg, and James City County Courts in a variety of practice areas. He serves as the Vice-Chair of the Williamsburg/James City County Community Action Agency, which runs various Head Start classrooms in the surrounding areas and aims to address the causes and conditions of poverty and economic insecurity, where he also chairs the Governance Committee.
 
Presentations and Articles
 

Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Trusts and Estates (2025-2026)
  • Recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by Coastal Virginia Magazine (2023-2025)
  • Recipient of Rising Star award for Southeastern Virginia chapter – Community Associations Institute (2025)
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Williamsburg Bar Association (Board Member)
  • York-Poquoson Bar Association
  • Richmond Bar Association – Real Property section
  • Estate Planning Council of Richmond
  • Community Association Institute (Central Virginia, Southeastern Virginia Chapters and Southwestern Virginia Chapter)
  • Legislative Action Committee member, Southeastern Virginia chapter - Community Association Institute
  • Public Relations Committee Chair, Central Virginia chapter – Community Associations Institute
  • Vice Chair; Governance Committee Chair – Williamsburg/James City County Community Action Agency
  • Virginia State Bar – General Practice Section (Board of Governors),Trusts and Estates Section, Litigation Section
INSIGHTS

Presenter, 2026 Legal & Legislative Update, Southeastern Virginia Chapter of Community Associations Institute at Glenwood Community Association, on May 14, 2026

Co-Presenter, Managing Conflict from Meetings to Courtrooms, and Everywhere in Between, for Southeastern Virginia Chapter-CAI Conference and Expo, on March 28, 2026

Co-Presenter, Chat HOA: The Impact of AI on the CIC Industry, for Washington Metro Chapter-CAI Conference and Expo, on February 26, 2026

Co-author, Virginia Legislative Updates for Trust and Estates: 2025, for the Virginia State Bar Trusts and Estates Newsletter, Winter 2026

Co-Presenter, roundtable discussion, Responding to AI Generated Owner Requests and Communications, for the Southwestern Virginia Chapter-CAI annual meeting, on January 23, 2026

Co-Presenter, CICB Virginia Law Training, for Southeastern Virginia Chapter-CAI, on October 29, 2025

Co-Presenter, EV Charging in Virginia Common Interest Communities, for Southwestern Virginia Chapter-CAI, on September 26, 2025

Co-Presenter, Serving Where you Lead: Applying Servant Leadership in Community Associations, for Virginia Leadership Retreat, on July 29, 2025

Co-presenter, Community Associations Legislative Update, for Southeastern Virginia Chapter-CAI, on May 22, 2025

Co-presenter, Common Interest Community Law in Virginia, for Virginia CLE, on May 20, 2025

Author, The Almighty Injunction, for Currents, publication for the Southeastern Virginia chapter of the Community Association Institute, Spring 2021

Author, Quantum Leap: The History of Quantum Meruit from the Early Days of the Supreme Court of Virginia to its Decision in Musgrove v. Young, for The Journal of Civil Litigation, Fall 2020

ARTICLES

July 7, 2026

Inheriting a Home with Siblings (or Others) in Virginia: Key Rights, Responsibilities and Options

When multiple people inherit real property, a wide variety of potential disputes and problems can arise. A common scenario is when a parent leaves real property to their children in their will or trust (like a home or a farm). 

If you and your siblings (or others) inherit a Virginia property, you likely take title as “tenants in common.” That arrangement carries specific rights and obligations, especially if not everyone agrees on what to do with the home. Below is a basic overview to help you spot issues and consider next steps. 
June 24, 2026

Common Scenarios of Breach of Fiduciary Duty by a Trustee of a Trust in Virginia

Serving as a trustee is a fiduciary role. Trustees of trusts owe a variety of fiduciary duties to the trust and beneficiaries of the trust.

We have previously discussed common breach of fiduciary duty scenarios in the context of an executor or administrator of an estate. In this post, we will discuss some common scenarios of breach of fiduciary duty with respect to trusts. When trustees breach their fiduciary duties, the consequences can be serious both for the trust and for the fiduciary personally. 

June 2, 2026

Common Scenarios of Breach of Fiduciary Duty by an Executor or Administrator of an Estate in Virginia

Serving as an executor (when there is a will) or an administrator (when there is no will) is a position of trust. In a prior post, we described how Virginia law imposes fiduciary duties on these individuals to protect the estate and act in the best interests of beneficiaries. When executors/administrators breach those duties, the consequences can be serious both for the estate and for the fiduciary personally. This article outlines common grounds for breach of fiduciary duty and potential legal consequences. 
May 26, 2026

Special Claims of Spouses (and Others) Against Estates – Family Allowance, Homestead Allowance, and the Exempt Property Allowance

Most people are familiar with the concept of inheriting property under a deceased person’s will. As a general matter, if there is a specific bequest of property under a will, the executor is obligated to make the conveyance of the property during the administration of the estate. Such a specific bequest in a will could be as straightforward as “I leave my car to my spouse.”   

In addition to specific bequests in wills, there are also special statutory claims that spouses and certain others can make against a person’s estate. Notably, these claims can arise whether the deceased person leaves a will or not. When a person dies without a will, the estate passes via intestate succession or intestacy, which we discussed in a prior post. This post will address the basics of these special claims: the family allowance, the homestead allowance, and the exempt property allowance. 
May 6, 2026

Common Trust Contest Scenarios in Virginia: Grounds, Deadlines, and Trustee Disputes

With the rising popularity of people using revocable living trusts in conjunction with, or as alternatives to, wills, trust contests are an increasingly common type of estate dispute.  

As a general matter, a trust is a fiduciary relationship with respect to property. Trusts normally come in the form of a written instrument, although it is possible to have an oral trust. A trust instrument is a legal document creating a trust, which typically sets forth the terms for the handling and disposition of trust assets. Common trust terms typically include the identification of the trustee and successor trustees, the identification of beneficiaries, the terms regarding the disposition of assets, the parameters for the payment of principal and income, and the trustee’s powers. A person may revoke or amend a revocable living trust, or even execute a new revocable living trust, as they deem fit.  
April 6, 2026

What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Virginia?

Some people may assume that if they do not make a will, their assets will “automatically” go to their spouse or children. But Virginia’s intestacy laws do not always align with what families expect.

Dying without a will, known as dying intestate, means that the state’s statutory framework determines who inherits the person’s property. 

March 23, 2026

Lawsuits Challenging a Beneficiary Designation, Pay-on-Death Designation, or a Transfer-on-Death Designation in Virginia

We recently wrote a post on common will contest scenarios in Virginia. That post discussed common bases for challenging a will in Virginia. 

In addition to will contests, many estate disputes involve challenges to other estate-related documents such as beneficiary designations, pay-on-death designations (sometimes referred to as “POD”), or transfer-on-death designations (sometimes referred to as “TOD”). In Virginia, these types of challenges are increasingly common and can involve significant assets that pass entirely outside of probate. These transfers pass outside of probate and are not controlled by the will. However, they remain subject to legal challenges based on lack of capacity, fraud, undue influence, or forgery. 

March 12, 2026

Virginia Executors: 10 Warning Signs a Beneficiary May Contest the Will

Being named as executor of an estate in Virginia is a significant responsibility. You are expected to administer the estate according to the terms of the will, manage assets prudently, and act in good faith toward all beneficiaries. But what happens when a beneficiary, or someone who expected to be a beneficiary, decides to challenge the will you are tasked with carrying out? 
February 17, 2026

Agent Under Power of Attorney Not Providing Information? What You Can Do

In Virginia, when a person (the principal) signs a power of attorney (POA), they authorize an agent to act on their behalf. Transparency is essential. If an agent will not provide information, concerned loved ones must act promptly to protect the principal’s interests while respecting privacy and legal limits. Virginia law provides several avenues for requesting information relating to an agent’s actions under a Power of Attorney. Virginia law provides certain individuals the right to request an accounting of the agent’s actions. Understanding how a request can be made and what information can be requested is crucial for both agents and those concerned about the welfare of the principal.
February 13, 2026

Common Will Dispute Scenarios in Virginia

Will contests are among the most common and also the most emotionally charged types of estate disputes. A will is a legal document setting forth a person’s directions for the disposition of their probate estate upon their passing. As a general matter, a person may revoke a prior will and execute a new will as they deem fit. 
February 12, 2026

Agent under a Power of Attorney vs. Executor: Understanding the Difference in Virginia

Families often confuse the roles of an Agent under a Power of Attorney and an Executor or Administrator of an Estate. Understanding the distinction is essential to minimizing disputes and ensuring proper estate management. Understanding the distinction is also critical in evaluating your potential recourse in the event of a dispute involving one or both of these fiduciaries.
January 26, 2026

Using Natural Resources in a Life Estate: What Virginia Families Should Know

When a loved one leaves you a life estate in land that has natural resources (like timber, minerals, or natural gas), you receive the right to use and enjoy the property during your lifetime. But that right comes with limits designed to protect the “remainder” owners, the people who will own the property after your life estate ends. In Virginia, those limits matter a lot when it comes to cutting timber, mining coal, or using other natural resources on the land.
January 7, 2026

Client Alert: Virginia Court of Appeals Rules on Entitlement to Elective Share for Separated Spouses

  • The Virginia Court of Appeals recently ruled, in the case of Teel v. Teel, on a dispute involving the elective share of a surviving spouse and allegations that such spouse abandoned the marriage.
  • This ruling provides helpful guidance for how a Virginia court would resolve such a dispute.
  • Under the Court of Appeals ruling, Sue Anderson Teel lost her right to a share of her late husband Gene “Bull” Atkins Teel’s estate due to intentional abandonment, pursuant to Virginia Code § 64.2-308.14(E).
  • Despite being married since 1988 and never divorcing, the surviving spouse was found to have “willfully deserted” Bull, who left his estate to his brother.
  • Regarding the elective share, under Virginia Code § 64.2-308.3(A), a surviving spouse can claim 50% of the marital property portion of the augmented estate (subject to the limitations and conditions contained in the Virginia Code), but this right is forfeited if the surviving spouse willfully leaves the marriage.
  • The Virginia Court of Appeals employed a 2018 Supreme Court framework to assess the issue of abandonment, focusing on the surviving spouse's actions and intent.
  • In this case, the evidence showed that the surviving spouse moved out, had minimal contact and engaged in a new relationship, indicating her intent to end the marriage.
  • The case highlights the importance of documenting circumstances related to abandonment in estate planning.
November 25, 2025

How Do Wills Affect Right of Survivorship Property in Virginia

Owning property with the right of survivorship can sometimes create conflicts with the terms of a person’s will.  This can lead to confusion, unintended outcomes, and even disputes.  Disputes about right of survivorship retitlings of property (for example, real property or other property including bank accounts) are fairly common in estate dispute matters.
October 8, 2025

Discovery in Virginia Circuit Court Litigation: An Overview

In Virginia, once a lawsuit is filed, the door is open for the litigants (parties to a lawsuit) to engage in “discovery”.  As a general matter, discovery is the set of formal processes whereby the parties can obtain information and documentation from each other and third parties in order to investigate their claims and defenses and prepare their cases for trial.
October 7, 2025

Client Alert: Virginia Legislative Updates for Trust and Estate Litigation: 2025

The Virginia General Assembly passed several laws that affect trust and estate litigation in Virginia in 2025. They include more protections for estate planners, simplification of transfer-on-death deed revocation under certain circumstances, and changes in multiple financial figures in several statutes. These are important updates to note for trustees, executors, estate administrators, attorneys, and beneficiaries.  
August 5, 2025

The Fiduciary Duties of an Executor of An Estate in Virginia

Executors and administrators of estates in Virginia must swear an oath before the probate clerk that they will “faithfully perform the duties of [their] office to the best of [their] judgment.”  These duties are called “fiduciary” duties and have been established by both the General Assembly as well as the Courts of Virginia.
August 1, 2025

Filing a petition for Guardianship or Conservator in Virginia

When loved ones become incapacitated and have no estate planning documents in place appointing a guardian or conservator (or when replacement of a current guardian or conservator is necessary), Virginia law allows the filing of a petition with the court to appoint/replace one.
August 21, 2025 - News

83 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2026

83 lawyers from Whiteford have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Virginia and Washington, DC offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.