Gregory S. Bean

Gregory S. Bean

PARTNER
RICHMOND
T: 804.977.1241
F: 804.9771281

VIRGINIA BEACH
T: 804.977.1241

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
  • 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 – Real Property, Trusts and Estates, and Bankruptcy Sections
INSIGHTS

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.