Informational Blogs

There are many different ways to do an estate plan, and many of them are “right.” They keep you from getting hit hard with estate taxes after death, they make sure that designated items get to the right people, they provide for the next generation. But they may not do all those things as efficiently as they could. So how…Read More

Q: Can A Mortgage Company Receive A Termination of Stay After The Bankruptcy Trustee Has Obtained a Ruling For Sale of Real Estate? The Trustee (chapter 7) has received approval from the presiding judge to sell real property. The property was then listed as a short sale. An offer came in and was accepted by the second lender. The first…Read More

When your estate contains collector’s items, art, or other specialty items, the values of your items may not be apparent to a layperson. When your estate is comprised of items beyond homes or vehicles, and their distribution is not specified in the will, a professional appraiser can help. Appraisers can be helpful in completing a court inventory, for state or…Read More

Frankly, there are many reasons why you should not add your child's name to the title of your real estate. The creditors of your child could then have a claim to your house. You can no longer decide what you want to do with your house without the consent of your child. Your child acquires your "tax basis" in the…Read More

One of the main reasons it’s important to review your estate plan often is because of the likelihood that you have made a mistake somewhere. Mistakes could be an incorrect beneficiary, not including a large asset, or forgetting to include or exclude someone from your will. Most people’s greatest fear concerning estate planning is the scenario in which an ex-spouse…Read More

Q: Real Estate included in trust?: Created trust in CA. Moved to WA. Trust has pour over will. Title to property in WA in our names but not in name of Trust. Is WA property included in trust by virtue of pour over will? A: Christopher’s answer: First thing: A trust owns assets that you transfer into the trust. While you are alive, title…Read More

One of the hardest things to think about when creating an estate plan or will is the loved ones in your life that you feel need you to survive. This might include a family member with an addiction problems (Drugs, gambling and so on). Creating a revocable trust that you can modify and change over time is a great way…Read More

Q: In WA State Is A Beneficiary of An Estate Allowed to See A Copy of Life Insurance Policy? A: In Washington, a named beneficiary is entitled to receive notices of events that occur in the administration of the estate: such as receive a copy of the Will, inventory, accounting etc. However, a life insurance policy is a little different…Read More

Q: After a garnishment, can you request a re-payment plan instead of the enduring another round of being garnished?: My husband was being garnished for an old debt from his previous marriage. The company states they served him in 2008 when he was unemployed but he does not recall ever being served or have a record of it. He wanted to set…Read More

Domestic partners—same sex or not—have to address slightly different concerns when making plans for their estate. That’s because the law provides married couples with the ability to automatically transfer assets to the surviving spouse upon the death of one spouse, and these assets aren’t taxed. Same-sex couples and domestic partners can achieve the same result with a little planning. For…Read More