Question: Can a Payment Plan Replace Garnishment? 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…Read More

Marriage, a Washington state-registered domestic partnership, and an unmarried partnership can have different estate-planning consequences. Washington law generally treats state-registered domestic partners the same as married spouses under state law. Federal tax law recognizes legally married same-sex spouses, but does not treat an unmarried domestic partnership or civil union as a marriage. Confirm your legal relationship status and the applicable…Read More

Q: I have been making payments to a debt collector and now have received an "ex parte" notice; why the summons?: I have made payments for the last 4 months per their "EZ Offer" and now have received an "ex parte note for hearing issue of law" from the debt collector...why are they requesting this when I have been making payments? Asked…Read More

Power of attorney (POA) is a document that allows someone else to make legally binding decisions for you. These decisions could be financial, medical, or legal decisions that impact you or loved ones. When a Power of Attorney Begins There are several different types of power of attorney. Springing power of attorney means there are conditions under which the power of…Read More

An executor is someone you name in your will to be in charge of carrying out the will. This is no small task. The duties of an executor includes determining all heirs and next of kin, notifying them, preserving all assets named in the will, collecting all debts due to the deceased, dealing with any pending lawsuits, taking care of taxes,…Read More

Single parents with minor children need a strong estate plan in place for a variety of reasons. If you are unmarried, review how your assets are owned, who is named as a beneficiary and how property left to a minor child will be managed. Plans for your child’s care should also account for the other parent’s legal rights and your…Read More

There is one estate-planning mistake that you could be making right now that could have devastating effects on your family after you pass. However, it’s an easy mistake to fix. Review beneficiary designations Retirement accounts and life insurance policies commonly use beneficiary designations. Social Security survivor benefits are different: eligibility is determined by federal rules rather than by a beneficiary…Read More

Your will is the record of everything you own and what you want done with it after you die. Without a will, the state or relatives will decide what happens to your assets. Once you have a properly signed and executed will, you should give copies to the executor, but not beneficiaries. Your will may change several times throughout your…Read More

How Often Should I Update My Will? Once you have a will or trust on file, you may think you are done with future estate planning. However, there are several circumstances that have nothing to do with you, and a few that do that could necessitate a change. 5 Reasons to Review Your Will or Trust Major changes in your…Read More

There’s a theme going around that proposes that everyone should have someone assigned to the task of erasing their browser history after they die. These days, that is not far from the truth. Estate planning should extend well past cars and homes. Most everyone has a personal computer, blog, website, or device that has personal or even sensitive information on…Read More