Trusts, Wills & Probate

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

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

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. There are several different types of power of attorney. Springing power of attorney means there are conditions under which the power of attorney is put into action. They…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. The laws concerning estates are generally made with married couples in mind. When your child’s mother or father is estranged, or living in another state, or even if they live in the same city and you are on friendly terms, the fact that…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. On every document you sign related to any asset, from your 401k to life insurance to social security, it will ask for the name of a beneficiary. At the time, it…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. Here are five (5) that should cause you to update your estate Planning:…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