Estate Planning for Homeowners in Washington: Secure Your Legacy and Protect Your Property Owning a home in Washington is one of life’s major milestones—and one of your biggest assets. But if you haven’t created a solid estate plan, your property could end up tangled in court, burdening your loved ones. At the Law Offices of Christopher A. Benson, we’ve helped…Read More

Is a Will an Estate Plan? If you own real estate in Washington, it may be a "bad" estate plan because your family will have to hire a lawyer and go through the court probate process.Watch our latest video concerning Wills and real estate in Washington: How to Make an Estate Plan There are several elements to an estate plan…Read More

What is the Washington state estate tax rate? Inheritance tax? A common question we receive is: Does Washington State have an inheritance tax or probate tax? In the law, words matter.  Therefore, as your read the answers and responses below, the end result might feel the same (i.e. pay a tax); but how you arrive at the result is technically…Read More

Surviving spouse rights in the State of Washington is a confusing topic for a lot of people. Property does not get "automatically" transferred to the surviving spouse. 60% of American citizens do not have an estate plan. Therefore, the vast majority of surviving spouses have to hire a lawyer and go through a formal probate in the State of Washington. …Read More

A living trust is a tool that can benefit anyone, no matter how large or small your assets. A living trust is a trust that puts you in charge during your lifetime, and then passes to a successor after you die. This allows you to get your assets in order while you are still alive and have them set up…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