One of the most common questions people ask when starting the estate planning process is: Do I need a will, or should I create a revocable living trust? The answer depends on your family situation, your assets, and your goals. Both wills and revocable living trusts...
One of the most common questions I hear as an estate planning attorney in Washington is: “Do I really need a will?” The short answer is yes — and the longer you wait, the more risk you create for your family. Many people assume that if they pass away without a will,...
Let me ask you a question. If something happened to your parents tomorrow, would you know: Where their will is? Who makes medical decisions for them? Or what their actual wishes are for their care and assets? For most families, the answer is no. Not because they don’t...
When people think about estate planning, they often start with a will. For many families, however, a Revocable Living Trust can offer additional benefits that make life easier for loved ones both during your lifetime and after you pass away. A Revocable Living Trust...
One of the first responsibilities after being appointed as personal representative in a Washington probate is providing notice. This step often causes stress because it involves deadlines, legal language, and the fear of “doing it wrong.” Two key pieces of this...
If you are handling probate in Washington, you may hear the term “Letters Testamentary” early on and wonder what they actually are — and why everyone seems to need them. Despite the formal name, Letters Testamentary are simply a key tool that allows you to do your job...
Many people create a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare as part of their estate plan, but are not entirely sure when it actually comes into play. A common question we hear is: Does this document give someone control over my medical decisions right away?...
Many people create a revocable living trust for one major reason—avoiding probate. A trust can also provide privacy and smoother administration, but probate avoidance is usually at the top of the list. For a trust to accomplish that goal, it must actually own the...
One of the most common questions I receive is: “Do we have estate taxes or inheritance taxes in Washington State — and when do they apply?” If you live in Washington and want clarity on how estate taxes work, you’re in the right place. Below is a simple explanation to...
A Revocable Living Trust is a legal tool that lets you decide what happens to your assets—like your home, bank accounts, or other property—both during your lifetime and after you pass away. Here’s why you may to consider having one. Avoiding Probate Probate is the...