Estate Planning

You may think that the only people who should care about estate planning are the lucky few with six- or seven-digit incomes, a lavish mansion in an exclusive suburb and a flashy sports car or two in the driveway. In fact, estate planning is a sound idea for anyone who...

You’ve worked hard to build your wealth, and you’d like to keep it in your family after you’re gone. Of course, you also want to minimize the estate taxes owed by your loved ones. One means of doing that is through a generation-skipping trust (GST). Let’s look at what...

When people start getting older, sometimes they need to rely on others. Whom they rely on is just as important as how those people help them. There have been many times when the elderly have relied on the wrong people, and their families found out too late. They may...

Many people move out to the Pacific Northwest looking for a change in pace to advance their careers or retire. While many new residents plan for many things, revisiting their estate plan that they originally drafted in another state usually isn't one of them --...

A contest over the contents of someone's will can happen for many reasons -- but some family situations are actually more likely to result in disputes than others. You may find it interesting to learn what motivates these kinds of family disputes after a loved one's...

Creating a trust as part of your estate plan can be a great decision. When properly structured and funded, a trust can protect your assets from creditors, help you qualify for government benefits as you age and reduce the likelihood of people challenging your legacy...

Online tools and books offer estate planning resources to create a will, powers of attorney, executor and more without the help of a lawyer. But, this “one size fits all” marketing approach doesn’t compare to the professional advice that an attorney can individually...

Power of attorney is a misunderstood aspect of the law, as most people do not understand the full ramifications of the title. In Seattle, the most common form of power of attorney is called a durable power of attorney. This title comes with certain rights about your...

As you are preparing your estate plan, you will probably think about what you would like done if you become incapacitated due to an illness or injury. You already know that you want a power of attorney allowing someone to make health care and financial decisions on...

Losing a loved one means that a lot of changes will come about. You will need to learn to live your life without your loved one around, which can be particularly difficult if you had a close relationship. If you did have a close relationship, you likely anticipate...