Washington Estate Planning Legal Guides (23 found)

Written by Ann Davison Sattler
How to determine what rights you now have by law and what you need to take care of yourself in your estate plan.
3 of 5 users found this helpful. Posted in Estate Planning about 1 year ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
Developing an estate plan can be a daunting process. At the Law Office of John S. Palmer, our goal is to make the process as easy as possible for you. We also have the knowledge and experience to help develop an estate plan that is right for you.
Posted in Estate Planning 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Frank A Selden
Disposing of property held jointly with another person may involve legal rights held by the other property owners. This section analyzes the Washington State regulations and case law regarding the ownership of property held as community property, joint tenancy or tenancy in common.
Posted in Estate Planning 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Frank A Selden
The use of will substitutes allows a decedent to achieve a nontestamentary estate disposition. Will substitutes are created by documents that have the legal effect of passing asset title directly to stated individuals. WA recognizes the validity of substitutes to dispose of assets at death.
Posted in Estate Planning 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Frank A Selden
Washington statutes require that all wills be: a) in writing; b) signed by the testator; and c) attested by two or more competent witnesses who subscribe the will or accompanying affidavit in the testator’s presence and by the testator’s direction or request. [RCW §11.02.020]
Posted in Estate Planning 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Frank A Selden
Property passes under WA Probate law relating to descent and distribution when the decedent dies without leaving a will, the decedent’s will is denied probate due to improper execution or successful contest; or the decedent’s will fails to completely dispose of all property.
4 of 8 users found this helpful. Posted in Estate Planning 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
A "Bypass Trust", also known as a "Credit Shelter Trust", is a common type of Trust married couples include in their Wills or Revocable Living Trust to reduce or even eliminate state and federal estate taxes.
Posted in Trusts 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
When a person dies, Washington law provides alternatives for transferring assets to the decedent’s heirs; depending on a number of factors, including size of the estate, manner in which assets are titled, if decedent was married, had a Will, & whether estate was solvent (assets exceed debts).
Posted in Probate 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Lincoln J. Miller
In the old days, if you wanted your grandson to receive grandpa's hunting rifle, you had to have your attorney draft that bequest for you. Later, when your grandson joined the Brady Campaign, you had to go back to your attorney to change your Will or Trust - unless it included a list provision!
1 of 1 users found this helpful. Posted in Estate Planning about 1 year ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Christopher Trent Kunz
Many people do not know the unintended consequences of "putting their child on their account." This guide will discuss the consequences of having someone other than your spouse on your account and the alternatives to putting a child on the account.
Posted in Estate Planning about 1 year ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Charity Anastasio
Community Property laws are the foundation of all estate plans for registered domestic partners and spouses in Washington State. Understanding the character of one's assets is key to planning for life. Here is a quick and simple explanation of community property laws in Washington State.
8 of 10 users found this helpful. Posted in Estate Planning about 1 year ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Christopher Trent Kunz
Avoiding probate can save your estate thousands of dollars and months in probate court. The following are some probate avoidance techniques.
Posted in Probate 10 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Mark David Albertson
When a child is the plaintiff if a personal injury settlement, a number of issues come up, especially if that child is disabled.
Posted in Trusts 6 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
A Guardianship is a court proceeding whereby one can obtain the legal right to make decisions regarding the property and/or personal affairs of another. A Guardianship is similar to a Power of Attorney in that they both deal with substitute decision making.
Posted in Guardianship 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
If you have been named as the Agent or Attorney-in-Fact in a Durable Power of Attorney, here is a brief discussion of some common issues you may face.
3 of 3 users found this helpful. Posted in Power Of Attorney 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
Once a guardianship is established, the court has continuing oversight over the affairs of the Ward until the guardianship is terminated. The following is a general discussion of the duties and responsibilities of a legal guardian.
1 of 1 users found this helpful. Posted in Guardianship 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
A Power of Attorney grants a third party (the "Agent" or "Attorney-in-Fact") the legal authority to make decisions for, or act on behalf of, the person signing the Power of Attorney (the "Principal"). The specific powers granted will vary depending on the needs of the Principal.
Posted in Power Of Attorney 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
A Revocable Living Trust is similar to a Will in that it provides for the disposition of assets after your death; as with a Will, it may include provisions for minimizing or eliminating estate taxes, and for continuing to hold assets in trust for any minor or incapacitated beneficiaries.
Posted in Trusts 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by John S. Palmer
A Special Needs Trust is designed to accelerate/preserve a disabled beneficiary’s eligibility for Medicaid, SSI, and other government programs; the Trust document can dictate that the Trust funds are to be used to supplement, not replace, any government benefits the beneficiary may receive.
Posted in Trusts 9 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington

Written by Megan Hazel Gebhardt
A health care directive, also referred to as a living will, is a legal document that expresses an adult’s wishes regarding the life-sustaining measures he or she will be provided in the event the individual reaches a certain medical status.
1 of 2 users found this helpful. Posted in Wills / Living Wills 6 months ago. Jurisdiction: Washington