$ 450-450 per hour
PRO
Virtual Consultation Available
The only thing that really matters is who you love. After thirty years as an estate planning and probate attorney, that’s one thing that I know for sure! Yes, we’ll ask you about the money, the tax planning, the way your retirement and life insurance are designated, who gets your jewelry and shop equipment. But we always circle back to the issue of why those things are important. Who do you love, and how should they be cared for if when you are gone? What is the best tax advantaged way to care for those people?
Everybody has a Will. The state legislature wrote one for you. It’s called the Intestacy Statute. The state’s Will everywhere in the US gives money to youngsters when they turn 18. The State’s Will won’t give money to charities. It might provide for your parents, but maybe not. The State has to presume that you didn’t trust anyone to handle your affairs without being supervised, because if you had trusted someone, you would have told us. The result is that if you don’t have a Will, the Courts will supervise every move that your Executor makes. The Executor can’t sell the house without the Court reviewing all the offers. She can’t clean out your home or have a garage sale without an order from the Court.
Our goal is to help you identify your wishes, and then draft documents that capture your heart, planning in a way that gives you the best estate tax planning, maximizing your gifts.
We are located in the heart of Bellevue, WA and our office is easily accessible to King County areas of Seattle, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Renton, Issaquah, Bothell, Mill Creek and Redmond.
Madeline Gauthier is a graduate of Gonzaga University Law School and the University of Florida's Graduate Tax Program. She is formerly an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington. Her private practice opened in Bellevue, WA in 1992, where she has specialized in estate planning, probate and the tax complications of both of those areas.
Memberships include the East King County Estate Planning Council (formerly a board member), the East King County Bar Association (previously a board member), the King County Bar Association, and the East King County Bar Probate, and Estate Section (currently chair).
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Practice Areas
$ 450-450 per hour
State: Washington
Acquired: 1988
No misconduct found
State: Oregon
Acquired: 2004
No misconduct found
2223 112th Ave NE, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA, 98004
www.madelinegauthier.com81 Client Reviews
Showing 31 - 35 of 81 reviews
Posted by Scott | September 15, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
Quick, easy, reasonably priced, met my needs
Over the phone Madeline was able to immediately guide me to how to plan my estate in the simplest, most cost effective way. I was a straightforward decisions to have her be my attorney. The process was very easy, done in a very timely manner, was reasonably priced, and to my total satisfaction. I he...
Posted by Peter | July 15, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Wills & Living Wills
Madeline handled our complicated will with skill and expertise.
Madeline handled our complicated will with skill and expertise. We were impressed with her integrity, and the way she demonstrated her care and concern for us. Madeline publishes a little book, "Where there is a Will, there is a way." This little book really gave us the foundational information we ne...
Posted by Janet | May 13, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Probate
Outstanding Attorney
"Madeline Gauthier graciously took on our very complicated family estate case. With her unwavering commitment to doing the right thing, and with very little initial documentation from us, Madeline and her excellent team researched deeply, interviewed carefully, and collected volumes of data. They ...
Posted by Joanne | March 18, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
THE BEST OF THE BEST!
Madeline Gauthier and her associates set the standard of excellence in probate and estate planning. Madeline is a brilliant, professional, caring, and knowledgeable attorney who immediately puts her clients at ease, truly listens to them, and provides exceptional consulting and solid advice. She help...
Posted by Steven | September 27, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
Professional and Competent
Madeline just completed a moderately complex estate plan for me, involving multiple beneficiaries, a blended family, and international considerations. I was very happy with the service I received from Madeline and her staff. They were professional and competent. I feel very confident that the docu...
"I have referred several clients to Madeline for estate planning services - always with a good result. I fully endorse her."
"I fully endorse Ms. Gauthier. She is knowledgeable, insightful, and a strong advocate for her clients. I highly recommend Ms. Gauthier to anyone seeking an attorney in the area of probate, estates and trusts."
"I endorse this lawyer. Madeline is a wonderfully knowledgeable and caring attorney. I have worked on two different matters with her and she has been a font of information and provides her clients with comprehensive estate planning customized to their needs. I have also referred a client to her in Washington and will continue to do so as I encounter needs in that state."
"I have known Madeline Gauthier professionally for over 15 years. I have referred clients to her with trusts, wills and probate questions and problems. She is a very conscience, hardworking and detailed orientated lawyer. She has written the book “Where There’s a Will There’s a Way”."
"Ms. Gauthier is an experienced and capable attorney, and a strong advocate for her clients. I highly recommend Ms. Gauthier to anyone requiring representation in the area of probate, trusts, and estates."
"Madeline is conscientious and meticulous about her work product and services. She's the kind of attorney I would hire for myself or recommend to family or friends whom I wanted to have benefit from both affordable and also top quality legal services. I am totally at ease whenever I refer my clients to her for services."
Real estate lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Family lawyer
Wills and living wills lawyer
Real estate lawyer
Family lawyer
Family lawyer
1992 - Present
Attorney, President, Gauthier & Associates
1993 - 1993
Adjunct Professor, Golden Gate University
1988 - 1991
Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Attorney General
2005 - Present
East King County Bar Association, Trust and Estate SectionChairman
1992 - Present
King County Bar Association
1992 - Present
East King County Bar Association
1988 - Present
Washington State Bar Association
1997 - 1999
East King County Estate Planning CouncilBoard Member
1992
LL.M - Master of Laws
1987
Juris Doctor
2007
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
2007
Wills, Trusts, Probate, Estate Planning, Taxes,
2006
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
2005
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
2004
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
2003
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
2002
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
2001
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
2000
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
1999
Continuing Legal Education on Writing Wills
1998
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
1997
Writing Wills, teaching to other lawyers
N/A
English