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Michael J. Longyear

Estate planning Attorney at Seattle, WA

4.6   10 reviews
  • Licensed for 34 years
    State WA
    Acquired 1989
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Michael

Learn Michael’s areas of practice.

OVER 20 YEARS OF ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE, GUARDIANSHIP, WILL & ELDER LAW EXPERIENCE! 206-455-9912

Michael J. Longyear represents clients in issues regarding Trust and Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Guardianship, and Elder Law and related real estate and business matters. He serves as guardian of the estate, trustee, and estate administrator in routine and complex or contested matters. Mr. Longyear is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Seattle.

 

Mr. Longyear currently serves on the Washington Supreme Court Certified Professional Guardian Board. He is a past Co-Chair of the King County Settlement Guardian ad Litem (SPR 98.16W) Training Program. He is also a Past-Chair of the King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section, and is a Past Co-Chair of the Title 11.88 Mandatory Guardian ad Litem Training Program.

 

Mr. Longyear is Past-Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association and has served on the Legislative Committee. He is the current treasurer. He also belongs to the Real Property, Probate and Trust Sections of the WSBA.

 

Mr. Longyear earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh and has a Bachelor's Degree from Eisenhower College. He also holds an M.A.T. from Colgate University. He was admitted to the Maryland State Bar in 1984 and the Washington State Bar in 1989.

 

Mr. Longyear has been recognized each year as a Washington Super Lawyer from 2001-2010 by Washington Law & Politics magazine. He was also named Seattle Best Lawyer in 2001.

Awards

Top Contributor 2017,2016,2015
Top Contributor
2017 2016 2015
Client's Choice 2014
Client's Choice
2014

Contact Michael

Reed, Longyear, Malnati & Ahrens, PLLC

Reviews

4.6 / 5.0
  10 customer reviews
5 Star
 
90%
4 Star
 
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3 Star
 
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2 Star
 
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1 Star
 
10%
Client's Choice 2014
Client's Choice
Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.
Posted by Ellen | January 6, 2014
The perfect choice for estate planning.
Michael drew up trust documents for me this year, and I could not be happier with his services. He is intelligent, trustworthy, respectful, and knowledgeable, not to mention fun to talk to. He and his staff were thorough and efficient, keeping me in the loop whenever necessary. I could not recommend Michael and his firm more highly.
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Posted by John | February 14, 2014
Thoughtful & Compassionate Legal Services
Being a Seattle native and having lived in Seattle for many years prior to relocating, my career as a professional manager and business consultant put me in direct contact and dealings with numerous attorneys. Mike Longyear stands out among them as one of the most caring and compassionate attorneys with whom I have dealt. Mr. Longyear is an individual who puts a great deal of thoughtful consideration into the decision making processes that affect his clients. He treats his clients with kindness and respect, which I can say is rare in the legal community. He is extremely knowledgeable and takes the time to share that knowledge with not only his clients but his colleagues as well. I have recommended him to several friends that need legal services in the Seattle area and will continue to do so.
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Posted by Mike | January 7, 2014
Review of Mike Longyear
Mike did an excellent job in writing my will and wrote up my parents will in a way that prevented disagreement after passing. Mike is really good at avoiding potential future issues.
Posted by Tory | January 6, 2014
Review of Michael J. Longyear's services for a Will, POA and Medical POA
Michael was very calm and patient with achieving important but basic needs. He quickly showed us what we needed and what we did not. Having had similiar documents that needed to be updated we found his formats to be above and beyond the standard. I feel as though my family will not be left in doubt about what needs to be done and what my wishes are when that time comes.
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Posted by anonymous | January 6, 2014
He does good work
Who wants to think about making a will? Mike Longyear made the task painless. His advice was solid and he asked the right questions, but left the decisions to me. I'll definitely go back to him when it is time to revise and update.
Posted by Esther | January 6, 2014
Estate planning plus end of life directives
I was introduced to Michael Longyear through our mutual involvement in the arts probably fifteen years ago. Liking him and learning of his good reputation for estate planning, I used Michael Longyear to put together a will and end of life directives. Recently, when enough things had changed in my life, we worked together to update these materials. I liked the pace of the process which allowed time to make thoughtful decisions and Michael’s scope of experience which provided wisdom along the way. I believe he shares my values (important to me), I trust Michael Longyear to give good professional advice and to get the details right in composing a will and end of life directives. Working with him has been a very good experience.
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Posted by Brad | January 6, 2014
Excellent advice and execution
Mike has helped me with a number of issues over the last 15 years or so. I initially met Mike as a co-director on a residential condo board and I was impressed with his thoroughness, hard work, and commitment. When I needed some legal advice I went directly to him as a result of this connection. He first created a Trust for me and helped my partner and I construct a pre-nuptual agreement. He handled this sensitive issue extremely well and we were both pleased with the result. He also has created wills and medical directives for us. Since then he has revised the trust, the wills, and the medical directives to stay in synch with our current circumstances and changes in tax law and we both feel confident that we are in good shape in these critical areas. He has offered excellent advice and his attention to detail and his taking the time to truly understand our needs made navigating through these complex, difficult issues possible. I would recommend him without qualificaton.
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Posted by Dena | January 6, 2014
Grear attorney and nice guy to boot
I have known and worked with Mike Longyear for about 20 years. He handled my personal will and estate planning to start and then he set up my husband's corporation. He has been diligent in making sure that my family was protected. He specifically talked to me about what my goals were, about issues that might arise and ways to work around those potential problems. He even reviewed the amount of life insurance I had in place and recommended an increase to meet my family needs if something should happen to me. Mike took the time to get to know me and my family so everyone would be protected. And he did this without adding some of the typical nickel and dime charges that I have seen other attorneys do. Mike is the best.
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Posted by Paul | January 5, 2014
Mike is simply the best!
My first experience with Mike was working with him on the sale of a home where he was the executor. I have to say that he walked through walls to get the transaction closed. Recently Mike set up an LLC for my new business. He and his staff didn't miss a beat through every step of the process. Mike is simply the best; he made me feel like i was his only client. Oh, and he his nicest guy too.
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Posted by Lorie | September 25, 2014
Absent Lawyer?
I sent this attorney an email one week ago. I waited several days and did not receive a response. I then emailed him directly through his firm's website and did not receive a response from him or from a representative of his firm. I understand that he could be busy or not taking new clients, but it would have been courteous and sensitive of him to at least briefly email me and explain so - and perhaps offer a referral to someone who could help me.
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Cost

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Contact for Details

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Attorney
  • Reed Longyear Malnati & Ahrens, PLLC
  • 1998 - Present

Education

  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1983
  • Colgate University
  • M.A.T.
  • 1977
  • Eisenhower College
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1975

Legal Cases

  • Villegas v. McBride
  • Michael T. Schein
  • Villegas v. McBride
  • Creditor claim properly rejected

Associations

  • Estate Planning Council of Seattle
  • Member
  • 2004 - Present
  • American Bar Association
  • Member
  • N/A
  • King County Bar Association
  • Exec Committee, Past-Chair Guardianship & Elder Law
  • 1998 - 2003
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Past Chair - Elder Law Section, Exec Committee
  • 1998 - 2008
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2014
  • AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2013
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2010
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • Washington Journal of Law & Politics
  • 2010
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2009
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • Washington Journal of Law & Politics
  • 2009
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • Washington Journal of Law & Politics
  • 2008
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2008
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • Washington Journal of Law & Politics
  • 2007
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2007
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • 2006
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2006
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • 2005
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2005
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • 2004
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2004
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • 2003
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2003
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • 2002
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2002
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2001
  • Seattle Best Lawyer
  • 2001
  • Washington Super Lawyer
  • 2001
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2000
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 1999
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 1998
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 1997
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 1996
  • Volunteer Award
  • N/A
View all awards

Publications

  • Unknown
  • Washington State Guardian Manual
  • 2004
  • Unknown
  • King County Probate Policy Manual
  • 2003
  • Unknown
  • Washington State Guardianship Manual
  • 2003
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Probate Administration in Washington State
  • Role of a Probate Guardian ad Litem
  • 2013
  • Title 11 Guardian ad Litem
  • Ethics
  • 2009
  • Elder Law Essentials
  • Guardianship
  • 2009
  • Annual Trust and Estate Litigation Seminar
  • Guardianship
  • 2009
  • Probate Administration
  • Probate
  • 2007
  • Probate Administration
  • Probate
  • 2005
  • Special Issues of Concern for Settlement Guardian ad Litems
  • Guardianship
  • 2004
  • Unknown.
  • Capacity - A Transactional Issue
  • 2001
  • Unknown.
  • Capacity and Undue Influence - Guardianship and Durable Power of Attorney
  • 2001
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (6)
Given (1)
Endorse Michael
Unknown Attorney | Dec 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Mr. Longyear always provides good, sound advice, and is dedicated to doing so frequently on AVVO. I endorse this lawyer."
Guardianship Attorney | Sep 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | Feb 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."
Estate planning Attorney | Jan 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Mike is a very well respected attorney in the community. He is very knowledgeable and skilled in the areas of guardianships, estate planning, elder law and probate."
Probate Attorney | May 11
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
"I am continually impressed and appreciative of all of Mr. Longyear's work, dedication and advice. As a young attorney I am always glad to work with, and consult with Mr. Longyear on complex probate and general practice issues. I can thank Mr. Longyear enough for his supreme patience."
Elder law Attorney | Oct 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Michael for many years. He has been very active in our Elder Law professional associations. He is a very well-respected Elder Law attorney in the Seattle area. I would be happy to refer clients to him."
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Estate planning