Sharon Conaway Rutberg

Sharon Conaway Rutberg

also known as Sharon Rutberg, Sharon C. Rutberg

5.0
Rating: 8.7

Licensed for 36 years

Estate planning Lawyer at Seattle, WA
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Wills & Living Wills, Probate ... +2 more

150 Nickerson St., Suite 101, Seattle, WA

About Sharon

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 30%

I work with individuals and couples to protect their loved ones, arrange for disposition of their assets after death, and minimize estate taxation. I generally provide a package of documents including a will (including any desired trusts), powers of attorney for finances and health care, a health care directive, instructions for disposition of remains, and a power of attorney for care of minor children. I also prepare other related documents such as community property agreements when needed.

30%
Probate 20%

Following the death of a family member or friend, I work with the person appointed as the executor or personal representative of the decedent's estate to probate the will, if there is one, and to manage the process of settling the estate.

20%
Wills and Living Wills 20%

Many of my clients come to me to prepare their Last Will and Testament. Along with the Will, I often provide other documents, including a "Living Will," also known as a Health Care Directive (HCD). In the HCD, my clients give instructions about what life-sustaining treatment they want - or more importantly, do not want - if they are terminally ill, in a persistent vegetative state, or in an advanced state of dementia.

20%
Elder Law 15%

I assist seniors and their families with planning for long-term care needs, including strategies for qualifying for Medicaid and other LTC benefits.

15%
Trusts 15%

We create testamentary and stand-alone trusts used to protect assets for beneficiaries - often a surviving spouse, a minor child or young adult, or a disabled person.

15%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 11 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2014

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in District of Columbia for 36 years

State: District of Columbia

Acquired: 1989

Resigned

No misconduct found

Location

Salmon Bay Law Group, PLLC

150 Nickerson St., Suite 101, Seattle, WA, 98109

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Sharon Conaway Rutberg's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

7 Client Reviews

5 star (7)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by Neal and Ann | August 27, 2023 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent attorney

Sharon prepared the will and four related documents for each of us, handling some unusual requests and unanticipated complications very well. At all times she was helpful, efficient, accommodating, and responsive to our needs. We recommend her highly.

Posted by Barbara | October 13, 2015 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Efficient and personable

I used Sharon Rutberg's services to create a will, health directives, and to set up a trust for my children. She was straightforward, thorough, and compassionate. She explained things well in layman's language, and considered my unique situation to include extra details. Sharon was very easy to work ...with and I would recommend her.

Posted by Hugo | October 6, 2015 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Overall a great experience

Sharon is a great attorney, very professional and accommodating. She explained everything so that we could understand all the legalese involved in drafting a will (who knew there were so many documents) while providing guidance and expertise in some very sensitive topics. I highly recommend Sharon i...f you are considering an attorney to draft your will and power of attorney documents.

Posted by Greg | August 29, 2015 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Great to work with

Sharon helped me tackle a sticky estate issue involving a charitable beneficiary that no longer existed. I was worried that it was going to be a huge ordeal, but her low drama and quiet competence set the tone for a very smooth resolution of the entire mess. Have you ever heard an attorney say "I d...on't know but I will find out"? Heard that on a detail or two...Love that! Fees were quite reasonable. Communication was excellent throughout the project. I will be using her for future projects for sure.

Posted by Debra | January 23, 2015

In Excellent Hands

Creating a will brings us face-to-face with our mortality and more: how best can we manage our final days; how will we wrap-up the myriad details of our life; how can we do this with maximum clarity and lasting love. Sharon helped us navigate these emotionally charged issues with intelligence and se...nsitivity. Her intimate understanding of the law and all its nuances--combined with her exceptional ability to explain them to us--made us feel like we were in excellent hands. In addition, part of our estate involves out-of-state property, and she was adept at sorting through those complexities with us. That's what I want in a lawyer: a person who is extraordinarily well-versed and intelligent (her) who can make sense of it all to a lay person (me). Sharon is worth far more than five stars.

See All Client Reviews

Sharon Conaway Rutberg's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Sharon
Todd P Kimball headshot
Todd Kimball

Estate planning lawyer | Oct 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Sharon has demonstrate a strong commitment to her clients and creates detailed solutions for there problems. Her work is excellent and she communicates her ideas clearly."

Sara Deirdre Longley headshot
Sara Longley

Estate planning lawyer | Jul 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Sharon is a dedicated, conscientious attorney who is always on top of the best strategies to serve her clients' estate planning needs. I am glad to endorse her."

View All Endorsements
Jeffrey Michael Grieff headshot
Jeffrey Grieff

Business lawyer

Todd P Kimball headshot
Todd Kimball

Estate planning lawyer

Sara Deirdre Longley headshot
Sara Longley

Estate planning lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.7 (Excellent)

Honors

1988

Order of the Coif, Northwestern University School of Law

Work Experience

2017 - Present

Attorney at Law, Salmon Bay Law Group, PLLC

2014 - 2016

Estate Planning Attorney, Sharon C. Rutberg, Attorney at Law

2005 - 2014

Freelance Legal Editor, Legal Publications Editor

1998 - 2000

In-House Counsel, Families & Home Network

1994 - 1997

Attorney-Adviser, U.S. Department of State

1994 - 1994

Special Assistant Counsel to the President, The White House Counsel's Office

1988 - 1994

Associate Attorney, Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering

Associations

2014 - Present

King County Bar Association

Member

2014 - Present

Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section

Member

2020 - 2023

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Washington chapter)

Board Member

2016 - 2018

Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce

Board Member

2014 - 2015

King County Bar Association, Neighborhood Legal Clinic

Volunteer Attorney

1986 - 1988

Northwestern University Law Review

Note & Comment Editor

Sample of Legal Cases

Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Directives

successful trustee representation

TEDRA agreement reached by all parties and trust wound up.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2020

Seattle University School of Law

LL.M - Master of Laws

1988

Northwestern University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor - cum laude

1981

Swarthmore College

B.A. with honors

Speaking Engagements

2023

Alzheimer's Foundation Conference

Estate Planning with Alzheimer's: More Than Just a Will

2018

Estate Planning Presentation

The Five Estate Planning Documents Everyone Should Have

2017

Planning for Long Term Care

Estate and Long Term Care Plannin

2016

DAR member gathering

When there's a will . . . there's an argument!

2015

Estate Planning Presentation at Bayview Manor, Queen Anne, Seattle, Washington

The Five (or Six) Estate Planning Documents Everyone Should Have

Publications

2023

WAELA Wire WAELA Membership Newsletter - Editor

2022

Special Counsel Publication Elder Law Facts and Figures

2020

WSBA Real Property Probate and Trust Newletter WSBA RPPT Member Newsletter - Editor

1989

Northwestern University Law Review (reprinted in Personal Injury Journal) The Drinking Driver Tragedy and the Problem of Social Host Liability

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
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