Edward James Barton

Ed Barton is the Managing Member of Centerbridge Law Group, PLLC in Anacortes, Washington, and of Centerbridge Accounting & Tax. As an attorney, CPA, CFA and Enrolled Agent, he helps families plan how their wealth passes to the next generation and helps heirs and trustees settle estates and trusts after a death. His practice covers wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, trust administration, probate, Washington estate tax, and trust and estate income tax returns. He also represents individuals and businesses before the IRS and the Washington Department of Revenue.

Because Ed is both a lawyer and a CPA, clients get the estate plan, the trust administration and the tax filings from one office. Centerbridge Accounting & Tax is a separate company that clients engage separately. Ed is the author of Washington Estate Tax for Families and The Washington Executor's Guide.

Education and Credentials

Ed earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies from Marshall University, an LL.M. in Economic Regulation from the University of London, a Juris Doctor from Northwestern California University, a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University's Martin J. Whitman School of Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and business economics from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master Certificate in Six Sigma from Villanova University.

Ed is licensed to practice law in California and Washington and is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Washington, an IRS Enrolled Agent, and has held the Chartered Financial Analyst charter since 1998. He is a member of the CFA Institute, the American Bar Association, and the Washington State Bar Association Taxation Law Section. He also serves as a FINRA neutral arbitrator.

Community Involvement

Ed is a U.S. Army veteran. He serves as Treasurer of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, where he chairs the Joint Finance Panel, and as a local board member for the U.S. Selective Service System. In Snohomish County, he served five years on the City of Mill Creek Planning Commission, was elected to the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission, and served on the Snohomish County Historical Preservation Commission, the Northshore YMCA Board of Managers, and as Treasurer of the Skyview Junior High School PTSA. He ran for the Washington State Legislature in 2014 with the endorsement of the Seattle Times.