Maple Valley Lawyer

You can save a lot of money and potential chaos and hard feelings' between those closest to you by preplanning how you want your assets managed when you are now longer able to manage them yourself, and how your property will be divided at your death.

Issues and topics related to Washington Estate Planning include:

• Wills and Trusts
• Uniform Probate Code
• Gift Tax
• Asset Protection
• Personal Finances
• Pensions

  Making A Will

A valid will in Washington state can be as simple as a basic statement of your wishes when you die, signed by you and witnessed by two people not named as beneficiaries in your will. It doesn't need to be filed anywhere before your death, but it's a good idea to put the original somewhere where it can easily be found by the person who will be processing your estate, called the "executor."

Providing For Young Children

There are many kinds of trusts, but the most common is one you would set up for your minor children or incapacitated adult relatives for their care after you are gone and until they are old enough or well enough to take care of themselves. A parent can name a trustee to be in control of the finances and decide whether to sell or keep property, and manage assets such as real estate. The trustee, usually a family member or trusted friend, can be paid an hourly rate or a set monthly amount for their services out of the trust assets.

You will probably also want to name a guardian for your children, someone who would have physical custody of and take care of your children on a daily basis should you or your spouse be unable to do so.

Dying Without A Will

If you die without a Will (known as dying "intestate") in Washington state, your assets will be divided amongst your immediate family. If you're married, your spouse will inherit your share of the community property (almost everything you've accumulated as a couple since your marriage).

If you have community property and separate property (such as property inherited from your family members that has been kept separate from community property assets), your spouse and any children would share your property. If you don't have children, your spouse and your parents would share your property

Powers of Attorney

In Washington state, you can sign a power of attorney to appoint someone to handle your assets if you become incapacitated. At a minimum, a power of attorney should include the power to:

• Manage and transfer all assets
• Deal with the IRS
• Make gifts on your behalf
• Create and amend any trusts you set up

You don't need to transfer any assets at the time you sign a power of attorney, but it's a good idea to keep the person you've chosen informed about your ongoing financial matters.

You can also appoint a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care to make health care decisions for you when you're unable to do so yourself. This person can provide informed consent for treatment, or even refuse treatment for you

Probate

"Probate" is the public process of:

• Filing and validating a will in court
• Paying all the debts and taxes of the deceased person
• Dividing up the assets according to the will or Washington law

If you have no debts and no "titled property" such as real estate or vehicles to pass along to heirs, there may be no need for probate

 Call today for your FREE Estate or Will Planning Kit

 Office Phone:

  253-239-3178                     

 The law requires you to use a lawyer to probate an estate, but probate can be complicated, and you can be personally liable if you do something wrong. One minor omission or failure to send a family member a copy of the petition, or a missed deadline can cause everything to come to a grinding halt. Call our law office so we can discuss your options.

 There is NO CHARGE for your initial consultation

Call our Maple Valley office today to schedule your appointment

*Evening and Saturday appointments available

How Long Does it Take?

When we have agreed upon the documents needed, we can discuss the time frame. You can tell me yours; I’ll advise you my time commitments. Typically I can have drafts prepared within a week to email or mail to you for review. Then we could discuss the documents on the phone or through email, clear up any misunderstandings, clarify any provisions, make any  necessary changes, and be ready for final review and signing and witnessing.

 More than 50% of Americans die without these critical estate planning documents.  Too often, the details involved in creating an estate plan contribute to this situation.  But estate planning doesn't have to be a duanting task.

If you can organize the gathering of your personal information, you can simplify your exstate planning process.

     Legal Disclaimers
The information provided on this website is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues commonly encountered.