The good news is that there are lots of attorneys in Seattle who can help you with your will and other estate planning needs. Picking the right attorney for you depends on several factors and ultimately comes down to personality fit. Because you have so many choices of who to go with, no one should have to “settle for” an attorney they do not like or would not recommend to someone else.
Apr
06
2011: Estate Planning in Washington Examples
The examples provided below are a follow up to a previous post regarding the current estate tax laws applicable to Washington State residents. The previous post can be found here.
I have prepared the following hypotheticals to illustrate the importance of an Estate Plan incorporating specific provisions regarding Washington State taxes.
Apr
05
2011: Estate Planning in Washington State – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good News: Beneficial Changes to Federal Law for 2011 and 2012
After months of negotiations following the lapse of the Federal estate tax for 2010, Congress finally got around to enacting new estate tax rules at the end of last year. On December 17, 2010, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 was enacted which dramatically increased the number of estates exempt from Federal estate and gift taxes.
Apr
04
Top 3 Ways Technology Provides Convenience to my Clients
Like any customer service role, a lawyer should strive to make the provision of legal services as easy, painless and convenient as possible to the end consumer. I think many attorneys lose sight of the fact that we are in the service industry and fail to provide satisfactory customer service to their clients. One way to improve upon the quality of legal customer service provided to my clients is through the use of technology, which has the added benefit of reducing my costs and thus the fees I charge my clients. By embracing change and utilizing technology successfully (not things that the risk-averse lawyer set are known for) I believe that I can provide a level of convenience to my clients that is often a huge deterrent to estate planning, especially among the ultra-busy younger parent crowd (a group of people who increasingly need estate planning services but often fail to or delay seeking it out).
Mar
29
Living Will basics
A living will, or health care directive, is a legal document which allows you to express your desires regarding end-of-life medical treatment. Whether or not you would like a living will and what it should specify are very important decisions that should be part of any estate planning process. Many people are familiar with some of the key features of a living will thanks to popular news stories or TV dramas (Law & Order, ER, etc.) such as “do not resuscitate” (DNR) orders or naming another to make health care decisions for you in case you are unable to do so, but there are many more issues to consider.
Mar
29
Finding time for your estate plan
It is one of those things that has been on your to-do list for months, perhaps since you got married or had a child or bought a house: time to get or update your will. Similar to getting life insurance, estate planning is one of those things we know we need to do but keep pushing it off. Who wants to think about their own death let alone plan for it? Who wants the hassle of figuring out how to do it yourself or finding the right attorney?
Mar
29
Who Needs A Will?
Frankly, just about everyone should have a will. A will allows for your family and friends to deal with your estate easily and as stress-free as possible during a difficult time. A will is a simple and concise way to inform those you love how you want your assets distributed and protects your interests even after you are gone.
Mar
29
Welcome to my blog
Hello and welcome to my blog. I intend to periodically post information/articles/anecdotes about the law in Washington as it relates to estate planning and probate. I will also be using this blog as a discussion about my practice, starting on my own and utilizing technology to reduce costs, broaden access to affordable legal advice and help reduce waste (in regards to both time and natural resources). Here is a little about myself and stay tuned for more posts.