Estate planning comes with all sorts of unfamiliar terms that are worth parsing out and understanding. You may hear phrases such as “pour-over will” and “testamentary trust” and wonder, how can these documents help me? In truth, pour-over wills and testamentary trusts...
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Estate Planning
Should I use a friend as my trustee?
Estate planning is a deeply personal process where we decide who will make decisions for us, take care of our affairs and take care of our kids. And, it can lead us to select friends or family members to act as trustees. However, this is rarely the right move. Not...
The obstacles disabled Americans face in long-term care plans
Twenty-five percent of U.S. adults live with a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts claim that those with intellectual and developmental disabilities lack long-term plans for loved ones, particularly when family members can...
Choosing the type of trust you want for your estate plan
There are many unfamiliar terms and concepts to learn when you first start thinking about planning your estate. You may not know where to begin. This may be especially true if you are thinking about creating a trust in order to preserve your property for yourself and...
How do courts determine what is ‘just’ when awarding alimony?
You may have heard stories about people receiving a huge alimony award in their divorce that they may or may not have deserved. These stories are often exaggerated, and do not reflect how Washington courts address alimony -- also referred to as maintenance -- in a...
How can we protect my children after we pass?
While the conversation on estate planning is deeply disturbing, especially for parents, we need to have it. And, if you have not had that discussion, you need to have it soon because we never know when it is our time to go. Our job, as parents, is to make sure our...
Worried about a squandered inheritance? Consider this trust
You have a lot of options when it comes to dealing with your estate. But as you start thinking through how your assets will be distributed after you’re gone, you might find yourself worrying about how those assets will be used. This is especially true if you have a...
What is a will contest?
A properly prepared will is essential for assuring that assets are distributed as you intended. But wills may be challenged for certain legal grounds in Washington. Will contest Estate planning should help reduce the odds of a will contest. This occurs when an...
Including crypto in my estate plan
Creating an estate plan is an essential part of passing down your legacy. You have worked hard to build your life, and your estate plan allows you to share the fruits of your labor with your loved ones. Now that cryptocurrency is becoming a more popular investment, it...
How to go about setting up an incapacity plan
Making a plan for incapacity as part of an estate plan is an important component of any estate plan not to overlook. Incapacity planning involves understanding what documents to include in an estate plan and including them as part of the estate planner’s comprehensive...