The Trusts & Estates Group provides the following services for its clients:

Contingency-Plan Documents; Wills, Trusts and Related Documents.
We evaluate your individual situation. After you understand the options and our recommendations, we draft contingency documents such as Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney (Financial and Health Care), Health Care Directives, and other documents to determine the management and disposition of your affairs in the event of disability or death. To see an estate planning case study click here.

Lifetime Personal Planning: Family Partnerships, LLC's and Gifts in Trust.
We analyze additional planning options available to you. If appropriate, we assist you in setting up family partnerships and limited liability companies, children's trusts, charitable gifts, and other arrangements to suit your personality and financial situation. Many goals are addressed in this work, including coherent management of assets, protection from creditors, and reduction of taxes.

Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Planning.
We explore your estate planning goals to determine which tax-saving estate planning strategies may benefit you, your family, and other intended beneficiaries. We are experienced in developing lifetime giving plans, family limited liability companies, qualified personal residence trusts, and more. We work with each client to develop a plan that will not only minimize federal estate taxes, but address Washington estate taxes as well.

Probate & Trust Administration.
In the event of a death, we assist the designated personal representative or trustee in carrying out his or her duties, inventorying the assets, meeting the tax obligations and legal requirements, and distributing the assets in accordance with governing documents. We also assist trustees with decisions and provide counsel regarding the law and the ongoing administration of trusts.

Estate and Trust Disputes.
We resolve issues related to estate and trust disputes. For instance, we litigate will contests. We also resolve issues concerning will and trust interpretation and administration through agreement, mediation, or court proceedings.

Settlement Issues for Minors and Disabled Persons.
We advise clients and attorneys in evaluating and implementing options for handling funds of a disabled or minor person received as a result of a personal injury settlement or inheritance. For example, we draft settlement trusts and special needs trust and obtain court authority for creation and management of trust funds.

Guardianship and Vulnerable Adult Proceedings.
We assist with all aspects of resolving incapacity or disability issues, including vulnerable adult and guardianship proceedings.

Mediation and Arbitration Services.
With the strength of our expertise in the above-described areas, we also provide mediation and arbitration services related to trusts, estates, and guardianships.

For our newsletters discussing various estate planning topics click here.