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

Wills, Trusts and Other Contingency-Plan 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 how your affairs will be managed if you die or become disabled.

Lifetime Personal Planning: Family Partnerships, LLCs 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. You can address many goals 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 your assets, meeting the tax obligations and legal requirements, and distributing 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 plans for a disabled person or minor when they receive funds as a result of a personal injury settlement or inheritance. For example, we draft settlement trusts and special needs trusts 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 all these areas, we also provide mediation and arbitration services related to trusts, estates and guardianships.

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