Planning for Relationship Changes

I’m getting married.

Our experienced attorneys can help you revise (or create) your will and other estate planning documents to reflect your new relationship status. We have worked with many couples on prenuptial agreements designed to ensure that both parties feel comfortable moving forward in their lives together. We also can help with post-nuptial agreements for couples who realized after marriage that they would like to documents the agreements and understandings they already have reached with each other.

I’m getting divorced.

After a divorce, it is important to get your affairs in order to reflect your new status. We can help you revise your will or other estate planning documents—or draft a new plan—to ensure your wishes are clear. We can also help you with the important documents that indicate what decisions you would like to be made should you become incapacitated, and who should make other decisions for you should the need arise.

I’m in a domestic partnership/civil union.

We have worked on wills and other estate planning documents with many couples in domestic partnerships. We can create the documents that indicate what decisions you would like to be made should you become incapacitated, and who should make other decisions for you should the need arise.

I’m unmarried but live with a partner.

Courts in Washington recognize “committed intimate relationships” in certain situations where couples live together and share resources but do not marry. If you are in a committed intimate relationship, we can advise you regarding your rights and your partner’s rights. We can write a will that recognizes your partner and create other documents that give your partner a role in what happens to you if you were to become incapacitated.

The following of our newsletters address various aspects of estate planning that may apply when you are changing relationship status: