You spent decades building your legacy, but a beneficiary form you signed years ago at a bank may quietly cancel out your will. In Washington, beneficiary designations often supersede your estate plan, though state law does provide limited ways to fix them. Defining...
Aging without a spouse or close family requires a different kind of planning. You may not have a clear person to assume responsibility during a medical emergency or if you lose the ability to manage your finances. That gap can leave important decisions in uncertain...
When you create an estate plan, your goal is usually to make things easier for the people you leave behind. Clear instructions can help your family move through probate with fewer problems. However, gaps or mistakes in an estate plan may create confusion and conflict...
You have worked hard to build your wealth, and naturally, you want it to benefit not only your children but future generations as well. After all, you are not just passing on assets–you are entrusting them with your legacy. While a standard trust can provide...
Probate litigation can help families hold personal representatives accountable for breaches of fiduciary duty. Litigation is also possible in cases where there are questions about the validity of estate planning documents. Many will contests involve claims by...
Family members grieving a loved one may take a degree of comfort from their inheritances. When a person makes an effort to leave valuable or meaningful resources for their loved ones, their positive legacy can last for years to come. Unfortunately, sometimes the...
Choosing a long-term care facility for yourself or a loved one is never easy. The options can be overwhelming and a poor choice can affect care and peace of mind. Here are three common mistakes families make and how to avoid them in Washington. Mistake 1: Overlooking...
Retirement is a major milestone in a person’s life. Your daily schedule and income source undergo significant shifts, and your priorities look very different from what they did during your working years. If you created an estate plan 10 or 20 years ago, it may no...
A payable-on-death (POD) account is sometimes referred to as a Totten trust. It is a way to pass financial assets to the next generation and may be something to consider as part of an estate plan. A POD account is different from a traditional bank account because you...
For many people, estate planning revolves around wealth and their most valuable assets. This could include things like an investment portfolio, savings accounts, real estate or a family business. They know that these high-value items have to be passed to the next...
