Probate Attorney Blog

 Many people form LLCs to protect real estate or other investments, but if you’re a Washington resident, using an LLC can have unexpected consequences for your estate plan. Understanding these implications can help you avoid costly mistakes and plan more effectively. Why LLCs Matter in Estate Planning LLCs are a popular tool for liability protection, privacy, and business organization. However, when it comes to estate planning, they can change how your assets are categorized for tax purposes. This is…

 Many people form LLCs to protect real estate and other investments, but if you’re a Washington resident, using an LLC can have unexpected consequences for your estate plan. Here’s what you need to know to avoid costly mistakes. Why LLCs Can Affect Your Estate Plan LLCs are often used to separate assets from personal ownership for liability protection, privacy, or business purposes. That’s all well and good—but when it comes to estate planning, the implications aren’t always obvious. For…

 When you set up a trust, one of the key decisions you’ll make is choosing a trustee — the person responsible for managing the trust according to your wishes. But what happens if your chosen trustee can’t serve when the time comes? That’s where naming backup trustees (also called successor trustees) comes in. In this post, I’ll explain how to list multiple trustees, how many backups you can name, and how to make changes later if needed. Why You…

Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to talk about the downside of a revocable trust. And, to be honest, this is going to be a short post, because there is no downside to a revocable trust. That doesn’t mean that everyone needs one, but for those that do, it’s a no brainer. Probate avoidance? Check. Easy to update? Check. Retain complete control over assets? Check. Control and management after death? Check. Easy administration after death? Check. There’s just no downside to…

 A lot of people assume they need a revocable living trust if they want to avoid probate. But that’s not always true—at least not in Washington State, where I live and practice law. While trusts can be incredibly useful tools, there are other, often simpler, ways to ensure your assets pass smoothly to your beneficiaries without ever going through probate. What Probate Really Does Probate is the legal process of transferring your assets to your heirs after you pass…

When it comes to estate planning, one of the trickiest topics is disinheriting family members. There’s a common myth that if you want to disinherit someone, you have to mention them in your will or trust and leave them a token amount, like $1. I’m here to tell you: that’s simply not true. You Don’t Need to Give a Token Gift If your goal is to disinherit someone, the easiest approach is to simply leave them out of your will…

 When it comes to estate planning, many people assume that a revocable living trust will shield their assets from creditors or lawsuits. The truth is, a revocable living trust does not provide asset protection. Let’s break down why this is the case and what options you actually have if your goal is protecting your wealth. What a Revocable Living Trust Really Does A revocable living trust is a tool for managing your assets while you’re alive and distributing them…