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Compassionate, Experienced Seattle Estate Planning Attorney

Your affairs and wishes should be directed by you – not the state – upon your passing. A Seattle estate planning attorney can help you take steps today that will help ease the burden of your passing on your family by putting your financial affairs and healthcare wishes in order.
Your wishes may not be honored or even known if you do not have a robust estate plan in place.
Our Seattle firm can help you develop an estate plan that offers robust planning for:
Contact us to discuss your estate plan with a member of our firm.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at our ELG Estate Planning Seattle office and meet the incredible team behind the work. From your first consultation to finalizing your plan, we’re here to provide thoughtful guidance every step of the way.

What is an Estate Plan?

Legal planning helps protect you and your estate by putting your wishes in writing. Your estate plan memorializes your wishes in the event of your incapacity and after you pass.
Some of the wishes that you may have in writing include:
  • Medical care wishes
  • Designation of your Health Care Agent
  • Designation of your Financial Agent (Power of Attorney)
  • Distribution of your assets on death
If a crisis occurs, your plan can help your loved ones make the decisions that you chose prior. Your Durable Power of Attorney designates a person of your choosing to make decisions on your behalf, such as managing your finances or making critical decisions when you cannot make them on your own.

Estate plans prevent probate courts from deciding who will inherit your assets based on laws of intestacy – a process that can disrupt families during an already difficult time.

A robust estate plan may include:

Wills

A will is one of the most common reasons to work with a Seattle estate planning attorney because it’s a tool that details your wishes for the disbursement of your assets upon death. Your will guides your friends, family, and associates on your wishes for your:
  • Assets
  • Guardian rights if you have minor children
Your will can also contain testamentary trusts to protect assets for your beneficiaries.

Trusts

Trusts are comprehensive legal instruments that allow you to dictate asset control and distributions. Multiple trust types exist:
  • Testamentary: You can create an irrevocable trust testamentary trust formed after death. A will often creates a testamentary trust upon a person’s death. These trusts may end when a child reaches a specific age, or they can last for future generations.
  • Living Revocable and Irrevocable: A living trust is the most common revocable trust that allows you to manage all of your assets while alive, and upon death, the trust’s beneficiaries will be in control of the assets. You can revoke a revocable living trust at any time. Irrevocable trusts are permanent and are a complete divestment of assets from the trustor to the trustee.
  • Special needs: A special needs trust can provide for beneficiaries who receive government benefits or who are disabled. These trusts can help preserve assets for people with special needs without impacting Social Security Income or Medicaid benefits.
Trusts help you create strong asset protection that, when used properly, can also be used to shield you from tax liabilities. We can help devise an estate plan that leverages the power of trusts to help you protect your assets, provide direction for the assets and minimize tax liability.

Power of Attorneys

A power of attorney is a document that gives someone you trust the ability to manage your financial and/or healthcare decisions.
We can help you prepare a General Durable Power of Attorney and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions to ensure that your voice is heard and your wishes are carried out.

Healthcare Directives

A healthcare directive outlines your wishes for your medical treatment. It provides instructions on the type, level, and duration of the care you would like to receive.
Your healthcare directive will work in conjunction with your Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions to ensure your Attorney-in-Fact can carry out your wishes.
We can assist with creating healthcare directives that include provisions that will meet your needs and wishes.

Long-Term Care Planning

The costs of Long-Term Care in Seattle can be significant and projections indicate that costs may only continue to rise. Planning is crucial to ensuring that you receive the care you need without expending all your finances.

As your Seattle estate planning attorney, we can help you and your family create a plan that will protect your assets while you need assisted living, nursing home, or at-home care. We can also help you:
  • Obtain Medicaid to receive Long-Term Care benefits
  • Engage in advance planning for your estate, so your plans can change as your circumstances do

How Much Does an Estate Plan Cost?

The cost of an estate plan will depend on several factors including the attorney’s fee structure.
At ELG Estate Planning, we are transparent about our fees. During our first meeting, we will get a better understanding of your needs and discuss the nature of the services provided. We will also prepare a fee agreement that outlines our flat fee plan and how payment will work.

Why Is an Estate Plan Important?

An estate plan outlines how you want your assets to be handled after your death or if you become incapacitated. Your assets can include your:
  • Home
  • Investments
  • Anything of value
Estate planning empowers you to determine who will receive these assets and when.
But your assets are just one piece of the puzzle.
Estate plans are comprehensive, and they cover more than just your finances. Basic estate planning documents include:
  • A durable power of attorney
  • A healthcare power of attorney
  • Advance directive (healthcare directive, also called a “Living Will”
  • A trust
  • A will
Without an estate plan, your assets will be distributed under Washington’s laws of intestacy.
And, if you become incapacitated during your lifetime, your loved ones will need to petition the court for a guardianship/conservatorship for the right to make decisions on your behalf.

Estate planning can help you avoid these bad outcomes, ensuring that your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated and after your passing.

A Seattle estate planning attorney can guide you through the process of creating a plan that meets your unique needs and goals.

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How To Choose the Best Seattle Estate Planning Attorney Near You for Your Needs

Estate planning is complex, and the impact is significant. It’s important to work with an experienced Seattle estate planning attorney to ensure that your goals and needs are met.

Choosing the right professional is crucial. Here are a few important things to consider:

  • Area of focus. Estate planning requires a nuanced approach and the right expertise. An attorney with experience in this area of law will know how to create an estate plan that meets your needs and goals, whether it’s planning for tax minimization, Long-Term Care needs and Medicaid, forming a trust to avoid probate, or to protect beneficiaries and assets.
  • Does the attorney answer your questions and explain your options in a way that’s easy to understand? Do they respond in a timely manner? Communication is crucial when working with an estate planning attorney, so it’s important to ensure they meet your expectations.
  • Before hiring an attorney, make sure that you understand their fee structure and billing processes so that you know what to expect.
At ELG Estate Planning, we understand that estate planning can be overwhelming. You may not know which options or strategies are right for you. We’re here to help.
For more nearly twenty years we have been assisting clients with their estate planning needs. We can provide comprehensive strategies that will allow you to reach your goals and ensure your wishes are carried out.
Contact us to schedule a consultation.
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