Probate and Trust Administration
We understand what you're going through and have experienced it personally first-hand, as well as every day in our practice. When people die, there are many steps to follow to take care of their affairs and transfer assets to survivors. Not only are there procedures surrounding transferring debts and assets, but there are strategic moves families can take to protect assets down the line or minimize estate or income taxes. Weighing and balancing all of these issues and options can be extremely complex. We advise and counsel clients regarding probate and estate administration. Part of our probate attorney service includes discussing your specific situation and advising you on whether you need an official probate or not and what other steps might be required to clean up someone's affairs after they have passed. We look at your documents, discuss specific assets, and inform you of what laws apply to you in your specific situation. We provide you advice regarding your rights and duties, so you know your options and responsibilities, whether as the one managing the estate or somoene expecting an inheritance.
Probate is the legal process followed after someone dies to pay debts and transfer remaining assets as directed under a person's will or, if no will exists, in accordance with the defaults written in the laws of Washington. Without a will, Washington state probate law determines who will be in charge of the process, which creditors get paid and when, who will inherit remaining assets, and a variety of other issues. Whether you have a will or not doesn't determine whether a person's "estate" is required to go through an official probate. Many factors are involved. Even if assets are in a trust and don't go through probate, there are other legal requirements upon someone's death including accounting, paying off debt, and distributions to beneficiaries. We can guide through the requirements and steps, whatever situation you face.
If your family is having difficulty coming to terms with issues, we provide trust and estate mediation services where all parties sit down to discuss issues with the mediator acting as a neutral third-party discussion leader.
Legal Services May Include:
We understand what you're going through and have experienced it personally first-hand, as well as every day in our practice. When people die, there are many steps to follow to take care of their affairs and transfer assets to survivors. Not only are there procedures surrounding transferring debts and assets, but there are strategic moves families can take to protect assets down the line or minimize estate or income taxes. Weighing and balancing all of these issues and options can be extremely complex. We advise and counsel clients regarding probate and estate administration. Part of our probate attorney service includes discussing your specific situation and advising you on whether you need an official probate or not and what other steps might be required to clean up someone's affairs after they have passed. We look at your documents, discuss specific assets, and inform you of what laws apply to you in your specific situation. We provide you advice regarding your rights and duties, so you know your options and responsibilities, whether as the one managing the estate or somoene expecting an inheritance.
Probate is the legal process followed after someone dies to pay debts and transfer remaining assets as directed under a person's will or, if no will exists, in accordance with the defaults written in the laws of Washington. Without a will, Washington state probate law determines who will be in charge of the process, which creditors get paid and when, who will inherit remaining assets, and a variety of other issues. Whether you have a will or not doesn't determine whether a person's "estate" is required to go through an official probate. Many factors are involved. Even if assets are in a trust and don't go through probate, there are other legal requirements upon someone's death including accounting, paying off debt, and distributions to beneficiaries. We can guide through the requirements and steps, whatever situation you face.
If your family is having difficulty coming to terms with issues, we provide trust and estate mediation services where all parties sit down to discuss issues with the mediator acting as a neutral third-party discussion leader.
Legal Services May Include:
- Probate --> Determination of whether or not a Washington probate is necessary in the first place, advice regarding the process, preparation of legal documents, presenting and filing legal documents with the court.
- Affidavit of Small Estate --> Used if probate is not necessary.
- Affidavit of Non-Probate --> Used if probate is not necessary.
- Trust Administration --> Advice regarding duties of a trustee, providing notice to creditors, paying creditors, preparation of legal documents to conduct trust business.
- Trust Amendment --> Advice and preparation of changes to trusts
- Trust Revocation --> Drafting agreements to terminate or close up trusts no longer necessary, if allowed under trust language and current laws
- Trust Funding --> Advice and necessary documents to transfer assets into a trust once formed or during the term of the trust
- Trustee Advising --> Advice regarding duties and responsibilities of trustee during life of trust, advice regarding use of discretion, review and explanation of trust terms
- Mediation --> Representation or management of disputes regarding trust, estate and probate issues outside of court
- Litigation --> Representation of clients in court regarding trust, estate and probate disputes