Posts Tagged ‘estate planning’
Electronic Wills in Washington: What You Need to Know
Written By Shaheer Hashmi Law is an ever-evolving field in how it is practiced and what it covers, and the time-tested process for estate planning is no different. Recently, Washington State announced that starting January 1st, 2022, wills may begin to be executed electronically through the upcoming Electronic Wills Act (EWA). What does that mean…
Read MoreWhat is the Difference Between an Attorney-in-Fact, Executor and Trustee?
The “Who’s Who” of Your Estate Planning A common question I get is, what is the difference Between an Attorney-in-Fact, Executor and Trustee with respect to decision-making authority? An important piece of the estate planning process is choosing who will make financial and health care decisions on your behalf during your lifetime, as well as…
Read MoreHealth Care Advance Directives and How to Choose your Attorney in Fact
Advance directives are composed of two legal documents: A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and a Health Care Directive. A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is a legal document appointing someone of your choice to make healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to do so because of injury, illness,…
Read MoreDying Without A Will
Having your will done is your opportunity to leave final instructions for your loved ones, and to make sure your wishes are properly carried out when you die. You can address all sorts of issues in your will, including establishing guardianships for your children, setting up trusts, taking care of your pets, end of life…
Read MoreCommunity Property & Estate Planning
What is Community Property?Community property is any property owned by a married couple, or two people in a committed intimate relationship (we will refer to these as ‘spouses’ for purposes of this article), where each spouse has a “present, undivided, one-half interest in the property.” This means that each spouse has equal access to the…
Read MoreSo I’m a Personal Representative…Now What?
If you are like the majority of people, you’re probably not even sure what it means to be an executor, known as a Personal Representative in the state of Washington. If you look to Merriam Webster for an answer, you’ll find something like the following: “(T)he person appointed by a testator to execute a will.” But what…
Read MoreUsing a Testamentary Trust to Provide for Grandchildren’s’ Education
When grandparents begin the estate planning process, often they want to leave money to their grandchildren in a will. However, what are the best options to leave money to grandchildren when the grandparent wants to make sure that those funds are used for the child’s college expenses and not blown on unnecessary or frivolous extravagances?…
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