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Tell me what Estate Planning
services your office provides
What is a Will?
A Will is a written document explaining how you want your possessions and
assets to be distributed after you die. A Will is put into effect at your
death. You can change your Will at any time, as long as you are legally
competent to do so. Your Will is filed with the Court after your death
and becomes a public record.
Do you have an
Estate Planning questionnaire?
Yes. Click here to go to our Estate Planning
Questionnaires.
How do I know
if I need a Will?
If you have assets and want certain people or charities to inherit those
assets, you should have a Will.
Why should I
make a Will?
You should make a Will so that your estate is distributed in accordance
with your wishes. Since a Will has no effect until you die, you cannot
personally direct the distribution of your estate. A Will must be
properly executed to be valid. If you have a Will which is not properly
executed, you are deemed to have died without a Will. Letters, notes,
computer entries, or other informal documents stating how you want your
estate divided are not a valid Will and have no effect on the distribution
of your estate. If you have minor children, you should also make a Will
to name the person you want to be your children's custodian.
What makes a
Will invalid?
There are many reasons a Will could be invalid. One of the common ways a
Will is invalid is because it was not properly signed and witnessed. Washington State law is clear
about the requirements for a Will: it must be signed by the Testator (the
person signing the Will) in the presence of two witnesses, and the
witnesses must also sign the Will on the same occasion. The witnesses
must also sign an affidavit about their signing the Will, which they can
do at the Will signing or some time later. Without the witnesses'
signatures and affidavits, a Will cannot be admitted to probate. It is
also a good idea to have the witnesses' signatures notarized.
Why can't I
just cross something out on my old Will and change it?
You cannot make any marks or changes to your Will once it has been signed
and witnessed. If you do, you invalidate your Will because your changes
are not properly witnessed according to Washington law. If you
want to change the terms of your Will, you must execute a new document.
How do I know
if I need a Testamentary Trust?
If you have young children or if one of your heirs is disabled on unable
to manage money well, you should speak with your estate planning attorney
about creating a Testamentary Trust.
What is a Power
of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives another person the
right to act on your behalf under certain circumstances. A Power of Attorney
can be for a limited purpose such as signing documents for you when you
are out of town, or for general purposes (such as managing your financial
affairs if you become unable to do so). Some Powers of Attorney deal
specifically with making medical decisions.
What does
"Durable" mean?
If a Power of Attorney is "Durable," this means that the person
to whom you give your power can make decisions and act on your behalf
even if you become disabled. One type of Durable Power of Attorney does
not become effective until the Principal (the person giving the power)
becomes incapable of managing his or her affairs. Having a Durable Power
of Attorney can sometimes avoid the need to have a Guardian appointed.
What is a
Health Care Directive or Living Will?
A Health Care Directive, sometimes called a "Living Will," or a
"Directive to Physicians," is a written statement of your
wishes in the event you are in a "persistent, vegetative state"
(such as a coma). The Health Care Directive is given in RCW 70.122, et.
seq., a state law entitled "The Natural Death Act." A Health
Care Directive addresses issues such as life support, artificial
nutrition, and artificial hydration.
What does a
Disposition of Remains form do?
A Disposition of Remains form is a written expression of your wishes
about funeral and burial. Having a Disposition of Remains form is
especially important if you wish to be cremated. If you want to be
cremated, and you have not signed a document to that effect, the funeral
home will most likely require the consent of your relatives. If one
relative does not consent, the funeral home may choose not to cremate
your remains. Having a Disposition of Remains form can also be very
helpful to your survivors. The death of a family member or close friend
is always traumatic; having a clear expression of your wishes is one less
worrisome issue for your family to handle.
What is
"Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship"?
If you own property in "Joint Tenancy with Right of
Survivorship," this means you own the property equally with another
person and each person is entitled to the asset. When you die, the other
person inherits that asset immediately, without a probate. A common
example of Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship is a bank account in
the names of both a parent and an adult child. Both people are owners of
the account, and either one of them can withdraw money from the account
at any time, even if one has not deposited money in the account. When one
person dies, the other person becomes the sole owner.
When preparing your estate plan, you should check to see if any of your
assets are held in Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship, as these
assets will pass to the "Joint Tenant" and will not pass
according to your Will.
What does
"Pay on Death" mean?
"Pay on Death" accounts are more restrictive than Joint Tenancy
with Right of Survivorship accounts. If you have a bank or investment account
that is Pay on Death, you are the sole owner of the account during your
life. When you die, your designated beneficiary inherits the account. You
designate the beneficiary when you open the account. The beneficiary
takes the money in the Pay on Death account and this money is not
controlled by your Will.
Can Estate
Planning help my estate avoid paying taxes?
To a certain extent, yes. A qualified estate planning attorney can
explain different options for distributing your estate and can help
reduce the amount of tax your estate will pay.
Can't I just
give everything away before I die?
"Gifting," which is giving property and money away while you
are alive, is a technique that can reduce estate taxes. If you gift more
than $12,000.00 to a single person in a calendar year,
you must file a gift tax return with the IRS. Before you
give property or money to someone, consult with a qualified estate
planning attorney and a Certified Public Accountant.
Doesn't my
Community Property Agreement take care of everything?
A Community Property Agreement is an agreement between a husband and wife
that can affect probate or even eliminate the need for probate. Your estate
planning attorney can explain how your particular estate can benefit from
a Community Property Agreement.
Where should I
keep my estate planning documents?
The originals of your estate planning documents, such as your Will,
Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directive, and Disposition of
Remains Instructions, should be kept in a fireproof, locked container.
You may store them in your safe deposit box or a fireproof safe. If you
do, it's a good idea to give access rights to one other person so that
when you die, that person can retrieve your Will from the box or safe.
How much will
estate planning documents cost?
The cost for estate planning documents varies depending on the complexity
of your estate and your estate planning goals. After you meet with an
attorney, the attorney can give you an estimate of cost.
Is it really worth
the expense to have an attorney prepare my estate planning documents?
Yes. Not only does having a complete professionally prepared estate plan
give you peace of mind, it will help reduce the costs of administering
your estate and will make the probate process easier for your loved ones.
Why can't I
just use the forms I found on the internet or go to the office supply
store and get a form?
The forms you find online or in office supply stores are too general for
most people to accomplish their estate planning goals. A qualified estate
planning attorney can write documents specifically for your particular
situation.
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