DNR and POLST Instructions: What you need to know A DNR, or Do Not Resuscitate, is a medical directive that instructs medical staff not to perform any form of resuscitation if a patient has stopped breathing or heartbeat. The State of Washington has...
Holographic Wills Holographic wills (are written in the testator's handwriting) are legal in some states, but not the State of Washington. Partly because proving their validity can be difficult and some states require the testimony of a handwriting expert....
List of Past Blog Posts List of Past Blog Posts Instead of searching through pages of past blog posts I've created a quick reference list with brief summaries and links to the original article When the Rich & Famous Fail to Plan Too often we read stories in the...
Estate planning is one of the most important things you can do for your family and loved ones. In the case of an unexpected death, your assets will go to the intended beneficiaries, and whether your passing is expected or not, a will can help you avoid probate or...
Why Do Some Families Fly Separately? This is a surprisingly controversial question. While some families choose to fly separately in case there is a tragedy and one parent is killed in a plane crash the other will be able to care for their children. The...
There are many different things to consider when deciding who will be the executor of your estate.
If you want to have any say in how your estate is distributed and keep the state out of your affairs, you’ll want to have a will. Whether you have a simple will or a complex one depends primarily on how large your estate is and the manner in which you want distribute...
On the blog we’ve talked quite a few times about what happens to your body after you die. Now there are more options than ever when it comes to deciding what happens to your body once you’ve passed away (you can read about 4 Unconventional Alternative to Traditional...
Power of attorney is a document that you sign that grants a family member, friend, or other individual, referred to as an “agent” in Washington, the power to make decisions on your behalf. These documents can be extremely helpful in for family and medical personnel to...
“Death taxes” have been around for many years under a variety of names. The phrase “death tax” was coined in the 1990s. It describes inheritance and estate taxes that are imposed after an estate owner dies. Death taxes arose in the early 20th century when the federal...
Nearly 10% of all Americans are business owners. If you’re one of them, there will inevitably come a time when you need to ask “what happens to this business when I’m gone?” It’s a solemn question, but an important one. Luckily, the earlier you begin to ponder this...
When we talk about estate planning oftentimes we talk about assets like money, investments, and property. With so much talk of delegation and beneficiaries it can be hard to remember our greatest assets— our children. As parents it’s our job to provide a safe, loving,...
What is Probate? Probate is the legal process your estate goes through after you pass away. In probate, a court will decide how to distribute an estate after paying off any outstanding debts. Without a Will Without a Will, the court will follow state intestacy laws to...
We talk a lot about what you should include on your will. What about about what you shouldn’t include? Often times there are things that just don’t belong on a will, either due to beneficiary designation or legal matters. If you’re wondering what you should leave out...
On the blog we’ve talked a few times about the different options available to you to do with your body after you die. Our posts about The Case for Posthumous Body Donation and Composting Human Remains talk specially about just two alternatives to traditional burial...
Direct who should be in charge of your estate and where your estate will be distributed.
For married couples to confirm they want their estate to go to each other without going through probate.
Give authority to someone to make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
Give authority to someone to make financial decisions and manage your finances for you if you become incapacitated.
Tell your family if you want to receive life-sustaining treatment if you're in a permanent unconscious state or vegetative state.
Tell your family if you want to receive life-sustaining treatment if you're in a permanent unconscious state or vegetative state.
