Last Will and Testament

A Will is a roadmap that tells the world how you would like your estate to be handled when you die. In a Will, you can do the following:

• Nominate an executor – This is the person who will be appointed to handle all of your legal and business affairs
• Direct how you want your estate to be distributed after you die
• Nominate a guardian for your minor children
• Make gifts to charities
• Specify how minor children should receive money from your estate (e.g., in a blocked account)
• Waive any requirement that your executor must first obtain a bond (i.e., an insurance policy) prior to appointment by the court
• Direct that the executor be given nonintervention powers so he does not have to get court permission to do everything during the probate
• Deter your heirs from contesting the Will by including a “no contest” provision that states anyone who contests the Will will be disinherited
• Distribute items of personal property to specific individuals (e.g., grandma’s diamond ring to your eldest daughter, your Rolex to your nephew, your German Shepherd to your brother).
• By preparing and properly executing a Will, you are making life a lot easier for your family

Washington State has very specific laws regarding how a Will should be prepared and signed. It is a very formal process and needs to be followed carefully. At Orbit Wills, we will walk through the various decisions that need to be made to complete and properly execute a Will in Washington State.