Recent News

Effective June 11, 2026, the legislature updated the probate statute for probates of estates where the decedent did not have a will.  The changes generally attempt to increase transparency in the probate process and ensure that the heirs and beneficiaries of an estate receive as much as they are entitled to.  In the past, some… Read More

The legislature updated the probate statute for probates of estates where the decedent did not have a will.  One change is to the petition for Letters of Administration.  Previously, the petitioner only needed to recite that the assets of the estate will exceed the debts of the estate and that the estate will remain solvent… Read More

In this webinar, Attorney Rachel J. Wright discusses "Due Diligence: A Practical Guide to Protecting Yourself Before You Sign" Read More

In this webinar, Attorney Susan L. Alexander discusses "Guardianship Issues in Washington" Read More

Learning that a loved one has been diagnosed with “mild cognitive impairment” can be a scary moment for families, and the first instinct can be to try to immediately prevent the affected person from making further medical and financial decisions.   While well-intentioned, this doesn’t necessarily follow Washington law.  In Washington state, legal capacity is presumed… Read More

Joan Lanzner signed her Will in 2012. When she died in 2022, her original Will could not be located. The court admitted an authenticated copy of the Will to probate. That Will left her estate to her biological son and two of her stepsons, Edward and Robert. It excluded her other stepson, Richard, and her… Read More

For years, beneficiaries could inherit a traditional IRA from a loved one and “stretch” it out by deferring unpaid income taxes for years or even decades with a life expectancy payout. The good times are largely over for many beneficiaries since the Secure Act and Secure Act 2.0 were passed in 2019 and 2022, respectively.… Read More

In this webinar, Attorney Sherry Bosse Lueders discusses "Washington Probate: An Introduction" Read More

Money can’t solve every problem, but financial security can make it much easier for a loved one with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities to have a superior quality of life. Special Needs Trusts are an excellent planning tool for creating lifelong financial security and stability for loved ones today and after we are no longer… Read More