Recent News

Nominating a Guardian or Conservator for an Adult

Washington State Business and Real Estate Law Lawyer Per E. Oscarsson | 7/31/2024
Sometimes, it is necessary to appoint a guardian or a conservator for an adult.  A guardian may be appointed if a court finds that the adult does not have the ability to meet the essential requirements for physical health, safety, or self-care because the adult is unable to receive and evaluate information or make or… Read More

How a Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision May Impact Business Succession Planning

Washington State Estate Planning, Probate, and Guardianship Lawyer Sherry Bosse Lueders | 7/31/2024
Owners of closely-held companies may plan for the death of a shareholder of a corporation or member of an LLC by purchasing life insurance to cover the cost of purchasing a deceased owner’s interest in the company. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion, Connelly v. United States, that may cause business owners… Read More

Spousal and Family Award in Probate

Washington State Estate Planning and Probate Lawyer Joshua G. R. Curtis | 7/19/2024
The Washington State Legislature has recently updated the statute that determines how much a surviving spouse (or registered domestic partner) and family members may be awarded in a probate.  This award is different than a typical inheritance.  The purpose of the law is to provide support for a spouse and/or children of the deceased during… Read More

Mental Health Advance Directives in Washington

Washington State Business and Real Estate Law Lawyer Per E. Oscarsson | 5/29/2024
Many people have heard of a health care directive, sometimes referred to as a living will.  It expresses an individual’s wishes for certain treatments if the person is in a terminal or permanent unconscious condition.  A different Washington law provides for the use of a mental health advance directive, which allows an individual to express… Read More

Does a Trust or Estate Owe Washington Capital Gains Tax

Washington State Estate Planning, Probate, & Guardianship Law Lawyer Sherry Bosse Lueders | 5/29/2024
In 2023, the Washington Department of Revenue began collecting a state capital gains tax, which is  separate from the federal capital gains tax, on capital gains occurring after January 1, 2022. The state did not collect the tax until after the Washington Supreme Court upheld the tax’s constitutionality in a March 2023 decision. It was… Read More