Recent News

Taylor Swift and Estate Litigation –
an Unlikely Duet

Washington State Litigation Lawyer William O. Kessler | 3/9/2023
In her hit song “Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift includes the lyric I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the moneyShe thinks I left them in the willThe family gathers 'round and reads it and then someone screams out"She's laughing up at us from hell" Ms. Swift raises some interesting legal issues here. This post… Read More

Disposing of Nonprobate Assets by Will

Washington State Estate Planning and Probate Lawyer Per E. Oscarsson | 11/28/2022
The general rule is that the disposition of nonprobate assets is not governed by a will. The disposition is usually governed by the form of ownership, such as joint tenancy with right of survivorship, or a beneficiary designation in the document creating the asset, such as a transfer on death security account with a beneficiary… Read More

When is a Nonprobate Asset Not a Nonprobate Asset? Part 3

By Washington State Estate Planning and Probate Lawyer Per E. Oscarsson | 10/31/2022
In Part 1 of this series of articles on nonprobate assets (See here), I discussed the general definition of nonprobate assets under Washington’s probate and trust law. In Part 2 of this series (See here), I discussed the definition of nonprobate assets in the context of the dissolution or invalidation of a marriage or state… Read More

When is a Nonprobate Asset Not a Nonprobate Asset? Part 2

Washington State Estate Planning and Probate Lawyer Per E. Oscarsson | 9/30/2022
As I described in a previous post, Washington probate and trust law generally defines a “nonprobate asset” as well as the types of assets that are not included within that definition (See here for previous post). However, the definition of “nonprobate asset” is not consistent for all purposes. RCW 11.07.010 provides, in part, that if… Read More

When is a Nonprobate Asset Not a Nonprobate Asset? Part 1

Washington State Estate Planning and Probate Lawyer Per E. Oscarsson | 9/26/2022
Under Washington probate and trust law, a nonprobate asset means “those rights and interests of a person having beneficial ownership of an asset that pass on the person’s death under a written instrument or arrangement other than the person’s will.” RCW 11.02.005(13). Examples of such assets provided by the statute include a right or interest… Read More