Recent News

What Happens If I Die Without a Will?

The Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 5/24/2023
We’ve all seen shows or movies with a dramatic reading of the Will where the family gathers around and are shocked to find out that someone has been disinherited. When someone who has executed a Will passes away, their assets are distributed as dictated in their Will. The Will could leave everything to Neighbor Bob,… Read More

Requirements of a Will in Washington State

The Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 5/19/2023
There are several sitcom bits based off of someone writing their own Last Will and Testament. One of my personal favorites is in the show Parks and Recreation where Ron Swanson reveals the Will that he’s been carrying in his pocket since childhood, which reads “All my belongings shall transfer to the man or animal… Read More

Pets as Heirs

The Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 4/4/2023
The 1970 Disney animated classic, the Aristocats, begins with the wealthy Madame Adelaide Bonfamille deciding to leave her substantial fortune to her pet cats. Her loyal butler, Edgar, is to inherit whatever is left after the four cats die. Edgar finds out about the terms of Madame Bonfamille’s Will and, after some poorly done mathematics,… Read More

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

The Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 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