Regular Estate Planning Reviews

Guess what we're spending the day doing? Every April 30th and October 31st, we review our estate planning files and send review letters to clients. We review these files so that we can alert clients as to changes in state and/or federal laws which could affect them and indicate a need to update their estate plans. We recommend that clients regularly examine their estate plans and suggest such review be made at least once every 3-4 years, and more often if major changes in family size, relationships, or assets should occur.

If you would like a copy of our checklist of changes or occurrences that might warrant a change in your estate plan or if you think your estate plan should be reviewed or changed in any way, call us at 253.858.5434 for an appointment so that we can meet to discuss your needs and revise your estate plan accordingly.

Including Your Pets in Your Estate Plan

Not all that long ago, an attorney would have given you a weird look if you had asked about creating a "pet trust" or otherwise including your pets in your estate plan. But now, if you don't bring it up, your lawyer is likely to. A good number of people who go to lawyers about Wills and Trusts want to make sure that if their animals outlive them, they will be taken care of.

It's a reasonable concern. Many animals end up being surrendered to shelters after their owners die, and many of them do not find new homes. Usually, family members want to ensure a better outcome for the animals, but simply may not be able to take care of them or find a suitable home. Especially if the pet is older or ill. And the wave of foreclosures in recent years has meant that many families formerly in their own homes are now in rentals, many of which don't allow animals.

Luckily, with some planning, you can provide for your pets, and make sure that they'll always have a home. Washington and Idaho both recognize trusts for pets, in which you can leave money to be used for the care of your pets. In addition to leaving your pets to a specific person, you can also put someone in charge of managing and spending the money in the trust, following a written set of instructions that you provide.

If you have questions about trusts for your pets, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to find out how we can help.

Estate planning is about protection.

Estate planning is about protection. Proper estate planning will protect your heirs, give directions for how your assets should be handled, and minimize the financial impact of your passing. Estate planning can protect your property from creditors. Our firm offers skilled estate planning services. We’ll help you set up an estate plan that protects your assets and family.

If we can be of service to you, your friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors, give us a call at  253.858.5434 to set up an appointment. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype.

We assist small to medium-sized businesses with their general legal needs.

In addition to assisting small and medium-sized businesses with formation and startup, we assist businesses with their general legal needs, including strategy for business development and marketing, intellectual property, daily business operations, employment matters, negotiations of contracts with third parties, minutes of board and shareholder meetings, purchases and sales of stock and assets, conflict resolution, and confidentiality and non-compete agreements.

We also draft, review, analyze, and negotiate on behalf of business clients various types of contracts, including: shareholder agreements; LLC operating agreements; partnership agreements; purchase and sale of business documents; buy-sell agreements; asset purchase agreements; non-disclosure, confidentiality and non-compete agreements; license agreements; stock purchase agreements; third party contracts; employment agreements; distributorship agreements; reseller agreements; and subcontractor and independent contractor agreements.

If you're a small business owner and need help with your contract or other legal matters, give us a call at 253.858.5434. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype.

Valentine's Day Estate Planning "Sweetheart Package"

Valentine's Day is coming up! Hearts and candy and everything! Therefore, we're offering a "Sweetheart Package" from now until February 14th - if you and your spouse call to set up an appointment by the 14th, we'll give you a 50% discount on your legal fees for a complete estate plan (usually includes Wills, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, and a Community Property Agreement). Give us a call at 253.858.5434 to make an appointment!

Estate Planning and Organ Donation

Estate planning usually includes the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills. The estate planning meeting should also include a discussion about the possibility of organ and tissue donation. It's an attorney's job to get his clients to think about issues they may not otherwise address, whether the issue is who will be guardian of a minor or special needs child, who will inherit particular property, what charitable gifts the client wants to make, who will handle the client's affairs if the client becomes incapacitated, what medical care the client wants if he or she is terminally ill or in a coma, or what will be done with the client's organs and tissues after the client has died. The lawyer can, by conversations with clients and their families, provide input about all of these important areas.

However, organ and tissue donation is rarely raised. It is important that the attorney and client discuss these things. Many people die each year or go through painful and expensive medical procedures while waiting for organ donations. If more lawyers raised these issues with their clients, more people might become organ and tissue donors. By raising the issue of organ and tissue donation with clients during the estate planning process and helping clients understand their rights regarding provisions for such donations, attorneys can have a large impact on society by helping clients' effectuate their wishes to donate, and helping those in need of organs and tissue.

If you have questions about how you can include your wishes regarding organ donation as part of your estate plan, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see how we can help.

Estate planning is a platform for making important choices about the future.

Estate planning is a platform for making important choices about the future. With the help of a skilled attorney, you can take steps that will protect your assets, express your wishes concerning health issues, and make important arrangements that will make things easier for your family when you die. When prepared wisely and thoroughly, a comprehensive estate plan will allow you to make critical decisions about where your property will go, take care of family members and make gifts to causes you care about, avoid unnecessary tax liabilities, prevent disputes between your loved ones, and designate who will care for you if you become incapacitated.

If you, your family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors have questions about their estate planning needs, give us a call at 253.858.5434. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype.

Retiring Baby Boomers & their Small Businesses

Baby boomers are getting to be retirement age. This means that a large number of small business owners are looking to retire and either sell their business or pass it on to their children. If you or someone you know is looking to buy, sell, or otherwise transfer their interests in a small business, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to find out how we can help with what can often be a complex transaction.

Planned Giving

Supporters of your nonprofit organization may wish to include your charity, school, or church in their charitable giving or estate planning. They want to enhance their legacy by dedicating all or part of the proceeds of their wealth or estate to the organization with assurance that the funds will be used as directed in a pledge, Will, or trust. An organization that receives such donations often requires legal advice on how to document fulfillment of the instructions for use of the gift given.

Our firm provides advice on planned giving, an aspect of charitable giving or estate planning that requires careful attention. "Planned giving" refers to significant gifts of cash or property which are donated either through someone's Will (or trust) or during their lifetime.

If your nonprofit organization has questions about planned giving, or if you have questions about planned giving as part of your own estate plan, give us a call at 253.858.5434.

Estate Planning and Blended Families

Second marriages (or third marriages, in some cases) can present special estate planning challenges. You and your spouse may have children from previous relationships, as well as children together. You each may have property and other assets you've brought to the relationship. If you're like most people, you want to provide for your spouse's needs, while ensuring that your property (or much of it) ultimately will go to your children.

Providing for everyone you love can get tricky. You need an estate plan that fits you and your situation. Without one, you have no way of making sure that what you want to happen will actually happen. Relying on your spouse and kids to "work it out" is rarely a good plan.

We have experience in estate planning for blended families. If you, your family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors need legal advice in this area, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment.

Special Needs Trusts

A special needs trust, sometimes called a supplemental needs trust, is a legal vehicle enabling assets to be held on behalf of someone with disabilities without affecting their eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid or SSI. While assets held by the trust are not "countable" for the purpose of qualifying for such programs, there are strict regulations regarding disbursements. Special needs trusts are meant to supplement the funds and services available through government programs.

If you have a child or grandchild or even a parent with disabilities and have questions about special needs trusts, give us a call at 253.858.5434. We serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype.

Veterans Day

Our office will be closed on Monday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day. Everybody have a good and safe long weekend. And thank a vet.

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." - Joseph Campbell

Regular Estate Planning Reviews

Guess what we're spending the day doing? Every April 30th and October 31st, we review estate planning files so that we can alert our clients as to changes in state and/or federal laws which could affect them and indicate a need to update their estate plans. We recommend that our clients regularly examine their estate plans at least once every three or four years, and more often if major changes in family size, relationships, or assets should occur.

If you would like a copy of our estate planning review checklist or have questions or concerns about your estate planning needs, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see how we can be of service.

Internal Band Agreements

The Beatles. The Beach Boys. The Platters. Sister Sledge. Pink Floyd. The Eagles. When these bands broke up or members left, they became embroiled in litigation. While an internal band agreement isn’t a cure-all, sitting down with your bandmates and agreeing on how the band will resolve certain issues before those issues arise may reduce conflict and confusion down the road.

Topics covered by a very basic internal band agreement should include the band name (Who owns it? Who can use it? What happens to the name and logo if we break up?), handling money (Who handles income and debts? Who pays for what?), the acquisition of equipment and other assets (Who pays for it? How is it stored and transported? Do we need insurance, and who pays for it? How do we decide on artwork and merch?), general business decisions (Majority vote? Dispute resolution?), creative decisions (Who owns the songs? Who owns master recordings? Who decides what songs we record and what gigs we take?), and relationship matters (Can we fire a band member? Can we add new members? What responsibilities does each member have? Should we form a legal entity, like a corporation or an LLC?).

If you have questions about creating an internal agreement for your band, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment.

"Estate Planning for Artists and the Attorneys Who Represent Them"

Washington Lawyers for the Arts is sponsoring a workshop in Seattle on Nov. 6 called "Estate Planning for Artists and the Attorneys Who Represent Them." The workshop will cover basic estate planning documents, with emphasis on considerations specific to artists' intellectual property, primarily copyrights. If you're an artist, author, musician, songwriter, or an attorney who represents them, and you're interested in attending, give us a call at 253.858.5434 for information on how to register.