Estate Planning for the Specific Needs of Licensed Professionals

Licensed professionals can have specific needs regarding their estate plans. For our clients who are lawyers, doctors, dentists, accountants, architects, engineers, financial planners, etc., we often include provisions in their Will or Trust for the appointment of a "Special Administrator" or "Professional Advisor" with knowledge of the client's profession who can help protect the interests of their clients and to wind down or close their practice, including selling of the practice, collecting accounts receivable, paying expenses relating to the practice, reconciling trust accounts, refunding any unused trust account balances owing to the professional's clients, employing another professional to review their client's files, complete unfinished work, notifying their clients of the professional's death and assisting them in finding other lawyers, dentists, accountants, etc., and providing their malpractice carrier and any professional regulatory body with the name of the person who will be responsible for the long-term storage of and access to the professional's closed files. These provisions often work hand-in-hand with the client's business succession planning for their practices.

If you (or a friend, family member, or neighbor) are a lawyer, doctor, dentist, accountant, architect, engineer, financial planner, or other licensed professional and you have questions about we can meet your practice's and your specific circumstances' estate planning or business succession planning needs, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment today. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype or FaceTime.

Every Family's Circumstance is Unique and Therefore Requires a Unique Estate Plan

Every family's circumstance is unique. Some families' situations call for a little more complex estate plans. Second marriages, especially where there are children from previous relationships or where one spouse brings substantially more property to the marriage than the other, families with special needs children or other dependents, and families who own small family businesses all have special estate planning requirements. We have experience advising clients and preparing comprehensive estate plans for all of these situations.

If you have questions about planning your estate to fit your family's unique circumstances, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to make an appointment today. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype or FaceTime.

10 Reasons Why You Should Call a Lawyer If You've Been Hurt in an Auto Collision

If someone injured you through their negligent driving, then you have rights under the law. You want to make sure to protect those rights after an auto collision so you don’t end up paying - financially and personally - for someone else’s negligence. In some cases, you may need to file a lawsuit after a collision. Why is it important to talk to a lawyer after you've been in a collision?

1. You have only a limited time to file suit. In most states, the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim is between 1 and 3 years. If you don’t file suit within that time, you give up your right to sue forever.

2. You may need to comply with certain rules in order to file suit. A lawyer who is experienced in handling personal injury cases will be familiar with the law and can help you make sure you don’t do anything that jeopardizes your rights.

3. Insurance companies may have different agendas than yours. Most insurance companies aim to protect their insureds and to compensate them for damages. However, insurance companies also aim to keep costs down, reduce their overhead, and make money for their shareholders. Since your agenda and the insurance companies' agenda may not perfectly align, hiring a lawyer can be the best way to insure you have someone on your side.

4. You may not fully understand all of your potential damages. There are a slew of potential damages available to people who are injured in auto collisions. In addition to medical bills, you may be able to recover for lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Your family members may even be able to recover for the loss of your companionship if you have become incapacitated. If you don’t hire a lawyer, you may not be aware of all of your potential legal rights to recovery.

5. Proving liability can be complex. Even with witnesses and a police report saying the other party is at fault, proving that they were negligent can be difficult. Since there are many elements that go into winning a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to hire a lawyer who understands the law and who can provide references to sources of law that support your position.

6. The laws differ from state to state: Auto insurance and auto collision rules are decided by each individual jurisdiction. For example, there are 12 “no fault” states in the U.S. in which you cannot sue after a car accident except in special circumstances. Likewise, in some states, you can sue even if you were partially at fault for the accident (called "comparative negligence" states) while in others, if you contributed to causing the accident you can’t sue (called "contributory negligence"). A lawyer in your area can help explain all the nuances of the law within your jurisdiction to you, so you will fully understand all of your rights.

7. You need to understand settlement options: Most cases settle out of court, which means the defendant or his insurance company is likely to make you an offer. Your lawyer can help you understand the implications of accepting this offer, since once you accept, you give up your right to sue forever. Your lawyer can also help you to evaluate whether settling is the best option in your case or not.

8. Filing a lawsuit requires adhering to complex rules. If you decide to bring a lawsuit, you will have to file the appropriate papers in court. This is not as simple as going to the court house and announcing your intent to sue. A number of complex rules exist on everything from the font size of the brief to how precedent is cited and what evidence is admissible. You will need a lawyer to guide you through the complicated process of litigation.

9. Proving your case can be even more complex – Just as filing your case is complex, proving your case is even more so. You may be permitted to “discover" certain information from the other side, and you may be limited in the types of witnesses and evidence you present. There are even restrictions on the kind of questions and phrasing of questions you ask in court. Furthermore, extensive legal research often needs to be done to convince the jury to side with you. As such, it is very difficult to prove personal injury liability on your own.

10. If you don’t hire a lawyer, you could be faced with financial loss. If you don’t file suit in time, if you don’t claim the right damages or sue the right defendants, and if you lose your case as a result of improperly presenting your information, you will be barred from bringing suit again. This means you will have used up your only chance for recovery and you will be stuck with all the costs and bills as a result of the collision that someone else carelessly caused.

If you've been injured in an auto collision, give us a call to see how we can help. We have a long history of representing injured people and their survivors. Call us at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment for a free initial consultation.

Bad Faith Claims Against Insurance Companies

You did your part to protect yourself and your family. You purchased auto insurance, health insurance, life insurance, or a homeowner’s insurance policy. You paid all your premiums and followed all the rules. Then, through no fault of your own, you suffer a serious injury in an auto collision or something catastrophic happens to your house.

The natural place to look to for help is your insurance company. Your insurance company is required to act fairly and in good faith and to consider the interests of its policyholders equal to its own interests. Often, however, this is not the case. Unfortunately, your insurance company’s main goal, no matter how nice and accommodating, is to give you the least amount of money possible for your claim. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers to protect their own interests, not yours.

Insurance bad faith laws protect consumers from unethical practices by insurance companies such as:

* Refusal to pay a claim in compliance under your policy
* Delaying claim processing
* Requiring excessive forms and reports
* Making partial claim payments or cancelling coverage because of a claim
* Inadequate claim investigation
* Refusal to defend a lawsuit
* Threats against an insured
* Refusing to make a reasonable settlement offer
* Denying health insurance coverage after a medical diagnosis

Regrettably, bad faith claims by insurance companies happen far too often. We help our clients obtain full compensation for their injuries and damages; we are committed to providing every client with the support and resources they need to reach an improved, more secure place in life. We are aggressive, resourceful litigators with multiple years of experience in dealing with less than helpful insurers. We take pride in our work and are not afraid to take on insurance companies.

Not every denial of a claim amounts to bad faith. However, if you think your insurance company is acting in bad faith, it just might be. If you feel something is not right or your insurance company is treating you unfairly, do not hesitate to contact us at 253.858.5434 to see how we can help.

Preparing an Estate Inventory and Appraisement

When you've been appointed Personal Representative of an Estate, one of your jobs is to prepare an Estate Inventory & Appraisement. The Inventory must be prepared within 90 days after the date of your appointment and a copy must be made available to any heir, distributee, unpaid creditor who has filed a claim, some beneficiaries of nonprobate assets, or the Dept. of Revenue within 10 days of their requesting a copy. The Estate's lawyer will usually prepare the final draft of the Inventory in a form acceptable to the Court. The Inventory does not need to be filed with the Court unless so requested by an interested party. The law requires that the assets in the inventory be categorized as follows: (1) Real Estate; (2) Stocks & Bonds; (3) Mortgages, notes, and other written evidences of debt owed to the decedent; (4) Bank accounts and money; (5) Furniture and household goods; and (6) All other personal property.

If you've been appointed Personal Representative of a loved one's estate and have questions about your duties and responsibilities, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to find out how we can be of service. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype or FaceTime.

Sometimes things happen in life that might warrant changes to your Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, etc.

Sometimes things happen in life that might warrant some changes to your Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, etc. Things like marriages, divorces, births, adoptions, deaths, buying or selling a family business, or changes in your health or your spouse's health. We recommend our clients review their estate plans every 3 or 4 years, or more often if major changes in family circumstances occur.

If you've had a life event come up that makes you think you should review your estate plan, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see how we can be of service. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype or FaceTime.

Dealing With Insurance Companies on Behalf of Injured Clients

Insurance companies! They're a pain to deal with, right? If you've been injured in an auto collision and it was somebody else's fault, we'll deal with the insurance company for you. We'll investigate and compile all the information you need to present your claim to the at-fault driver's insurance company, like property damage records, police reports, medical records, wage loss evidence, and witness statements. We'll present your claim and negotiate with the insurance company to get you a just and fair settlement. And if we can't come to an agreement with the insurance company, we'll bring a lawsuit on your behalf and take your claim to a judge and jury.

If we can be of service to you, your family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to make an appointment for a free initial consultation.

We represent small businesses and their owners through all stages of the business's life.

If you're a small business owner, we can help you. If you're just starting up and need help preparing Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (if you're a corporation) or a Certificate of Formation and Operating Agreement (if you're an LLC), we can do that. If your business is already established and you need help preparing service contracts, employment agreements, non-disclosure or non-compete agreements, vendor contracts, leases, etc., we can do that. If things have taken a turn and you need a lawyer to help prosecute or defend a lawsuit or collect a delinquent account, we can do that.

Give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see what we can do to help you. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype or FaceTime.

The First Step in Probating an Estate - Locating Important Documents

Most people have little experience dealing with what happens after their loved one dies and they get appointed as Personal Representative to settle the estate. Before being appointed to serve as Personal Representative, the first step in probating an estate is to locate all of the Decedent's estate planning documents and other important papers.

The Decedent's estate planning documents may include a Will, funeral, cremation, burial or memorial instructions, and/or a Revocable Living Trust. The original documents should be stored in a safe place until they can be given to the estate's lawyer.

The Decedent's important papers will include information about their assets, including bank and brokerage statements, stock certificates, life insurance policies, corporate records, car and boat titles, and deeds; and information about the decedent's debts, including utility bills, credit card bills, mortgages, personal loans, and medical bills. From these documents a list should be made of what the Decedent owned and owed, how each asset is titled (in the Decedent's individual name, as a tenant in common, in joint names, or in a trust), and, for assets and debts that have a statement, the value of the asset or debt as listed on the statement and the date of the statement. In addition, the Decedent's prior three years of income tax returns should be reviewed.

Once the decedent's important documents have been sorted through, the next is to meet with a lawyer to open the estate with the probate court.

If you've been named Personal Representative of someone's estate and have questions about how the probate process works, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to find out how we can be of service.

Every Family is Unique and Needs an Estate Plan to Fit Their Unique Situation

For some people, all they need is a simple Will and Power of Attorney for their estate plan. For others, a more complex estate plan is called for. People with taxable estates (more than $5.49 million), people with minor or disabled children, people who own their own business, or people in 2nd marriages where both spouses have children from previous relationships, all live in situations that may require a complex estate plan.

Every person and every family is unique. That's why we take the time to meet with our clients in person, get to know them, and come up with a plan that meets their goals and fits their circumstances, sometimes coordinating our efforts with the client's accountant, financial planner, or other advisors.

If you have questions about how we can be of service to you and your family, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho.

Using "Demand Letters" to Settle Our Clients' Personal Injury Cases

When we've been hired by a client who's been injured in an auto collision, before we file a lawsuit, we'll first send a "demand letter" to the other side. A demand letter is typically sent when the scope and severity of a client's injuries are understood and a compelling argument for the defendant's liability has been established. The most common way we settle claims without litigation is to initiate a conversation with the at-fault driver's insurance company by drafting and sending the demand letter. This letter puts the other side on notice of the claim and affords them the opportunity to settle before a costly and time consuming personal injury lawsuit is filed.

Once we've concluded our investigation of the personal injury claim and have all of the relevant information concerning the client's damages--including medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering-- and the other side's role in causing those damages, it's usually time to send the letter.

A well-written personal injury demand letter should:

* Provide an objective, verifiable account of the incident that led to our client's injuries;
* Explain why the other side is responsible for our client's injuries and why our client is free of responsibility;
* Provide a detailed, verifiable explanation of our client's injuries;
* Itemize all of the client's medical expenses, out of pocket expenses, and lost wages
* Address the specifics of our client's pain, suffering, and emotional distress
* Include any known witness statements and the names of all known witnesses, medical providers, and employers who will provide support for the client's damage claims;
* Contain a settlement demand for the specific amount of money we are seeking to settle the claim; and
* Request a response to the demand within a reasonable time (usually 30 days or so).

When an insurance company receives a demand letter that includes the information listed above, it will typically treat the claim in a serious manner, and will embark upon its own investigation. At this point, the insurer's goal is to respond to the demand with a counteroffer. Just as we are interested in settling the claim without having to file suit, the insurance company is likewise concerned about attorney fees and other litigation costs that can cause a claim to become prohibitively expensive. For this reason, insurance companies will seize the opportunity to negotiate a pre-suit settlement whenever it is presented. A well-written demand letter serves as the catalyst for negotiation and ultimate settlement of a personal injury claim. When this letter documents the facts supporting the elements of the claim, it is an effective tool in the personal injury attorney's arsenal and often leads to a timely, cost effective resolution. Further, if the parties do not settle and filing a lawsuit becomes necessary, we use the demand letter as the starting point for drafting the mediation statement and ultimately the trial brief.

If you have been injured in an auto collision and need legal help negotiating your claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see how we can help.

Representing Small Business Owners in Business Disputes

Sometimes when you own your own business, things don't always go as planned. Even when you try to head off problems before they happen, sometimes they come up anyway. And even if you have contracts in place protecting your rights and defining the parties' responsibilities, sometimes your employees, customers, vendors, or independent contractors don't live up to their end of the deal. You might not want to, but now is the time to call your lawyer. We can help enforce your agreements and protect your business by reminding the other side of their obligations and, if necessary, by bringing a breach of contract lawsuit on your behalf to take your claim to a judge and jury.

As awful as that sounds, sometimes that's the nature of owning a small business, and we'll do our best to make the process as painless for you as we can. We have over 20 years' experience in representing small businesses and their owners in their business disputes. If you're a small business owner and need legal help, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see how we can be of service. We proudly serve clients throughout Washington and Idaho and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via Skype.

Settling a Probate Estate "in a Timely Manner"

Washington law requires that a Personal Representative settle the estate and distribute the decedent's assets "in a timely manner." (RCW 11.40.010) If you've been named Personal Representative, it is your duty to administer and wrap up the estate as timely as feasible, given the circumstances. This means you need to get the decedent's final bills paid, sell the house and other assets (if necessary), make specific gifts, and distribute the residue of the estate without unwarranted delay.

If you've been named Personal Representative of an estate and need legal help in performing your duties, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to see how we can be of service.

Availability for Meetings in Boise, Idaho on September 22

Idaho Clients, Colleagues, Family, and Friends - Steve will be in Boise September 22-24 for Zoo Boise's annual fundraiser and is available to meet with clients or potential new clients on Friday the 22nd. Give us a call at 253.858.5434 if you're interested in setting up an appointment.

Lawyers Helping Hungry Children's 26th Annual Fundraising Luncheon - October 10, 2017 in Seattle

Lawyers Helping Hungry Children is having its 26th annual fundraising luncheon on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Seattle. LHHC is a group of lawyers and law firms that fights child hunger and malnutrition through fundraising, advocacy, and service. This year's speakers are the Honorable Bobbe Bridge (Ret.) of the Washington Supreme Court and Washington Solicitor General Noah Purcell. Funds raised go to support Northwest Harvest, Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle and King County, City of Seattle Summer Food Service Program, and CARE.

If you're interested in attending the luncheon or joining Lawyers Helping Hungry Children, give us a call at 253.858.5434 and we'll help you get signed up.