Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true.

- Lester Robert Bittel

Estate Planning & Disability Planning

Phinney Estate Law helps clients to create Estate Plans to make sure that they and their loved ones are taken care if they become disabled or die.  A complete Estate Plan always includes: 
  • Last Will & Testament,
  • Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care,
  • Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances, and
  • Advanced Health Care Directive. 
Depending on the circumstances clients may also need trusts to handle money for minor children or disabled friends or family members, to address issues in blended families, or hold out of state property.   It is also important to make sure that your assets are titled and beneficiaries are designated properly to be incorporated into the plan.

Phinney Estate Law also helps clients with probate and guardianship cases and have learned first hand how important it is for people to have a plan in place before they become disabled or die.  Whatever your age, whatever your family situation, estate planning is important but there are special considerations for:
  • Estate Planning for parents of minor children
  • Estate Planning for married couples & registered domestic partners
  • Estate Planning for singles
  • Estate Planning for unmarried couples
  • Estate Planning for blended families
  • Estate Planning for grandparents
  • Estate Planning to protect disabled family members and friends
  • Estate Planning for clients with property in multiple states.

The most common misconceptions about Estate planning in Washington is that a client's primary focus should be saving estate taxes and avoiding probate.   There are no federal or state estate taxes on estates with less than $2.2 million and so these taxes do not impact most families.  Washington State has one of the cheapest probates in the country and has a lot of nice protections for your family.  There is no way to guarantee that probate will not be necessary and for many clients probate is beneficial. 

At Phinney Estate Law we think the primary focus should be on creating a plan that matches the unique needs of the client.  We have worked with newlyweds, young families, single business owners, blended families, the terminally ill, and unmarried couples.  It is our experience that each family, no matter how traditional or non-traditional, is truly unique and, once you get to know them, have unique needs. Our job is to help our clients to select the right people to fill the important decision making roles and make the best choices that will protect themselves and their loved ones in a crisis and after they are gone.  

In addition to drafting the legal documents that make us an estate plan, we work with clients to think about how to share that plan with others and how to address and minimize potential conflict.  We also work with clients who are interested in incorporating legacy planning into their estate plans.

Phinney Estate Law prefers to work with our Estate Planning clients through a flat fee payment structure.  We find that this is what best encourages clients to share with us all the information we need to put together a good plan.  We begin all our work with estate planning clients with a complementary 30 minute consultation.  This allows us to get information on your family situation, assets and debts, and goals so we can recommend a scope of work and quote you a specific flat fee based on what package would be the best match to your needs