Estate Planning Attorneys in the Pacific Northwest
Creative Solutions to Plan for Your Family’s Future
Everyone wants to plan for the future, but not many people know just how to do it. Thankfully, the law has created various legal avenues to do just that through estate planning. At Pacific Cascade Legal, our Pacific Northwest estate planning attorneys can help you get your plans started. We take pride in creating custom estate plans for every client that meet their exact needs and expectations. To make the best possible estate plans, we start by sitting down with you, getting to know you better, and genuinely understanding what you want out of your plan and how it will benefit your loved ones.
Make an estate plan that hits all the right notes. Call (888) 981-9511 to find out how.
Support for Any Estate Planning Issue
The purpose of an estate plan is to allow you and your loved ones to anticipate challenges and concerns that might come up in the future, as well as to plan for positive life changes. Using various legal tools, our attorneys can ensure the estate plan we create fulfills its purpose to the best of its ability.
You can come to us for help with the following and more:
- Wills: The most basic function of a will is to decide who should manage your estate once you pass away and determine what property will go to which beneficiaries. It can also outline who will assume certain personal responsibilities. Most estate plans should include a will, which can be updated as needed.
- Trusts: A trust names an individual as a trustee who will hold certain assets and responsibilities in your name. When you pass away, the trustee will distribute those assets to beneficiaries. Trusts are often used alongside wills because they allow for detailed instructions.
- Probate: After you pass away, your will goes through probate for judicial review. This process ensures the will is valid, lawful, and made in good faith.
- Asset Protection Planning: Estate plans can include strategies to protect certain assets from taxes, retirement issues, or other risks. Tell our Pacific Northwest estate planning lawyers about your key assets, and we’ll help you secure them.
- Charitable Planning: Estate plans can include charitable donations as a way to give back. We can help you structure these gifts while protecting eligibility for benefits like Medicaid.
- Conservatorship and Guardianship: You can designate guardians for dependents and conservators to manage financial or medical decisions in the event of incapacity.
Do You Need an Estate Plan?
Are estate plans only for the rich? Not at all. Most people can benefit from an estate plan without even factoring in their finances and assets. If you have children, a home, a retirement plan or pension, or a small business, then you can benefit from an estate plan. The same is true if you have specific medical needs or are reaching an older age where medical conditions might become a more common concern. When all these factors are considered, it is simple to see that most anyone should have an estate plan made by a professional estate planning attorney.
Estate Planning FAQ
When a trust is made, are its terms permanent?
Some trusts can be edited after creation (revocable living trusts), while irrevocable trusts cannot be changed. Always review a trust with an attorney before signing.
What are estate taxes?
Estate taxes are state claims on a portion of an estate’s value after death. We can help minimize their impact so more of your estate goes to your loved ones.
What does it mean to pass away intestate?
Dying without a will is called passing away intestate. In that case, probate is required to determine how assets are distributed.
Can probate be avoided?
While probate often can’t be avoided entirely, careful estate planning can help minimize the time and complexity of the process.
What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney grants someone authority to make certain decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. These may include medical or financial powers of attorney.
Consult Our Pacific Northwest Estate Planning Lawyers
The sooner that you start thinking about making an estate plan, the easier it will be to use the right tools for your unique situation. Call (888) 981-9511 now to connect with Pacific Cascade Legal. We are here to make sure your estate plans are created to your expectations, so you and your family feel more comfortable with whatever the future might bring.
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