Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What Is the Difference Between Estate, Inheritance, and Gift Taxes in Washington?
The estate tax is often misunderstood. Many Washington residents assume they need to engage in complex estate planning just to avoid the possibility their heirs will owe the government money. But the current reality is that the vast majority of Washingtonians will not leave a sizable enough estate to trigger any estate tax obligations… Read More »
Top 5 Retirement Planning Mistakes
Retirement is meant to be a time when you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But retirement is not something that simply happens on its own. It requires careful planning and knowing what to do–and what not to do–decades before you actually reach retirement age. While there are dozens… Read More »
What Can a Power of Attorney Do?
A power of attorney is a legal document that names a person to act as your agent. There are a number of different types of powers of attorney (POAs) recognized by Washington law. In estate planning, the two most common are a financial power of attorney and a power of attorney for health care…. Read More »
Do You Need a Survivorship Clause in Your Washington Will or Trust?
Many Washington wills and trusts contain what are known as survivorship requirements. This basically means that a beneficiary must survive you by a specified amount of time in order to inherit from your estate or trust. Such requirements can help to avoid a situation where your property might end up passing under the estate… Read More »
What Are the Rights of a Committed Intimate Partner in a Washington Probate Estate?
Many Spokane Valley residents are in loving, committed, and long-term relationships yet never marry or register with the state as domestic partners. So, what does this mean when one partner dies? Does the survivor have any inheritance rights under Washington law? The answer to this question is, “Maybe.” While Washington does not have “common… Read More »