Recent Blog Posts
Does a Washington Power of Attorney Let You Represent Someone in Court?
A recent unpublished opinion from the Washington Court of Appeals, Stafford Healthcare SeaTac, LLC v. Page, illustrates why it is important to work with an experienced Spokane elder law attorney when it comes to long-term care planning. This sad case involved a dispute over an unpaid nursing home bill. According to the Court of… Read More »
The Role of Revocable Trusts in Washington Rental Property Ownership
Many Spokane Valley residents own their homes or rental properties through a revocable living trust. Such trusts provide a flexible tool for retaining control of real estate while avoiding the need for probate when the grantor the trust dies. Essentially, the property is transferred to the trust itself, and any successor trustee named in… Read More »
5 Things You Need to Know About Estate Taxes in 2025
As a new year–and a new presidential administration–approaches, it is important to take stock of where things stand with respect to the estate tax. While many Washingtonians will never have to worry about actually leaving an estate large enough to trigger a tax obligation, it is still worth noting the coming changes to the… Read More »
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Aging in Place
For many Spokane Valley residents, the prospect of spending their golden years in a retirement home or similar long-term care facility is not an appealing one. Their goal is to stay in their own homes where they have already built a life and support system. While “aging in place” has many advantages over other… Read More »
What Happens to a Washington Single-Member LLC When the Member Dies?
If you own–or plan to start–your own business, it is important to consider the future probate implications of your business structure. For example, if you are a sole proprietor, your business essentially lives and dies with you. A sole proprietor is an unincorporated business with no legal existence separate from the proprietor. This means… Read More »
Can You Use Your Will to Create a Trust?
Trusts are often used in Washington estate planning to hold and transfer property. Living trusts are standalone documents that create a trust during the lifetime of the grantor, i.e., the person who makes the trust. But you can also create a trust through your will. These are known as testamentary trusts, and they do… Read More »
Should You Take Out Life Insurance on an LLC Member?
If you own or co-own a Washington business, you might consider taking out a life insurance policy to protect that business in the event of your sudden death. For example, many Washington limited liability companies take out life insurance policies on their members. This can provide liquidity to buy out the member’s interest in… Read More »
What Happens If a Washington Probate Estate Goes “Unclaimed”?
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently announced the state recovered over $5.2 million in unclaimed property in the form of uncashed checks issued by MoneyGram. Under Washington law, such unclaimed property is turned over to the state’s Department of Revenue, which maintains a registry that anyone can freely search. If you have unclaimed property… Read More »
What Happens to My Social Security After I Die?
For many Washingtonians, Social Security serves as their primary source of retirement income. But what happens to your Social Security benefits after you die? Can you pass them on to your spouse or children like you would a private retirement account? The short answer to that question is “maybe.” Social Security only pays you… Read More »
The Corporate Transparency Act: What Spokane Business Owners Need to Know
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a new federal law aimed at combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit activities. Under the CTA, many Spokane businesses are now required to disclose detailed information about their “beneficial owners” – the individuals who own or control the company. This requirement adds a layer of transparency… Read More »