Top best Estate Planning Lawyers Near me in ZIP 98004

The only thing that really matters is who you love. After thirty years as an estate planning and probate attorney, that’s one thing that I know for sure! Yes, we’ll ask you about the money, the tax planning, the way your retirement and life insurance are designated, who gets your jewelry and shop equipment. But we always circle back to the issue of why those things are important. Who do you love, and how should they be cared for if when you are gone? What is the best tax advantaged way to care for those people?. Everybody has a Will. The state legislature wrote one for you. It’s called the Intestacy Statute. The state’s Will everywhere in the US gives money to youngsters when they turn 18. The State’s Will won’t give money to charities. It might provide for your parents, but maybe not. The State has to presume that you didn’t trust anyone to handle your affairs without being supervised, because if you had trusted someone, you would have told us. The result is that if you don’t have a Will, the Courts will supervise every move that your Executor makes. The Executor can’t sell the house without the Court reviewing all the offers. She can’t clean out your home or have a garage sale without an order from the Court.. Our goal is to help you identify your wishes, and then draft documents that capture your heart, planning in a way that gives you the best estate tax planning, maximizing your gifts.. We are located in the heart of Bellevue, WA and our office is easily accessible to King County areas of Seattle, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Renton, Issaquah, Bothell, Mill Creek and Redmond.. Madeline Gauthier is a graduate of Gonzaga University Law School and the University of Florida's Graduate Tax Program. She is formerly an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington. Her private practice opened in Bellevue, WA in 1992, where she has specialized in estate planning, probate and the tax complications of both of those areas.. Memberships include the East King County Estate Planning Council (formerly a board member), the East King County Bar Association (previously a board member), the King County Bar Association, and the East King County Bar Probate, and Estate Section (currently chair).

The Law Office of John S Palmer is located in Bellevue, Washington, and has been providing the highest quality legal representation in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate, Trusts, Guardianship, Powers of Attorney, Medicaid and Long Term Care Planning, and related matters since 1994.  John Palmer and his staff are dedicated to assisting individuals, couples, and families deal with everything from “routine” issues, such as drafting or updating a Will; to more complex matters, such as helping to create a Guardianship for a loved one suffering from dementia, or helping to protect assets of those faced with the staggering cost of paying for a nursing home or other type of long term care.  We believe that every case is unique, and deserves individual attention, not a “cookie-cutter” or “one size fits all” approach; we have a wealth of experience and legal expertise to draw on to find a solution that is right for you.

The firm emphasizes services in estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, guardianship and elder law matters (including Medicaid eligibility issues), corporate, limited liability company and business matters, and federal and state taxation, including tax controversy matters.. Admitted to Bar,Washingtonand United States District Courts, Western District of Washington (1977);United StatesTax Court (1979); andUnited StatesClaims Court(1986). Education: Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (B.A., 1972; M.S. 1973); Seattle University School of Law (J.D., 1976); Boston University (L.L.M.-Taxation, 1980); Member: Washington State, Seattle-King County and East King County (Member, Taxation, Elder Law and Real Property, Probate and Trust Sections) Bar Associations; Seattle Estate Planning Council and East King County Estate Planning Council. Past director and officer: United Cerebral Palsy Association of King-Snohomish Counties and Washington Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

Sunny Awla is the founder of Newport Law, PLLC. Newport Law provides services to Entrepreneurs, Investors and Families to structure their estate to gain maximum peace of mind .Sunny began her career in the legal profession in private practice representing clients in family law litigation, probate and estates, immigration and business matters. During this time, Sunny provided pro bono services to under represented communities in King County through the King County Bar Association. As a daughter of immigrants she is in a unique position to understand the ways in which the law can help first and second generation immigrants, NRI’s and small business owners, to protect their assets. Many people in this position are unaware of how to protect themselves from an overly litigious system that makes it easy for others to discover their assets for recovery. As a entrepreneur and real estate investor herself, an she understands the importance of planning for your family's future by building and protecting your legacy. She is the trusted adviser to her clients because she builds meaningful relationships.

Shanece M. Dedeaux Esq. is a dedicated attorney in the Greater Seattle area, specializing in Estate Planning, Family Law, and Criminal Law with a focus on post-conviction relief. Raised in South Seattle, she graduated Cum Laude from Seattle University School of Law. Shanece is known for her passionate advocacy and community engagement, educating and empowering the Black community on critical legal issues across Seattle.. In recognition of her exceptional legal prowess, Shanece has earned the prestigious title of "2023 Rising Star," a designation enjoyed by only 2.5% of attorneys in Washington state.

Sara Kiviat Berkenwald is a member with the law firm of Ogden Murphy Wallace, PLLC, where she specializes in the areas of estate planning, trust administration, probate, taxation and charitable giving.. Sara received her bachelor's degree from the University of Washington (with Honors), her law degree and master's in Business Administration from Seattle University School of Law (JD/MBA) and her LL.M (Taxation) from the University of Washington School of Law. Prior to joining OMW, Sara was a Shareholder with the law firm of Jeppesen Gray Sakai PS, an associate with the law firm of Somers Tamblyn Isenhour Bleck, PLLC in the areas of elder law and special needs trust planning.

Review:  "Recently, we had the pleasure of working with Lisa Ellis of Ellis Law. Her expertise in knowing and applying the most current laws and regulations regarding estate planning and execution was apparent, and highly appreciated. We highly recommend Lisa Ellis of Ellis Law.". Lisa Ellis is an Elder Law attorney focusing her practice on estate planning, guardianship, long-term planning, and probate. She provides estate planning services to clients of all ages and specialized planning services to older adults.  Lisa assists clients with Special Needs Trusts, Medicaid, Alzheimer/Dementia planning and establishing Guardianships, Conservatorships and other protective arrangements for adults.. Lisa was admitted to the Washington bar in 2000.  She clerked for the Honorable Robert H. Whaley at the U.S. District Court of Eastern Washington and was selected by the U.S. Department of Justice Honor’s Program and worked as an attorney advisor.  Following her clerkship, she was an associate with a downtown Seattle law firm during which time she was selected as a Rising Star in 2011 by Washington Super Lawyers.  She founded Ellis Law, LLC in 2013 and was recognized as a Super Lawyer in 2023 and 2024.. Lisa received her B.A.degree from Whitman College and her J.D. from the University of Oregon where she was an executive editor of The Oregon Law Review.  She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Washington Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Elder Law section of the Washington Bar Association.

Practice areas: tax, business and estate planning. Advise owners of all types of businesses concerning the formation of new business entities, the acquisition of other businesses or strategic business assets, and the sale or dissolution of the business. Counsel clients in the preparation and negotiation of general business contracts, entity structure, and issues relating to corporate governance. Personal estate planning. Advise and prepare wills, trusts, family gifting entities, durable powers of attorney, property agreements, and other estate planning documents. Practice ranges from basic planning for young families to complex trusts, family LLCs, family business succession planning, and charitable giving. Prepare and advise clients regarding estate and gift tax returns.

Our firm provides counsel regarding business formation and governance, estate planning, estate administration and real estate transactions. Established in 1991, we have represented hundreds of business and individual clients in the greater Northwest region.

My  practice includes real estate law and  business entity selection, formation and maintenance.  I also assist clients with guardianships and estate planning matters such as probate, wills and trusts, and estate and gift tax planning.. Outside of my practice I enjoy hiking, attempting to snowboard, and spending time with my family, friends and two pets.

My practice emphasizes estate planning (Wills, Trusts, Tax planning, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives); probate; real estate and business. The most enjoyable parts of the practice of law for me are the opportunties to get to know the many interesting people I meet, work with them to solve their legal situations and problems and help them plan their personal and business legal matters.
The best way to reach me is to call me at.

Laura Zeman is the principal attorney with Zeman Law Group PLLC.  She focuses on counseling and assisting individuals and families with their legal needs. Laura advises clients on wills and trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and probate and trust administration.

Kristina focuses her practice on personal planning for high net worth individuals and family groups and their closely held business and investment entities and trusts. She is experienced in preparing wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives (“living wills”), burial instructions, life insurance trusts, charitable and personal residence trusts, gift trusts, beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement plans, and prenuptial and cohabitation agreements. Kristina also has experience creating and advising nonprofit entities, including applying for and receiving tax exempt status from the IRS, as well as probate and trust administration expertise. In addition, Kristina is experienced in tax planning for . citizens and residents and U.S. citizens holding property or residing outside of the United States. She was a past Vice President for the Washington chapter of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (“STEP”), an international organization of estate planning professionals, and is currently a member of the Seattle Estate Planning Council and the East King County Estate Planning Council. Kristina is a member of the Washington and Illinois Bars and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court. She graduated cum laude in Theatre from Arizona State University, and holds dual law degrees from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, where she earned her Juris Doctor and her LL.M. in Taxation. Prior to joining Smith & Zuccarini, P.S., Kristina was a tax associate at the Canadian firm, Moody’s LLP Tax Advisors in Calgary, Canada, and an associate at Stoel Rives, LLP in Seattle, Washington

John L. Comstock graduated cum laude from the University of Washington in 1984 with his major in business administration. While at the UW, John worked as a professional musician and as a licensed real estate agent. Working in real estate provided the environment for John to develop his expertise in construction, property management, and land development. In 1987 he formed Comstock Construction, Inc., and over the next decade completed numerous residential and commercial construction projects. A focus toward the business and legal needs of his construction company led John to pursue a law degree, and he completed his J.D., with honors, from Seattle University School of Law in 2000. In 2001, John joined Chrono-Logic Systems, Inc., a software development company, as in-house legal counsel, and later became CEO of the company. In 2004, John left Chrono-Logic to establish the Comstock Law Firm, with the goal of helping small business owners and operators effectively deal with the pervasive legal, real estate, and contractual issues they face on an ongoing basis. Soon John persuaded his father, Brian L. Comstock, to join the Comstock Law Firm, bringing his extensive legal experience to the mix.  John has also been an owner and manager of a full-service restaurant, bar, and live music establishment. Currently, John is an active member of the King County Bar Association, the Washington State Association for Justice, and the Bellevue Rotary.

Jerimy Kirschner is the owner and managing partner of Kirschner Rychlick PLLC serving clients in and around Bellevue, WA. He has been in practice since 2010 and opened his own practice in 2015. Mr. Kirschner has achieved excellent results for his clients in the areas of business disputes, elder law, estate planning, probate, real estate law, tax planning, personal injury, and other civil litigation.With every decision in any legal matter, Mr. Kirschner focuses on maximizing value to the client while communicating the pros and cons of each decision. He lays out the tools available for solving problems and helps clients select the most effective and cost-efficient ones needed to achieve their goals.Mr. Kirschner is a seasoned litigator who has litigated complex matters involving multi-million dollar issues. He has litigated in both state and federal courts.

Jennifer possesses the right mix of technical expertise, practical knowledge, and a down-to-earth personality to guide you through the complexities of modern estate planning law. After practicing with two large downtown Seattle law firms–Foster Pepper PLLC and Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP—Jennifer noticed that many of her clients wanted to receive big-firm estate planning service and expertise, but in a more intimate setting. Seeking the benefits of a small firm environment as well, Jennifer joined a law firm on Mercer Island. In 2008, Jennifer and two other women broke off from that firm to form Somers Tamblyn King PLLC. Since then, the firm has grown into a well-respected estate planning, family law, elder law, Medicaid, and special needs planning firm.. Nonetheless, desirous of developing a firm working exclusively on estate planning and estate administration, in November 2017, Jennifer, Diana Zottman, and Julia Lindeman co-founded Three60 Law Group. At Three60, Jennifer continues guiding her clients through tried-and-true, high-level planning, and administration, while at the same time providing innovative, up-to-the-minute, tools and systems.. About Three60 Law Group--Why Three 60?. Taking a 360-degree view means seeing something from all sides. Your values, family, and estate planning goals are complex, and helping you achieve those goals requires a full-circle approach. Three60 Law Group provides holistic, team-based estate planning centered firmly around what is most important to you.. We don’t just prepare documents or administer estates. We work with you, your family, and your advisors to design an integrated planning strategy that meets your legal and financial goals. Perhaps more importantly, we assist you as you consider how your planning will reflect your personal point of view. We explain the options to you and help you make the decisions to ensure that your loved ones are protected and that your legacy is preserved. We combine seasoned expertise and old-fashioned customer service with new and innovative tech-forward tools and systems. You’ll get time-tested estate and legal services, delivered in a 21st century way.. And we don’t stop there. The Three60 Law Group team is there when you need us. We keep in touch, and we hope you will too. We consider it a privilege to work with you and your family—we do not take your trust lightly.

Janet Gray specializes in the areas of estate planning, probate, taxation and charitable giving. Janet was voted "Super Lawyer 2007" by Washington Law & Poltics Magazine and voted one of Seattle's "Five Star Wealth Managers" 2007 by Seattle Magazine.

A frequent speaker at the Washington State Bar's Annual Estate Planning Seminar, she is a past Executive Committee Member of the Bar's Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, and a member of the Taxation Committee.

In my law practice I draw upon my experience and education to provide representation and counseling to individuals, families, and closely held businesses. My counseling, plan designs, and drafting utilize the Firm's exclusive Real Wealth philosophy and Family Wealth System insuring that the client's goals and expectations are identified and realized throughout their individualized plan.  I enjoy assisting individuals, families and closely held business owners in planning their lives and businesses.  It gives me great joy when I see the planning put in place actually work when called upon whether it be during a disability, following death or a business law suit, proper legal planning will shape the outcomes and protect your hard earned assets. As the old saying goes "Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performence." At Gregorek and Associates we are staffed with dedicated paralegals and attorneys to serve your individual needs in a personalized and comprehensive manner utilizing the best legal means for your situation.

I've written a book entitled, "Smart Estate Planning in Washington--What You Really Need to Know."  For more information, you can preview it at. Mr. Waltar was born in Boston, Massachusetts but grew up in eastern Washington.  He moved to Seattle in 1980 to attend college where he graduated from Seattle Pacific University, cum laude, earning dual degrees in English Literature and Religion in 1984.  He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1988.  Mr. Waltar returned to Seattle and attended law school at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.  The school was acquired by Seattle University during the three years of his attendance.  That means he has two Juris Doctorate diplomas for the price of one—from the University of Puget Sound and Seattle University School of Law.. Mr. Waltar was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1994 and is also admitted to practice in United States District Court, Western District of Washington.  He is also a member of the American Bar Association.  Prior to establishing his own law firm, Mr. Waltar spent four years at an exclusive Estate Planning law firm in Seattle.  He founded Stephen M. Waltar, PS in 2000 and is the principal shareholder.. Mr. Waltar limits his law practice to areas associated with Estate Planning, including trusts, estate tax law, wills, probate, asset protection planning, business succession planning, charitable giving, and disability planning.  He is a popular and entertaining speaker at Estate Planning seminars and has taught both professionals and lay people Estate Planning and charitable giving.  Mr. Waltar has given hundreds of seminars and talks.  He has taught various college courses as an adjunct professor at Seattle University and the University of Washington.  Mr. Waltar has published numerous articles and has spoken to many private and public employees, as well as to community, civic and religious groups.  He has been a co-host and guest on various radio programs.  Mr. Waltar is a widely acclaimed speaker and seminar leader in the field of Estate Planning.  He is appreciated for his ability to reduce complex legal principles into understandable concepts.  He often says he has the “Mind of an Attorney and the Heart of a Pastor.”. He and his wife and two daughters live in Kirkland, Washington.  Mr. Waltar enjoys getting away to ski at their condo in Sun Valley, Idaho.  He enjoys playing most sports and coaching girls’ basketball.. His book can be purchased from his office, via his website, and the University of Washington Book Store in Seattle or Bellevue.

I provide counsel to small businesses owners in an array of matters that include Business Formation, Contract negotiations, Complex commercial transactions, Intellectual Property (Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets) and Commercial litigation. In addition, I assist individuals and families as they navigate through the often complex and emotional process of Estate Planning and Probate law; and advise local area talent in the field of media law relating to Copyright and Right of Publicity.. As a near life-long resident of the the Pacific Northwest, I am an avid fly-fisherman, rock climber and devoted Husky fan. I also enjoy golf and travel. Thank you for visiting my site and I look forward to assisting you.

I have nearly 25 years of teaching, counseling, design and drafting experience in the following practice areas:. Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts. Business Formation and Succession. Deferred Compensation Planning. Probate and Trust Administration. Income and Estate Tax Planning. Estate Litigation. Business Litigation. Real Estate Transactions. Wealth Transfer Planning. Charitable Planning. I reside in Mill Creek, Washington and enjoy traveling, alpine skiing, golf, mountain climbing, marathons, adventure races, and attending concerts and the theatre around Seattle.  I am active in charitable work for Seattle Children's Hospital, The Boy Scouts of America and various other non profit organizations in my local community.

I have called the Pacific Northwest home since before I could speak.  After graduating with a B.A. from the University of Washigton, I attended Seattle University School of Law where I graduated Cum Laude.  Most of my free time is spent outdoors - hiking, golfing or camping. Travel and food are also passions of mine, although, most of my travel revolves around food.

I have always been an entrepreneur. I had a lemonade stand at age 5, and by age 10 I started my own yard care business, Nicky's Lawnmowing Service. By middle school I was distributing a patented velcro product that my Uncle had made. In high school I helped manage the Student Store, joined the Marketing Club, and was President of Garfield High's chapter of DECA, an international business organization for students. I went on to major in Economics at Columbia University, and then returned to Seattle for law school and to be with my family. I graduated from UW Law with a juris doctor as well as a Masters of Laws in Taxation. In law school, I quickly discovered that it was unusual for a law student to enjoy working in Excel and manipulating numbers. I got hooked on business and tax classes.. I really enjoy running a small business - our law firm. I get to talk with clients every day and understand their legal needs. I also love technology and the way it is helping lawyers deliver legal services faster and better. I would love the opportunity to talk to you about the challenges you face and how I could help.. Seattle has been my home for nearly 3 decades. I love the seasons in Seattle, especially winter. My law partner (also my father) and I curl together at the Granite Curling Club in North Seattle. I also love to snowboard, usually at Steven's Pass. And I enjoy hiking and snowshoeing on Mt. Rainier. I know there are a lot of newcomers to Seattle as technology has created tremendous job growth, and I hope we can all adjust as Puget Sound becomes a Region of Boom.

I am an experienced attorney providing estate planning and fiduciary services.

I am a life-long resident of Washington. I have been working in estate planning/ probate practice for nearly 8 years. I enjoy helping clients navigate the estate planning and probate proceses.