Top best Estate Planning Lawyers Near me in ZIP 98103

Karl Flaccus’s practice focuses on estate planning, trusts, probate, and litigation involving wills, probates, and guardianships. He has guided thousands of families in successfully structuring important personal documents and plans, and the successful resolution of trust and estate conflicts.. Karl has an extensive background in the legal field predating his 2023 merger with Brothers & Henderson. Before attending law school, he practiced tax accounting and representing clients in audits before the IRS for 11 years in Alaska. During law school, he interned with Judge Hugh Bownes of the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, and clerked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Concord, New Hampshire. After receiving his Juris Doctor, he clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein, and for Judges Marshall Forrest and Jack Scholfield of Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals. In 1994, he opened his own private law practice in Seattle, Flaccus Law, where he served thousands of clients in the successful structuring of important personal documents and plans. He understands the heavy emotional and financial costs of litigation for his clients.. Beginning in the late 1990’s, Karl ran a free monthly legal clinic at the Shoreline Senior Center for almost 20 years, where he offered pro bono legal advice to hundreds of seniors and their family members. Outside of work, Karl enjoys a myriad of outdoor activities. During his time in Alaska, he kayaked thousands of river miles and built two cabins outside of Fairbanks. He has run a number of marathons, including the Boston Marathon. Nowadays, he likes to ski, hike, and spend time with his family. The Flaccus family also spends a lot of cabin time in the Cascades throughout all the seasons.

Jamie founded Phinney Estate Law in 2007as a way of addressing a need she saw in the community for affordable,values-based estate planning and as a way to develop a legal practicethat was consistent with her own values and legal philosophy.  Beforefounding Phinney Estate Law Jamie worked as a litigation associate atCozen O’Connor, as an attorney advisor for the U.S. Department ofJustice, and as legal intern for Northwest Immigration Rights Projectand Northwest Justice Project.. Jamiebegan her work in estate law in 2005 as a pro bono attorney with KingCounty Volunteer Attorneys for Persons with HIV/AIDS (VAPWA).  Shefound that she enjoyed the opportunity to help clients with theplanning process and and the chance to think creatively with theseclients to address the unique needs of their situations.  She alsoappreciated the opportunity to work with clients to avoid conflicts.. In addition to her work with VAPWA, Jamie also does pro bono work and/orworked for non-profits providing clients with assistance withimmigration petitions, naturalization, applications for publicbenefits, and family law cases.  She continues to devote 25% of herpractice to pro bono work and free community education.  As part ofthat service, Jamie serves as a volunteer attorney facilitator for theex-party probate and guardianship calendar in King County.. Sincefounding Phinney Estate Law, Jamie has had the opportunity to work withindividual or families in a variety of situations.  She has worked withnewlyweds, young families, single business owners, blending families,the terminally ill, and non-married clients.  It is her experience thateach family, no matter how traditional or non-traditional, is trulyunique and, once you get to know them, have unique needs.. Whenshe is not working, Jamie volunteers her time to a number of localcommunity groups including the Seattle Milk Fund, Phinney EcoVillage,Phinney-Greenwoood Climate Change Action Now, and the Greenwood ArtsCouncil and is the elected Democratic PCO for her neighborhood.  She is a practicing Quaker with the Salmon BayFriends Circle.  She also enjoys spending time with her family andfriends and loves spending a much time as possible enjoying theoutdoors.  She is in three book clubs and is always looking for a goodbook.  She also carves and prints block prints which can occasionally be seen in shops and coffee house in the Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood.. Jamieis a member of the Washington State Bar Association sections on Probateand Elder Law.  She is also a member of the King County Bar Associationsections on Probate and Elder Law. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the KingCounty Bar Association Collaborative LawSection and the leader of the Long Term Planning Working Group of the Northwest GBLT Senior Services Network.  She is also a member of the International Holistic Lawyer’sAssociation.

Amy N. Spitzer advises professional guardians, fiduciaries, and healthcare institutions in legal matters involving guardianships, conservatorships, and patient discharge issues. Her work often involves assisting acute-care facilities with legal petitions when patients cannot provide informed consent. With over ten years of experience, she offers consistent legal support to professionals managing vulnerable individuals and complex care-related decisions.Amy graduated cum laude from Seattle University School of Law and was a member of the Seattle University Law Review. She has held leadership roles within the King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section, including Chair, and continues to serve on its Executive Committee. Her insights are frequently sought by both legal and healthcare professionals, and in 2023, she presented to the Washington State Senate Law & Justice Committee on barriers hospitals face when discharging patients lacking capacity. Amy has been recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Elder Law annually since 2021 and contributes her time to the Washington Medical-Legal Partnership, which promotes access to legal help in healthcare settings. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog Dill, especially while exploring Georgetown or making fresh pasta at home.

After over a decade as a litigator with the State of Washington and one of the top 100 largest law firms in the United States, Michael G. Ballnik joined Phinney Estate Law as a partner in 2009.  While he excelled as a litigator, Michael made the move to an estate planning practice in order to use his extensive legal background for the benefit of individuals, families, and small businesses and to spend more time with his own wife and daughter.. At Phinney Estate Law, Michael serves as the Complex Drafting Partner.  In this position, he utilizes the skills he developed while interpreting and drafting complex insurance agreements and settlement documents for large commercial entities to draft trust agreements and other complex estate planning vehicles for Phinney Estate Law clients.. Michael joined the Seattle office of international law firm Cozen O’Connor as a litigation associate in October of 2001, and was promoted to partner in 2004.  Michael was named a 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 Rising Star attorney by Washington Law & Politics magazine.  Michael received a Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation from the Washington State Bar Association in 2004.  Along with the Seattle office of Cozen O’Connor, Michael also received the 2005 Amicus Award from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project due to ongoing pro bono efforts on behalf of immigration and asylum clients.Prior to working at Cozen O’Connor, Michael served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington.  In that capacity, he represented the Washington Department of Corrections in civil litigation and appeals and argued before the Washington Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Michael received his bachelor of arts degree in Criminology from the University of Manitoba in 1993 and earned his law degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1997, where he was a member of the North Dakota Law Review.. When not working or spending time with family, Michael is an avid hockey player and fan.

Experienced Estate Planning attorney serving clients in Seattle and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate Planning attorney serving clients in Seattle and surrounding areas.

Experienced Estate Planning attorney serving clients in Seattle and surrounding areas.