Everett Legal Issues Blog

Estate planning is not necessarily easy. There are a lot of estate planning products out there, some of which may prove useful to one's situation and others that will not. Many Washington residents have heard about trusts, but many are confused about whether they need one. The truth is, not everyone needs to set up a trust, but for those with children, young or old, it is a great way to ensure their kids get the assets intended for them.

When a person has minor children living at home, there is a need to make sure, in the event of one's death or incapacitation, that those children will be properly cared for. In a will, it is possible to name a guardian to take care of the kids, it is also possible to designate beneficiaries and provide instructions about how assets are to be used to raise the children and then passed on to them when they reach adulthood. The problem with leaving all of this information in just a will is that all assets then become fair game if creditors make claims or legal claims are filed against one's estate. There may also be very little care paid to how the guardians use the funds meant for the kids in their care.

Washington parents understand how important it is to help their children navigate the transitions and difficult emotions that arise when parents decide to end their marriage. The youngest members of the family often have the most difficult time with a divorce, but there are things you can do to make this an easier process for them. One way you can do this is by crafting a reasonable, sustainable parenting plan.

A parenting plan includes all of the details regarding how you and your spouse will raise the children after divorce. By crafting your plan through discussions, mutual cooperation and negotiations, you can avoid allowing a court to make these important decisions on your behalf. You can customize your plan to suit your individual needs and your goals for your post-divorce life.

Everyone dies, so it would make sense that everyone would take the time to plan ahead and at least create a will so that their assets and loved ones are protected. Unfortunately, most adults in Washington and across the country do not have wills. When these individuals die, what happens to their estates will be determined in probate court.

How does probate work when someone dies intestate? It starts by someone close to the decedent filing to open a probate case and asking to be the administrator. If everything is in order and there are no contests to this request, a judge may approve it, and the work can begin. If any other individuals come forward and fight that individual's request to be an administrator, it will be up to a judge to decide who will take on this role.

The decision to dissolve your marriage is one that you probably took some time to reach. Now that you have, you just want to get the divorce over with as soon as possible. How long, from filing to finalization, does the divorce process take in the state of Washington?

How long your divorce takes depends on several factors. Do you have children? Are there questions about how assets should be divided? Do you want to work things out privately, use an alternative dispute resolution method or do you want to go to court? In other words, how long it takes all comes down to the details of your specific case.