Everett Legal Issues Blog

Anyone who has been chosen to close out a loved one's estate may feel overwhelmed at the task. Being an executor is not an easy job, especially if it is something one has never done before. This week, this column will discuss the role of the executor in the state of Washington and what a probate law attorney can do to help those in this position.

So, what does an executor do? He or she has the job of closing out an estate. This means that he or she will have to:

• Locate a will -- if there is one
• Open a probate case
• Notify beneficiaries
• Notify creditors
• Pay taxes
• Pay any debts
• Address any claims made against the estate
• Distribute assets

Ending a marriage is a difficult thing to do, particularly if children are involved. Most kids do not cope with significant change well, and all children will react differently to it. There is one thing that parents in Washington can do to help their children through this challenging time, and that is simply doing what they think is best for their kids.

There are numerous books and articles out there and available on the subject of helping children cope with divorce. It is normal to feel the need to take in as much information as possible and put it into practice, and there may be no harm in doing so. There is just one problem, however. Every child does not fit into a standard mold. They have their own unique needs, and parents are the only ones who know what those needs are.

Ending a marriage is a difficult and emotional thing. When going through the divorce process, some individuals in Washington and elsewhere will do things that they think are okay, while their spouses may view those things as harassment. A recent story about communication and harassment during divorce proceedings was recently published. It certainly brings into focus differing views on what is and is not deemed acceptable communication frequency with one's soon-to-be ex. 

According to the article, one man was recently ordered to limit the number of times he texts his ex to one time per day. He was allegedly sending, on average, 14 messages per day. His wife complained that this had been going on for nearly a year. A judge agreed that his communication efforts qualified as harassment. If he fails to stick to the rule of one text per day, this gentleman could find himself behind bars. 

Some things in life are easy to keep putting off. They may not seem essential, or they may be things that you want to avoid doing. Estate planning is one of those things that most adults in Washington, and the United States in general, put off until it is too late. When it comes to matters of probate, it is best not to put off what can be done today to protect oneself, one's assets and one's family. Why does having an estate plan matter?

An estate plan serves many purposes. First, it allows you to protect yourself if you ever become incapacitated. How? By naming who you wish to make decisions for you when you are unable to do so yourself and putting your wishes for medical and end-of-life care in writing so there is no mistake about what you want to be done.