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Britton Law Office PLLC is a practice capable of assisting clients with probate matters near the Federal Way area. It represents the will's executor during court hearings and ensures that they know what to expect during the probate process for the decedent's estate. For decedent's who die without a will, Britton Law Office can help family members protect the estate's interests. The practice can also assist clients with creating a will or trust.
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Christal Hillstead Law creates custom-designed probate and estate planning solutions for individuals, couples, and families with children in and around Federal Way. Its services are categorized into 1821, family, and individual and couple collections. The practice creates estate plans customized to reflect the uniqueness and priorities of each client, with each plan realistically addressing the everyday concerns that arise for the client. Christal Hillstead uses her experiences as a mom in dealing with the legal services she performs.
Christina T. Sherman PLLC is a boutique law firm founded by Ms. Sherman, an experienced probate attorney near Federal Way who has been practicing law since 2003. Attorney Sherman's primary focus is in all matters concerning adoption, which can include planning estates before and after adoption and probating wills. Ms. Sherman's probate experience includes honoring wills that make provisions for adopted children, including those with special needs. The firm also helps clients with matters involving IVF and surrogacy.
Gig Harbor Law provides legal representation to Federal Way residents. Its practice areas include estate planning, motor vehicle accidents, debt collection, and real estate transactions. In addition, it provides probate services such as trust management, health care directives, and personal executor representation. The firm offers clients a candid analysis of the pros and cons of the available legal options. The founding attorney, Nathan Sukhia, is a member of the Pierce County Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association.
Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC, offers its services to clients in Federal Way and the neighboring areas. It proffers legal counsel to clients going through matters that include probate and estate administration, estate planning, business law, litigation, and tax controversies. With more than 30 years of experience in estate administration, Paul Alvestad delivers guidance that is appropriate to clients' situations. Moreover, Alvestad handles tax audits and legal disputes, extending legal advice to clients with issues in real estate investments.
Hallaq Law is a law firm that serves clients in Federal Way. It helps clients draft wills, powers of attorney, and revocable living trusts. The firm also assists clients in updating their estate plans in response to changes in their needs. The couple Brian and Diem Hallaq have 30 years of combined experience in the bankruptcy field. Brian has worked for the Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington.
James A. Jones Attorney at Law is a law firm that offers legal solutions to clients in Federal Way. The firm's attorney, James A. Jones, has over 15 years of experience in estate planning, asset protection, and bankruptcy cases. Jones guides his clients through the probate and estate administration process. He assists his clients in opening the probate estate, notifying beneficiaries and creditors, dealing with estate creditors and claims, transferring estate assets, and filing estate and income tax returns.
Kampbell Legal Planning PLLC is a firm offering the services of an estate planning attorney near Federal Way. The practice helps clients navigate the probate process and seeks to minimize conflict between the decedent's family members or beneficiaries. It assists with transferring assets to the appropriate parties and ensures that all involved are aware of their rights and responsibilities. Kampbell Legal Planning also handles will, trust, and business succession planning matters.
Life Point Law is a law firm serving individuals, families, and elders in Federal Way and the surrounding communities. It assists clients throughout the whole probate process after a loved one passes away. In addition to probate and estate administration, the firm also helps customers plan and pay for long-term care of elderly family members by handling cases involving estate planning, asset protection, guardianship, Medicare and Medicaid planning, and social security. Life Point Law also has offices in Bellingham, Edmonds, and Bellevue.
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Luce & Associates, P.S., is a probate law firm providing services to Federal Way. It assists individuals in the probate process to help them claim and distribute their deceased loved ones' assets accordingly. It also caters to non-probate cases by preparing court affidavits, notices to creditors, and transfers of assets. Its primary attorney, Kenyon E. Luce, has been in the legal field for over four decades and focuses on municipal, business, real estate, and estate planning laws.
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Marine View Law represents families and individuals in probate proceedings in Federal Way. The full-service law firm works with executors, administrators, and personal representatives to perform the duties required by the probate court in settling estates. It evaluates strategies and alternatives for asset transfer, including the use of trusts, wills, and conveyances. Its team also prepares community property agreements, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Morton McGoldrick PLLC is a practice with over 90 years of experience with handling probate matters for clients near the Federal Way area. The firm seeks to simplify the probate process and help the estate's executor or administrator carry out the wishes of the decedent. It can also assist with estate taxation issues. Additionally, Morton McGoldrick is capable of litigating probate cases in court when disputes between family members or beneficiaries occur.
Richmond & Richmond Ltd. is a firm serving clients located near Federal Way and the nearby communities. The firm consults with the decedent's loved ones to interpret the will and facilitate the asset transfer process to any named heirs or beneficiaries. Its team empowers the estate's executor or administrator to fulfill their duties in an efficient manner and it provides advice and guidance to help avoid conflict. Partner Karen Richmond has been practicing law for over 20 years.
Siebenaler Law is a probate and estate law firm that serves clients in Federal Way. It assists clients in complying with legal requirements when paying creditors and distributing the trust assets of their deceased loved ones. The firm also provides estate planning, elder law, and guardianship services. In addition, its founding attorney Michelle R. Siebenaler is committed to educating the public on estate planning, probate, and long-term care. She is a member of the Washington Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
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Singletary Law Office, PLLC, is an Auburn-based full service firm involved in probate matters for the benefit of clients in Federal Way. The firm provides representation to communities all over Puget Sound. Its principal, Alexis Singletary, offers living trusts, wills, community property agreements, physicians' directives, powers of attorney, and non-traditional estate planning. She handles estate settlement and disputes and probate administration. Singletary graduated law school magna cum laude and has been a practicing attorney for more than 20 years.
Smith Alling PS is a full-service law practice that has been serving individuals and businesses across Federal Way and nearby areas since 1984. Its attorneys assist clients in administering probating and non-probating estates and represent them in Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act matters. Additionally, they practice family, business, and personal injury law. Partner Kelly DeLaat-Maher brings over 20 years of legal experience. In 2005, she was ranked as 40 Under 40 by the Pierce County Business Examiner.
The Law Offices of Bryana Cross Bean helps ease the burden of probate on grieving families in Federal Way. The firm provides compassionate representation in each step of the process, from paying off the decedent's debts to distributing their remaining assets to heirs. It also offers counsel for estate planning, guardianship, elder, real estate, and business law matters. Bryana Cross Bean has been practicing law since 2013 and is a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.
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The West Law Offices PS has been taking care of the legal needs of clients in Federal Way and the neighboring areas since 1958. The firm offers assistance and representation in probate administration, working closely with personal representatives and beneficiaries of an estate to properly handle and distribute the decedent's assets according to a will or court order. Principal Robert E West Jr. was the president of the South King County Bar Association and the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce.
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Wilcox Law Office, PLLC, offers legal counsel and assistance for clients in Federal Way. Its team approaches the situation from a legal standpoint and suggests the language to use in the paperwork to safeguard clients' interests. It helps uphold rights and support involvement in selecting what happens to assets, possessions, and finances in the event of death or incapacity. The firm's attorney, Clinton H. Wilcox, has also been handling business and corporate law matters for over a decade.
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Probate attorneys are licensed professionals who represent executors and heirs after someone has died. They provide personalized legal advice, assist with tax planning, settle debts, and facilitate the distribution of assets. Probate attorneys typically represent clients during administrative proceedings overseen by probate courts, although some litigators focus on handling disputes and lawsuits related to contested estates.
Probate court works with the family or beneficiaries of a deceased person to validate their last will and testament. The courts review the individual's will to identify and calculate assets, pay off remaining debts, and distribute the remaining property to beneficiaries per the deceased person's requests. Depending on state laws, property valued under a certain amount may not require probate.
The amount of time loved ones have to file a will after a person dies varies from state to state. While California courts require probate to be filed within one year, New York has no deadline. That being said, it's advisable to file probate as quickly as possible once a person has died, as the process itself can take anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year.
Life insurance doesn't need to go through the probate courts if the deceased individual has named a beneficiary on their policy. However, life insurance policies without beneficiaries, or with beneficiaries who are either deceased themselves or cannot be contacted, go directly to the deceased individual's estate. When this happens, life insurance proceeds must go through probate court to determine how funds should be allocated.
While the exact rules do vary from state to state, most household items don't require probate and are automatically left to immediate families unless otherwise stated in the deceased person's will. When it comes to property, only items above a certain value or held in title are required to go through probate in most states.
In the event a beneficiary has been named, bank accounts are not required to go through probate and will be paid directly to the person designated by the deceased individual. However, should that individual be deceased themselves or if contact cannot be made after a certain period of time, funds will be allocated to the estate and put through the probate process.
Depending on the circumstances, probate may not be required in all cases. If a person passes on and their remaining property is jointly owned, it automatically transfers to the other owner. However, if a property is not jointly owned and no probate has been filed, the executor of the will won't be able to transfer titles or cash assets to beneficiaries. Be aware that the specific laws surrounding probate requirements vary from state to state.
