I promise, this was on my list long before the current crisis! But now that I have some extra time on my hands, I'd love to cross it off my list. Who did your will? Do you also have an estate planner?
Paracle Advisors (www.Paracle.com) have managed all of our financial planning for years. They coordinate all of our work with lawyers (estate planning, wills), accountants (tax) and more. They are a fee-only financial planner and work with many folks from Amazon, Microsoft, Expedia and other local companies.
We need to do this too! I know some friends have used simple forms on Legal Zoom just to at least have something. As a general resource I also recommend Get Your Shit Together - getyourshittogether.org - started by a local Seattle woman after a tragedy in her life. Checklists, recommended resources, etc.
I highly recommend: nwstrategyandplanning.com Michael did our wills for us a couple years ago. He even had to research laws in Finland (husband is a dual citizen). The best part is that he kept the ball rolling. He wouldn't let us disappear. He kindly kept us moving forward so the process finished in a timely manner. And he came to us for the signing!
Jennifer King at Law360. Great friend and amazing attorney and Estate Planner. We worked together at Davis Wright. She's the best!three60law.com/jennifer-l-king
Also, check out www.Tomorrow.me from a local Seattle startup founded by serial entrepreneur Dave Hanley and others. Very elegant solution to handle wills and estate planning documents in-app. It’s pretty awesome.
Nancy Cahill at holmancahill.com and we were very satisfied with her work. I don't have enough experience to say whether her rates were good or if she was better or worse than the average attorney.
Our team at Banister Advisors LLC has a regularly updated listing of WA lawyers who can help you with rapid Estate Planning, all remotely via phone and video conf. The listing includes fee ranges, too. banisteradvisors.com/acp
(!) This is especially urgent for older adults where one member of the household holds all the account access. Probate courts in WA have shut down. It would take an emergency order to have a surviving spouse get access to single-holder financial accounts, even if they are named as the Personal Representative. No access to money and long term impacts to credit are at stake. Tell ALL the older adults in your life. Power of Attorney dissolves a the time of death and cannot be used for access to financial accounts, etc.
Thanks Vanessa Laughlin, I had no idea. This is useful info and I will pass it along. Seems obvious in retrospect. Grandparents gotta share the passwords!
I used Kanoa Ostrem for my will. He made the process very straightforward and simple since he specializes in Estate Planning. I first tried using Legal Zoom and that was a disaster! Maybe it was fine, but since I didn't understand the implications of the questions I didn't feel very secure with what was generated. My visit to Kanoa took about an hour and viola, we have a will. ostremlaw.com
pugetsoundwills.com Puget Sound Wills and Trusts is a fantastic local firm that focuses exclusively on Estate Planning. They operate a number of offices around the area (for when we're able to meet in offices again). They have a volume-based practice with packages designed for individuals, couples, couples with children, etc., and pricing is listed on their website.
Mackenzie Sorich, a small, women-owned firm in north Seattle is offering 25% off family planning. They also do a ton of pro-bono and low-bono work for kids in the foster care system. sorichlaw.com
Katie Ludwick is highly experienced in estate planning, wills, etc.. Located in Bellevue but worth the drive especially with no traffic now. Highly recommend! ludwicklawgroup.com/about-u...
Hi Liz - as you know we (www.Coldstream.com) work with our clients on all aspects of their personal and financial lives. Estate planning is one of the planning items we address - typically laying out all the options and then partnering with an estate planning attorney to execute. We have worked with Kanoa and many others. I think you would love Laura Hoexter from Helsell Fetterman
This crisis has lit a fire under Elizabeth's and my-you know what. We will be asking Tracy Codd to help us. We've known him for 10 plus years and he is a solid, reliable and skilled attorney, and very personable.