Estate Planning Attorney in Seattle

Estate Planning & Family Law Counsel for Life Transitions in Seattle

A sound estate plan does more than distribute assets. It can prepare for incapacity, protect minor children, and reduce unnecessary court proceedings. At Wakefield Legal, PLLC, our attorneys assist individuals and families throughout Western Washington, building plans around each client’s goals, family structure, and circumstances.

Our combined estate planning and family law counsel provides continuity when divorce, remarriage, custody arrangements, or prenuptial agreements affect a client’s plan.

To put a plan in place or update one that no longer reflects your life, call Wakefield Legal, PLLC at (206) 966-6933 to schedule a consultation or send us a message through our online contact form.

What a Complete Estate Plan Covers

Estate planning arranges how your assets will be managed during your lifetime and transferred after your death. A comprehensive plan also addresses incapacity, medical decisions, care for minor children, and the transfer of property to beneficiaries.

A complete estate plan may include:

• Will or revocable living trust: Directs how assets pass to beneficiaries. A revocable living trust can allow assets to transfer without going through Washington State’s probate process, keeping the transition private and often making it faster.
• Durable power of attorney: Authorizes a trusted person to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.
• Health care directive: Documents your medical wishes and names a health care agent to make decisions on your behalf. It’s sometimes called an advance directive.
• Guardian designation: For parents, naming a guardian for minor children is one of the most consequential decisions in an estate plan.
• Beneficiary designations: Retirement accounts and life insurance pass outside probate according to these designations. They should align with the rest of your plan to avoid conflicts.

Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or a significant change in assets are all reasons to review and update an existing plan.

Washington State Estate Tax: What Seattle Families Should Know

Washington imposes its own estate tax, separate from the federal estate tax system. An estate can fall below the federal threshold while still owing Washington estate tax.

For deaths on or after July 1, 2026, Washington’s estate tax exclusion amount is $3 million. The state exclusion isn’t portable between spouses, so one spouse can’t transfer an unused portion to the surviving spouse. Without appropriate planning, a married couple may not receive the full benefit of both individual exclusions.

Washington uses graduated estate tax rates. For deaths on or after July 1, 2026, the top marginal rate is 20% on taxable estate amounts above $9 million. Trust-based planning, including a credit shelter trust, can help preserve both spouses’ Washington exclusions when that structure fits their assets and goals.

Seattle home values, retirement accounts, life insurance, and other property can place an estate closer to the state threshold than expected. An estate plan created before the July 1, 2026 changes should be reviewed to determine whether its tax provisions still reflect Washington law and the family’s current circumstances.

Estate Planning Alongside Family Law in Seattle

Divorce, separation, or remarriage often calls for changes to beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and trusts. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements interact directly with estate plans, while parents working through custody matters often need to revisit guardian designations.

Wakefield Legal, PLLC handles family law matters, including divorce, child custody, prenuptial agreements, and postnuptial agreements, alongside estate planning. Clients who come to us during a family transition don’t need to explain their situation twice or reconcile competing advice from separate attorneys. We keep clients informed at every stage, engage them directly in strategy, and provide responsive counsel. That reputation is reflected in recommendations from past clients and peers alike.

Adult Guardianship & Conservatorship in Washington

Washington law distinguishes between guardianship for personal decisions and conservatorship for property and financial affairs. A superior court can appoint a guardian or conservator when a demonstrated inability to meet those needs creates a significant risk of harm.

Courts must consider less restrictive alternatives before granting or continuing broad court-appointed authority. A durable power of attorney or trust may allow a trusted person to manage specified decisions or assets without a full guardianship or conservatorship. When an adequate alternative becomes available, the court must modify or terminate the arrangement as appropriate.

A limited guardianship preserves every decision-making right that the court order doesn’t specifically assign to the guardian. A plenary guardianship grants the guardian final authority over the rights identified under state law and in the court order. Advance planning gives individuals an opportunity to document their choices and select trusted decision-makers before incapacity creates the need for court involvement.

How Probate Begins in Washington

Probate begins when an interested person files a petition in the superior court of the county where the deceased person lived. The petition asks the court to admit the will, when one exists, and appoint a personal representative to administer the estate.

If there’s no valid will naming someone for the role, state law provides an order of priority for appointment, beginning with the surviving spouse or state registered domestic partner. Once appointed, that person gathers and manages estate property, addresses valid debts and taxes, and distributes the remaining assets according to the will or Washington inheritance law.

The person serving in this role must also notify the Washington Department of Revenue. Failure to provide the required notice can leave them liable for taxes owed by the deceased person. A coordinated estate plan can clarify who should serve and which assets will pass through probate.

Getting Started with Wakefield Legal, PLLC

The first step is a consultation. Our attorneys listen to your goals, ask about your family structure and current assets, and explain the legal options suited to your situation. If you have existing documents, beneficiary forms, or a prior plan, bringing them helps us identify what works and what needs updating.

There’s no single template for a good estate plan. We work with each client to build one that fits their circumstances, whether that means a straightforward will and power of attorney or a more layered structure involving trusts and coordinated family law documents.

Contact an Estate Planning Lawyer in Seattle

Whether you’re starting from scratch or revisiting a plan after a recent life change, we can identify which documents need to be created or updated. We serve clients throughout Western Washington and welcome inquiries from individuals and families at any stage of the planning process.

Call us at (206) 966-6933 to schedule your consultation with an estate planning attorney at Wakefield Legal, PLLC, or use our online contact form to contact us.