Estate planning lawyers, wills and probate

estate planning lawyers

Estate planning law for all adults

Every responsible adult can benefit from consulting one of our estate planning lawyers. We tend to think that estate planning is only for the wealthy and elderly. Yet, if you have people who depend on you, one of the best things you can do for them is to begin planning now.

Wills, trusts, health care directives and powers of attorney protect you and the people you love. Make estate planning a part of your roadmap to your financial goals. Let us guide you as you chart your course to a secure future.

  • Your will: Family changes and moving to another state usually require changes to your will. Changing your will every time your financial situation changes significantly is a smart move. Our attorneys will also review your existing will to make sure it can withstand a challenge.
  • Trusts: Determine which type of trust best meets your needs. Is it a special needs trust, a testamentary trust, a revocable living trust, an irrevocable living trust or a charitable trust?
  • Powers of attorney and health care directives: Who would handle your affairs or make medical decisions for you if you became incapacitated?
  • Probate: Do you need guidance in fulfilling your duties as the executor of an estate following the death of a family member?

Experienced estate planning lawyers can guide you to the best plan for you.

Sara, Humphries, child dependency, civil defense, appellate law and estate planning

Both Sara Humphries and Norman Short bring advanced legal training (LL.M.). In addition to that training and a focus on estate planning, he brings more than a quarter-century in tax law, IRS representation and business law to his work with estate planning. This means that he can help you with estate planning that involves complex tax situations, as well as business ownership. Sara Humphries brings her extensive experience with family law to her focus on estate planning.

They will:

  • advise you of your rights;
  • help ensure that assets are transferred according to your wishes after death;
  • help prevent or respond to probate litigation;
  • assist out-of-town family members when a loved one dies in Washington, leaving estate matters to be resolved.

They are happy to advise you in special cases, such as:

  • Small probate cases, perhaps involving only a car or other limited amounts of property
  • Intestate succession: a case of someone dying without a will
  • Estate matters for individuals dying without children or identifiable next of kin (perhaps your neighbor or friend)

 Contact us to plan for your family’s future today

Learn more…

Key terms

Estate: Literally, everything you own, including that old car you keep saying you’re going to fix up, but also the big stuff like your bank accounts, businesses and home.

Estate planning: The preparation for transferring all that you own to others when you die or become incapacitated. It includes various ways of protecting your assets in the transfer.

Estate Tax: A tax applied to your estate upon transfer to the heirs. The estate tax only applies to the wealthy, multi-millionaires.

Trusts: There are a number of different types of trusts. The most common types are similar to a will in that they direct what happens with at least parts of your estate. The difference is that they can be in effect while you are alive. They are often used to reduce estate taxes and avoid probate

Wills: A Last Will (and testament) contains the instructions about what to do with your estate at your death. A Living Will states your wishes for your medical care if you are unable to make those decisions.

Probate: Check out our page on the probate process.

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Make an appointment today with one of our estate planning lawyers at our Port Orchard or Bainbridge Island offices!

Contact us for a Port Orchard or Bainbridge Island estate planning lawyer appointment.  Based in Port Orchard, WA with a branch on Bainbridge Island, GSJones Law Group, P.S., represents Kitsap County residents, as well as clients from throughout surrounding counties and communities. Among the communities are Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Silverdale, Seabeck, Belfair, Banner, Olalla, Poulsbo,  Bethel, Navy Yard City, Fernwood, Purdy. Clients also come from Vashon Island, as well as surrounding areas in Mason County, and Jefferson County.