Washington Appeals Court Disallows the Use of Extrinsic Evidence in Dispute Over a Will November 12, 2019 On November 4th, 2019, the Court of Appeals, Division I for the State of Washington overturned a trial court’s decision in a dispute over an allegedly ambiguous will. The case—In re Matter of the Estate of Earl M. Holmes—involved a Washington man named Earl Holmes whose will disinherited his relatives. Mr. Holmes Disinherited Relatives—But Failed More
What You Can Learn From Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Wills November 12, 2019 Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, passed away after a long battle with health issues in the summer of 2018. Since that time, there have been major questions raised about what will happen with her estate. Initially, it was reported that she died without a will — which raised serious questions about what will happen More
The SECURE Act is Making Its Way Through the Senate, Could Affect Estate Planning August 8, 2019 In May of 2019, the House of Representatives passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act or SECURE Act by a vote of 417 to 3 — an overwhelming bipartisan majority in an era where that is increasingly uncommon. As of August of 2019, the bill is still making its way through the More
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): Elder Financial Abuse is Widespread March 27, 2019 Recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a new report on elder financial abuse in the United States. According to the CFPB, the nation’s largest private financial institutions state that they have received massive amounts of elder financial fraud. They report more than $6 billion in elder financial fraud between 2013 and 2017. Even More
IRS Confirms Taxpayers Will Not Face Retroactive Gift Tax After 2025 January 7, 2019 Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that taxpayers who make significant gifts now will not be hit with surprise tax penalties after 2025. For those affected by this proposed regulation, this is a major announcement. Before the IRS clarified this point, there was considerable confusion over how the 2017 tax reform law. Known as More
National Estate Planning Awareness Week Begins October 15 October 9, 2018 Take advantage of the upcoming National Estate Planning Awareness Week to put your affairs in order Doing so now reduces stress. There are many options available. In 2008, Congress passed a resolution designating the third week of every October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. This period reminds everyone that the estate plans are easy More
Prince Nelson’s Estate To Release New Recordings February 24, 2018 Now that a judge has voided a licensing agreement between the deceased signer and Universal Music Group, estate executors are poised to release some “mind-blowing” material, according to Spotify’s Troy Carter. The pop star “practically lived in a recording studio,” he added. So, it was not surprising to find some high-quality unreleased songs. The release More
Five Things You Need To Do To Provide For A Surviving Spouse February 14, 2018 Many people think that estate planning consists largely of drafting documents and keeping them in safe places. Attorneys do spend the lion’s share of their time on such important matters, because these documents are your only voice once you die. But there’s also a very practical component to the work we do. Hopefully, this post More
How To Keep Your Family Business In The Family February 1, 2018 Most people spend years building up a family-owned business, largely because they want to have something tangible to pass on to their children. In addition to a solid financial foundation, succession plans must also include a solid legal foundation. Here are some ways to develop just such a plan. Set Clear Goals and Objectives Typically, More
Why A Washington Attorney Should Do Your Will January 22, 2018 Most people either do not have a will or have outdated wills that do not meet their current needs. Some people have the opposite problem. They may have drawn up wills when they first got married, forgot about them, and then made other wills later in life. This issue often creates protracted and expensive probate More