Take Time Today to Plan for Tomorrow
As a full service law firm with lifelong clients, we often help those in Silverdale, Washington, and surrounding counties as they make legal plans for their future. Estate planning today for tomorrow's eventualities can save headaches and heartaches for family members because you have made your wishes known.
You don't need to be a millionaire to need estate planning services. Any special requests or gifts you want to make should be spelled out in your estate plans, because if you don't take care of them, the government will do it for you following their default rules.
Experienced Estate Planning Services
Our law firm offers the following estate planning services for individuals and small business owners:
- Wills — both simple and complex
- Trusts — an option sometimes used to minimize tax liability
- Gifts — to minors or other family members
- Guardianships or conservatorships — for the elderly, for children or vulnerable adults
- Business succession planning — including 1031 exchanges
- Medicare and Medicaid planning — to spend down assets
- Living Wills and Healthcare Directives — to make your wishes known about end of life medical care
Our lawyers also have litigation or trial experience in the case of contested wills or breach of fiduciary duty on the part of a trustee or administrator.
Keeping an Eye on Washington
Because we view ourselves as your lawyers for life, we are always looking ahead to see how legislation and government actions may affect you. Currently, we are keeping an eye on Washington to see how it will handle the estate tax issue. Here is how it stands as of December 2009:
- In the state of Washington, $2 million in assets per person ($4 million per couple) are exempt from estate taxes.
- At the federal level, $3.5 million is exempt per person in 2009. This exemption is set to expire at the end of 2009 leaving no estate tax in existence for 2010.
- Currently, the estate tax is scheduled to reappear in 2011 when it will rise to 55% for estates valued at over $1 million. However, Congress may intervene and extend the current exemption, change it to a new figure, or return to the old exemption amount of $650,000 per person.
Let us help you plan for your future with succession planning that makes sense for you and your family. Contact our attorneys or call 360-633-2036 to set up an appointment.
