Estate Planning Archives » Northwest Elder Law Group

20 May, 2020

Is Your Estate Plan Up To Date?

2021-04-15T11:29:37-07:00May 20th, 2020|Categories: Estate Planning, Planning For Yourself|

We have heard from many of our clients that the current COVID-19 crisis has spurred them to reflect and rethink their priorities. These are some simple steps that you can take make sure your estate plan is up to date. Put estate planning on your to-do list If you have been putting off getting your Will and Durable Powers of Attorney completed, now is a good time to get started. Most estate planning attorneys are able to help despite the COVID-19 restrictions. In our office, the initial work is done remotely. When it is time for documents to be ...

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3 September, 2019

Caring For Aging Parents Can Strengthen Your Family Unit

2020-05-22T19:30:50-07:00September 3rd, 2019|Categories: Elder Care, Elder Mediation, Estate Planning|

Your parents have cared for you your entire life. As roles reverse, you likely want to do everything you can for them. While you try to make sure many of their needs are met, disagreements about your parents' care and financial situation could arise among family members. Your siblings probably want to do all they can for your parents as well. But you may have different concerns about how to address the needs of your aging parents. It is not uncommon for family members to have disputes - especially during trying times, and in some cases, mediation might be necessary ...

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19 July, 2018

Why You Need To Review And Update Beneficiary Designations

2020-05-22T19:32:45-07:00July 19th, 2018|Categories: Estate Planning, Planning For Yourself, Wills|

A typical benefit at many jobs is a life insurance policy. On one of the first days on the job you might have completed a related beneficiary designation. Open a bank account, an investment account or buy a private life insurance policy and you have also completed these fields whether you remember who you listed or not. Beneficiary designations often go neglected. What many people do not realize is that these payable-on-death accounts pass outside of a will and probate. Because of this you need to review them for accuracy during the estate planning process. Washington State law related to ...

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20 November, 2017

Taking Care Of Business In The New Year

2020-05-22T19:34:41-07:00November 20th, 2017|Categories: Elder Care, Elder Mediation, Estate Planning, Planning For Your Loved Ones, Planning For Yourself, Wills|

With the New Year comes New Year’s resolutions. Though these goals are made with the best intentions, come March, they have often slipped your mind. But making plans for the future, taking control of a situation or navigating challenging conversations should never just be a temporary goal that gets pushed aside. This year, think about whether your plans are in place – both for yourself and your loved ones. Make sure you have everything taken care of and that it’s legally binding. Whether it’s having the conversation you’ve been avoiding or finally sitting down and putting your wishes into writing, ...

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22 November, 2016

When Holiday Gatherings Turn Into Tough Conversations

2020-05-22T19:37:13-07:00November 22nd, 2016|Categories: Elder Care, Estate Planning, Planning For Your Loved Ones|

Holidays bring with them many feelings - some people fight the urge to turn on Christmas music in September while others cringe at the first holiday display in retail stores. While traditions and emotions may vary, one common theme around the holidays is family. Perhaps the siblings you shared rooms with growing up have spread out across the country. Or maybe it was you who left the area. But every year, you all return home to spend the holidays together. You know your parents are getting older, so you all make it a point to be there. You look forward ...

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13 September, 2016

6 Questions You Need To Ask Your Parents

2020-05-22T19:39:19-07:00September 13th, 2016|Categories: End-Of-Life Care Planning, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Planning For Your Loved Ones, Probate, Scams|

For many people, imagining a time when their parents are the ones who need to be taken care of is challenging. For so much of your life, they are the ones who took care of you. While it may be difficult to envision, the truth is that it’s likely going to be a reality. Whether they need full-time care or they just need some guidance in making sure that their affairs are in order, your parents will likely need some extra support. Having some conversations sooner, rather than later, can ensure that everything is decided upon long before there needs ...

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4 May, 2016

Prince Died Without A Will. Make Sure You Don’t.

2020-05-22T19:22:31-07:00May 4th, 2016|Categories: Estate Planning, Wills|

If you're a music fan, you've probably heard by now that the late singer Prince appears to have died without a will in place. As a result, it is unclear who will end up controlling his Paisley Park estate, his music catalog and his ongoing legacy. If a will is not found, Prince's assets will likely end up being divided between his six siblings. For a man who was famously controlling of his image and his music, it is surprising that he would leave his legacy up to chance. Of course, it is possible that Prince had used other estate ...

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25 March, 2014

Talking To Your Parent About Long-Term Care

2020-05-22T19:52:04-07:00March 25th, 2014|Categories: Caregivers, Estate Planning, Long Term Care, Planning For Your Loved Ones|

There will come a time in many people's lives where they have to step in and provide care for an ailing or aging parent. This is almost always a difficult transition, but it can be even more stressful if you don't understand what your parent wants, or if they are resistant to your help. Talking about these issues before they arise can help make the situation much easier. Here are some topics to consider. What medical care does your parent want? Were something catastrophic to happen, what care would they want? Would your parent want all possible life-saving measures, or ...

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22 January, 2014

Should You Use Medicaid To Pay For Long-Term Care?

2020-05-22T19:52:21-07:00January 22nd, 2014|Categories: Elder Care, Estate Planning, Long Term Care|

Over the course of their lives, many seniors will end up needing some form of long term care. Whether it's a nursing home, in-home caregiver or something else, long term care is expensive. Few people have enough in savings to pay for all of the costs out of pocket. For some people, Medicaid can be a very good tool to pay for long term care. However, not everyone qualifies for Medicaid, and using Medicaid can have some unexpected financial consequences. Here are a few things you should know if you are considering Medicaid for yourself or a loved one. Eligibility ...

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8 May, 2013

What Happens In Probate?

2020-05-22T19:53:40-07:00May 8th, 2013|Categories: Estate Planning, Probate, Wills|

Whenever someone dies in Washington, their personal representative must settle their estate. In many cases, this means going through the probate process. The idea of having to go through a legal proceeding can feel daunting, particularly during a time of grief. Thankfully, the probate process is not nearly as difficult as most people imagine. The role of the personal representative The person named as executor in the deceased person's will is responsible for starting probate. If there is no will, or if the named executor(s) is unable or unwilling to serve, the court will appoint an administrator. If the deceased ...

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