Kirkland Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Kirkland, WA

If you are making arrangements in Kirkland about what to do with everything you own after your death, and your other affairs that should be wrapped up at that time, you are in the process of "estate planning."

Estate planning typically requires professional legal and financial advice, because of the complexity and importance of the issues involved. A poorly-executed estate plan can frequently end with survivors suing each other, and prevent your intentions from being effectuated.

In addition to deciding what to do with your assets after your death, your estate plan should also include things that might become relevant during life. Power of attorney is a big one. Power of attorney is an arrangement in which you give another person the ability to make decisions for you, if you become incapacitated. Additionally, effective estate planning can help reduce the effect of taxes and court fees on your final disposition to your chosen beneficiaries.

A skilled estate planner in Kirkland can make the process of planning your estate go much more smoothly, and maximize the chances of your wishes directly being carried out with legal force.

Common Features of Kirkland Estates

Will: This is a legal document which transfers ownership of the testator's (the person making the will) property to named beneficiaries after the testator's death. The beneficiaries can be just about anyone the testator chooses, but smaller estates, usually only include family members, and maybe very close friends. If you want, you can place conditions on gifts (say, leaving a certain amount of money to your son, but only if he graduates college before he turns 25 - this is just an example). However, a will can't actually compel anyone to do anything, and some conditional gifts won't be enforced, normally because they involve an illegal act, or require a person to marry or refrain from marrying a particular person.

Living Will: Living wills are also very important for most people. Basically, a living will tells everyone concerned (your next of kin, and your doctor) what type of medical care you want if you become incapacitated. It normally includes the circumstances under which a person wishes to be kept on life support, when they want to be taken off of life support, and, sometimes, instructions on when medical staff should and should not attempt resuscitation.

Power of Attorney: This is an arrangement in which you give someone else, typically a trusted family member, the right to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf, in case you become unable to make or express your own decisions.

Funeral Arrangements: Whatever your preference on this matter (if you have a preference) you should make it known to your family both verbally and in writing. If you have very specific wishes concerning the final disposition of your mortal remains, you should not put those instructions in your will. Or, if you do, you should also put them somewhere else. Wills are normally not read for quite some time after a person dies, and the funeral is typically long over by then, so it will be too late to follow your instructions.

Do I Need a Kirkland Estates Lawyer?

A poorly drafted or executed Kirkland estate plan can have major negative consequences. For example, it might be confusing to the people who are most directly affected by it. This confusion can frequently lead to costly litigation. For that reason, the assistance of an efficient estate planning attorney can be invaluable.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Kirkland

Kirkland, Washington is a suburb of Seattle, and is located in King County. It has a population of approximately 47,000 people. However, in June of 2011, Kirkland will annex some surrounding unincorporated territory, adding approximately 33,000 residents.

Kirkland was first settled by Peter Kirk in 1886. Kirk saw that the area would be a good location for many industries, including steel production and shipping. Because Kirkland is situated near Lake Washington, which, thanks to the Lake Washington Ship Canal, is directly connected to the Pacific Ocean, it is extremely valuable as an inland harbor.

Kirkland is currently home to several entertainment companies, as well as several software companies, particularly those that specialize in the development of video games. This is a rapidly-growing section of the entertainment industry, and large game companies attract many talented, highly-trained professionals, including programmers, visual artists, and voice actors. As a result, Kirkland is in pretty good economic shape, with just over 5% of the population living below the poverty line, and a median family income of over ,000.

If you live in Kirkland, Washington or the surrounding areas, and need legal services, you're in luck. There are many Kirkland, Washington lawyers who are able to help you with whatever legal issue you may be facing.

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