Are you looking for an estate planning lawyer in Kent?
At Eastside Estate Planning, we provide estate planning representation grounded in more than 10 years of work for clients in Kent and the surrounding area.
If you own property, hold financial accounts, or have a family in Kent, WA, an estate plan determines what happens to everything you have built if you pass away or become incapacitated. Without one, Washington's intestacy laws make those decisions for you.
Eastside Estate Planning helps individuals and married couples throughout Kent create estate plans that reflect their wishes and hold up when it matters. Founder Robert Franco has been practicing law for over 10 years and has focused on estate planning and probate throughout his career. We use flat-fee pricing, and every engagement starts with a free consultation. Reach out to a Kent, WA estate planning lawyer at Eastside Estate Planning to begin the process.
Estate Planning Lawyer Kent, WA
Estate planning is the process of creating legal documents that control how your assets are managed during your lifetime and distributed after your death. It covers far more than writing a will. A complete estate plan often includes trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, beneficiary designations, and in some cases, tax planning strategies designed around Washington's estate tax.
The median value of an owner-occupied home in Kent is $537,500, according to U.S. Census data. For most families, that home is their largest single asset. An estate plan makes sure it passes to the right people, on the right terms, without unnecessary court proceedings or tax liability.
Types of Estate Planning Cases We Handle in Kent
Every family's situation is different, and the documents you need depend on what you own, who depends on you, and what you want to happen if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself. We work with Kent families across the full range of estate planning matters.
- Wills. A will names who inherits your property, who serves as your personal representative, and who becomes guardian of your minor children. It is the foundation of most estate plans and the starting point for many of our Kent clients.
- Revocable trusts. A revocable trust lets you transfer ownership of assets during your lifetime so they pass to your beneficiaries without going through probate. You maintain full control while you are alive and can change the terms at any time.
- Irrevocable trusts. Once established, an irrevocable trust generally cannot be modified by the person who created it. These trusts serve specific purposes, such as asset protection, charitable giving, or reducing exposure to estate taxes.
- Powers of attorney. A durable power of attorney designates someone to manage your finances and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need to petition the court for authority to act on your behalf.
- Health care directives. Also known as advance directives, these documents let you specify your medical treatment preferences and name someone to make health care decisions for you if you cannot communicate them yourself.
- Estate tax planning. Washington imposes its own estate tax with an exemption threshold well below the federal level. Families with significant assets, including real estate and retirement accounts, may need specific planning strategies to reduce or avoid state estate tax liability.
- Probate. When someone dies, their estate may need to go through probate in Washington's court system. We help families get through that process, and we also help living clients structure their plans to avoid probate altogether.
- Trust administration. After a trust creator passes away, the trustee must carry out the terms of the trust. We advise trustees on their duties, help with asset distribution, and assist with any tax filings that arise.
Why Choose Eastside Estate Planning as My Estate Planning Lawyer in Kent?
Washington Estate Law Experience
Robert Franco has practiced estate planning and probate law in Washington for over 10 years. He earned his Master of Laws in Tax Law from the UW School of Law and his Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark Law School. He is a member of the WSBA Tax Section and the Cardozo Society of Washington State. That combination of education and sustained focus on estate law in this state is what Robert brings to every client engagement.
We've worked with Kent families across a wide variety of circumstances: single homeowners, married couples with young children who need guardian designations, business owners sorting out succession, blended families with competing interests, and retirees whose plans haven't been updated in years. The estate planning documents look different in each of those situations, but the process we follow is consistent, and the goal is the same: a plan that actually works when your family needs it.
Our firm uses flat-fee pricing for all estate planning services, so you know the cost before we begin.
What Is Important to Understand About Estate Planning Cases?
Key Estate Planning Documents and What They Do
Most people need more than a single document. The right combination depends on what you own, your family structure, and what you want to happen if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. These are the core documents we discuss with most clients.
- Last will and testament. Names your beneficiaries, appoints a personal representative, and designates guardians for minor children. A will goes through probate.
- Revocable living trust. Transfers property ownership during your lifetime so it bypasses probate at death. You serve as trustee and keep full control until you are incapacitated or pass away.
- Durable power of attorney. Authorizes someone to handle financial and legal matters if you cannot do so yourself. This is separate from a health care directive.
- Health care directive. Spells out your wishes for medical treatment and names a health care agent. Washington law recognizes this document under the state's directive statute.
- Pour-over will. Works alongside a living trust. Any assets not already in the trust at the time of death are "poured over" into it during probate.
What Are Important Aspects of an Estate Planning Case?
The quality of an estate plan depends on details that are easy to overlook. A few of the most consequential issues we help Kent clients address from the start.
- Asset titling. Property and accounts must be titled correctly for the plan to function. A trust that is never funded accomplishes nothing.
- Beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts, life insurance, and pay-on-death accounts pass by beneficiary designation, not by your will. Outdated designations can override your entire plan.
- Washington's estate tax. The state imposes its own estate tax with a threshold lower than the federal level. Failing to account for it can cost families a substantial amount.
- Guardianship. If you have minor children, your will is where you name a guardian. Without that designation, the court decides who raises your children.
What Is the Estate Planning Timeline?
The timeline depends on the complexity of your estate, but most individuals and couples work through the process in a few weeks. Some plans take less time. Larger or more complex estates may take longer.
- Free consultation. We discuss your goals, your family, and your assets, and we recommend a planning approach.
- Design and drafting. We prepare the documents based on the information you provide and the approach we agree on.
- Review. We walk through every document with you, answer questions, and make changes if needed.
- Signing and notarization. We handle the execution of all documents in accordance with Washington law.
- Funding and implementation. We help you retitle assets, update beneficiary designations, and confirm that everything is in place.
What Should You Bring to Your Estate Planning Consultation?
You do not need to have everything organized before your first meeting. But the more information you bring, the more productive that conversation will be.
- A list of your assets, including real property, bank accounts, investment accounts, and retirement accounts
- Any existing estate planning documents, such as a prior will or trust
- Life insurance policies and beneficiary designations
- Names and contact information for the people you are considering as beneficiaries, trustees, agents, or guardians
- A general sense of what you want to happen with your assets and who you want involved
We walk through everything during your free consultation and explain what you need and why.
King County Probate Court and Local Resources
Kent sits in King County, and estate-related court matters are handled through the King County Superior Court. The court operates a Regional Justice Center in Kent itself, located on Fourth Avenue. Probate filings, guardianship petitions, and trust disputes all go through this court system.
King County also maintains a will repository through the Superior Court Clerk's Office, where individuals can file their original wills for safekeeping. The IRS provides additional information on federal estate and gift tax requirements. Families expecting to file a federal estate tax return or considering lifetime gifting strategies should review those resources alongside their Washington-specific plan.
Reach Out to Eastside Estate Planning to Schedule a Consultation
If you live in Kent and have been putting off your estate plan, now is a good time to start. We offer free consultations and flat-fee pricing for all estate planning work. Whether you need a simple will, a full trust-based plan, or updates to existing documents, we will walk you through every step. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a Kent, WA estate planning attorney.