Kent Wills Lawyer

Are you looking for a wills lawyer in Kent, WA?

At Eastside Estate Planning, we are trusted wills attorneys serving clients across Kent and the surrounding area.

If you want to decide who inherits your property and who raises your children, a will is the document that records those instructions. Our Kent, WA wills lawyer prepares wills for individuals and married couples who want their wishes followed after they are gone. Robert Franco founded Eastside Estate Planning and has practiced law for more than ten years, with a focus on estate planning, probate, and tax. We offer free consultations and flat-fee pricing, so the cost is settled before any drafting begins. Reach out when you are ready to talk through what your will should cover.

Wills Lawyer Kent, WA

A will is a legal document that names who receives your assets after death, who will carry out those wishes as executor, and who will serve as guardian for any minor children. It takes effect only after death, and you can revise it during your lifetime as circumstances change. In Kent, 57.2% of housing is owner-occupied, with a median home value of $587,800, which means a large share of residents hold real property that will pass to heirs. Property of that value rarely transfers cleanly without clear instructions. A Kent wills attorney can prepare a document that matches your assets, your family, and Washington law, and that holds up when it is needed.

Types of Wills We Handle in Kent

No two wills look the same. What belongs in yours depends on what you own, whom you want to provide for, and whether you have young children or a second marriage. We draft several kinds of wills for clients across Kent.

• Simple wills. For clients with straightforward estates, a simple will directs who receives property and names an executor. It suits people who own a home, bank accounts, and personal belongings without complicated holdings.
• Testamentary trusts. A will can create a trust that begins at death, which helps when you want assets managed for a beneficiary over time. This is common when leaving money to children or to a relative who needs support handling an inheritance.
• Pour-over wills. Used alongside a living trust, this type of will moves any assets left outside the trust into it at death. It works as a safety net so nothing is accidentally left out of your plan.
• Guardianship provisions. Parents of minor children use a will to name the person who would raise them. Without this, a court decides guardianship without your input.
• Wills for blended families. Second marriages and stepchildren call for careful drafting so that both a spouse and children from a prior relationship are provided for. We prepare provisions that reduce the chance of conflict later.
• Specific bequests. A will can leave particular items or amounts to named people or charities. This covers heirlooms, real property, and gifts that carry personal meaning.
• Will updates and codicils. Marriage, divorce, a new child, or a move can make an old will outdated. We revise existing wills so they reflect your current wishes and holdings.
• Wills for business owners. Owners need a plan for what happens to the company. A will can address ownership succession alongside the rest of the estate.

Why Choose Eastside Estate Planning as my Wills Lawyer in Kent, WA?

Flat-Fee Pricing and Free Consultations

You should know what a will costs before you commit. We work on flat-fee pricing, which means a fixed price for the work rather than an hourly bill that grows as questions come up. Consultations are free, so you can meet with us, learn your options, and decide without pressure. For many people, that predictability is the difference between putting off a will and finishing one.

Estate Planning Focus and Tax Training

Robert Franco founded the firm and concentrates his practice on estate planning, probate, and tax. He earned his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School and an LL.M. in Tax Law from the University of Washington, and he belongs to the Washington State Bar Association and its Tax Section, along with the Cardozo Society of Washington State. That estate and tax background is what you want from an estate planning lawyer in Kent, WA. It matters most when an estate involves real property, retirement accounts, or possible estate tax.

What Is Important to Understand About Wills?

For a will to be valid in Washington, an adult of sound mind must sign it, and it must be witnessed the way the law requires. Beyond that step, a strong will fits together with the other documents that make up an estate plan. A Kent wills lawyer can help you assemble those pieces so they work as one plan. Washington also recognizes both community property and separate property, and that distinction shapes how much of your estate you can direct through a will. We explain how those rules apply to your assets before any drafting begins.

Key Documents in a Washington Estate Plan

Most plans rely on a few core documents, each with a different job. The gaps between them are where problems tend to show up later.

• Will. Directs who receives your property and names an executor and guardian. Nearly everyone needs a will, even with a modest estate.
• Power of attorney. Lets someone you choose handle your finances if you cannot. A durable power of attorney stays in effect if you lose capacity.
• Health care directive. States your wishes for medical care and names who speaks for you. A health care directive guides both your family and your doctors.
• Living trust. Holds assets so they pass outside probate. It can also keep your affairs private, since probate is a public court process. Whether a living trust fits depends on your goals and what you own.

What Are Important Aspects of a Will?

A will only works if it is current and correctly executed. Naming the right executor matters, since that person gathers assets, pays debts, and distributes what remains. Parents should give real thought to choosing a guardian for minor children. A will should also be reviewed after major life events, and we update your will when your family or property changes. An out-of-date will can create the same problems as having no will at all. Clear language matters as much as the signatures, because vague wording invites disputes among the people left behind. A Kent, WA wills attorney drafts terms specific enough to be followed without argument.

What Happens Without a Will

When someone dies without a will in Washington, state law decides who inherits. Under the state's intestate succession rules, a surviving spouse receives all community property and a share of separate property, and the rest goes to children or other relatives. Community property generally passes to a surviving spouse, while separate property is split between the spouse and other relatives under a fixed formula. That formula applies no matter how well it fits your family. Those defaults may not match what you would have chosen, and they leave no room for guardianship instructions or specific gifts. Administration can also take longer and cost more without a will, because the court appoints an administrator and oversees the process. Those are the practical costs of leaving no estate plan in place.

What Is the Will and Probate Timeline?

Drafting a will is usually a short process. Settling an estate afterward takes longer. How long the estate side runs depends on its size, whether anyone contests the will, and how quickly debts and taxes are resolved. A general sequence looks like this:

• Initial consultation to review your assets, family, and goals.
• Drafting and review of the will and any related documents.
• Signing with the required witnesses.
• Safe storage of the original, with copies as needed.
• After death, the estate may go through probate, which often takes several months or more.

What Should You Bring to Your Wills Consultation?

A productive first meeting depends on a clear picture of what you own. Helpful items include:

• A list of major assets, including real property, accounts, and personal property of value.
• The names of the people you want as executor, guardian, and beneficiaries.
• Any existing will or estate planning documents.

You do not need every detail in hand. We can work from what you have and fill gaps during the meeting. Expect a straightforward conversation and a fixed price before any drafting begins.

King County Probate Court and Local Resources

Kent sits in King County, and probate matters here move through the county Superior Court. A few local resources:

• The Maleng Regional Justice Center, the King County Superior Court location in Kent, at 401 Fourth Avenue North.
• The King County Superior Court Ex Parte and Probate department, which handles the appointment of personal representatives.
• Washington Courts, for guidance on locating a will filed in probate.

Reach Out to Eastside Estate Planning to Schedule a Consultation

A will is one of the more direct ways to protect the people you care about. We offer free consultations and flat-fee pricing for wills and the documents that go with them. Contact us to set a time that fits your schedule. We will review your situation, explain your choices, and give you a fixed price before any work starts.