Estate Planning Lawyer Marysville, WA
Most people think about estate planning in the abstract for years before they actually do anything about it. Then something happens. A health scare. A new baby. A friend's family goes through a difficult probate process. Whatever the impetus, once you decide it's time to create an estate plan, you want representation from an attorney who has the knowledge and experience necessary to help.
Our Marysville, WA estate planning lawyer works with individuals and married couples across Snohomish County to build plans that are actually designed for their situations, plans that reflect what you own, who you care about, and what you want to happen. Eastside Estate Planning offers free consultations.
Why Choose Eastside Estate Planning for Your Marysville Estate Plan?
Attorney and Founder Robert Franco
Robert Franco founded Eastside Estate Planning in 2022 after more than a decade of legal practice. He earned his J.D. from Lewis and Clark College in 2013 and went on to earn an LL.M. in Tax Law from the University of Washington School of Law in 2018. Prior to founding the firm, he worked in-house in roles that gave him a grounding in the tax and planning considerations that later became central to his practice. He is licensed to practice law in Washington and holds membership in the Cardozo Society of Washington State and the Washington Bar Association's Tax Section. Our firm is also highly rated on Avvo.
Focused Practice, Flat-Fee Pricing
Eastside Estate Planning handles estate planning and probate. If you're working with us, you're working with attorneys whose days are spent thinking about trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and Washington's tax landscape.
Our flat-fee pricing model means you know the cost before you commit. No hourly billing surprises. That clarity matters when you're already navigating complicated decisions about your family's future.
Education-First Approach
A recurring theme in how clients describe working with this firm is that they actually understood what they were signing. Robert takes the time to explain the documents and the reasoning behind each provision.
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“Our experience with Robert as our trust lawyer has been nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we first met, we were met with a level of professionalism and expertise that immediately put our minds at ease. Robert truly understands the intricacies of estate planning, and he guided us through the process with remarkable ease and expertise. Robert’s attention to detail was impressive, and he left no stone unturned in ensuring that our trust and will were ironclad and comprehensive. He was thorough in his explanations, answering all of our questions with patience and clarity. He also took the time to address any concerns we had, making us feel incredibly comfortable throughout the entire process. I cannot recommend Robert highly enough to anyone in need of a trust lawyer.”
- Inbal Shani
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
What Is Estate Planning and Why Does It Matter?
Estate planning is the process of documenting your wishes for your property, your health care, and the people you care for. It's not just for the wealthy. Anyone who owns a home, has savings, has minor children, or simply cares about what happens to their family needs a plan in place.
In Washington state, dying without a plan means the state's intestacy statutes determine who inherits your assets. Those defaults may not match your intentions at all. Your estate also passes through probate, a court-supervised process that takes time, costs money, and puts your private financial affairs on the public record.
Under RCW 11.12.020, a valid will in Washington must be signed by the testator and witnessed by at least two competent individuals. Getting these requirements wrong can invalidate the entire document. Beyond that, a properly drafted will still passes through probate. For many Marysville families, a revocable living trust is a better solution precisely because it avoids that court process entirely.
Washington also imposes its own state estate tax under RCW 83.100.040, separate from the federal estate tax and with its own exemption thresholds. Married couples in particular may need specialized trust planning to preserve both spouses' exemptions and minimize what gets paid to the state rather than passed to the next generation.
Types of Estate Planning Cases We Handle in Marysville, WA
Our firm handles a full range of estate planning matters for individuals and married couples. Below is an overview of what we offer. If you have a specific situation in mind, we encourage you to schedule a consultation so we can walk you through the options that actually apply to your circumstances.
- Revocable Living Trust. A revocable living trust allows your estate to transfer to your beneficiaries without going through probate court. Under RCW 11.103, a revocable trust can be amended or revoked at any time during your life. It offers privacy, efficiency, and flexibility that a will alone cannot provide.
- Last Will and Testament. A last will and testament names your beneficiaries, designates guardians for minor children, and appoints the person responsible for administering your estate. Even clients who use a living trust as the primary vehicle often still need a pour-over will as a backstop.
- Power of Attorney. A durable power of attorney authorizes someone you trust to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Standard forms often fall short for complex situations. We draft documents that address the specific authorities your agent may need, including digital assets and trust management.
- Health Care Directive. Also called a living will or advance directive, this document states your wishes for medical treatment if you're unable to communicate them. It also designates a health care agent to make decisions on your behalf. This is one of the most important documents in any plan and one of the most frequently overlooked.
- Irrevocable Trust. An irrevocable trust removes assets from your taxable estate and can serve purposes ranging from Medicaid planning to asset protection to charitable giving. Unlike a revocable trust, changes require consent of the beneficiaries. These structures require precise drafting and are not appropriate for every situation.
- Tax Planning. Washington's estate tax applies to estates above a certain threshold, independent of the federal tax. Tax planning for married couples in particular often involves AB trust structures or similar strategies to make full use of both spouses' Washington exemptions.
- Probate. When a loved one passes away with a will but no trust, or with assets that haven't been transferred into a trust, those assets typically go through probate. We guide families through Washington's probate process, helping them understand timelines, court filings, creditor notice requirements, and final distribution.
Washington Legal Requirements for Estate Planning
Washington statutes set the framework for each of the core estate planning documents, and the requirements vary depending on which instrument is at issue.
Will validity under RCW 11.12.020. RCW 11.12.020 requires a valid Washington will to be in writing, signed by the testator, and attested by at least two competent witnesses. Holographic wills, meaning unwitnessed handwritten documents, are not recognized in Washington. A will executed in another state may still be honored if it complied with the laws of the state of execution, but anyone relocating to Olympia from elsewhere should have their existing documents reviewed to confirm the plan still produces the intended result under current Washington law.
Intestate succession under RCW 11.04.015. When an Olympia resident dies without a valid will, RCW 11.04.015 controls the distribution of the estate. A surviving spouse who has children with the decedent receives all community property, while the decedent's separate property is divided between the surviving spouse and the children. That formula often diverges from what the decedent would have chosen, and in blended-family situations it can place real financial pressure on a surviving spouse who suddenly shares ownership of inherited assets with stepchildren.
Washington estate tax under RCW 83.100. Washington imposes a standalone estate tax under RCW 83.100, separate from the federal estate tax regime. For deaths in 2026, the individual exclusion stands at $3,076,000. The top marginal rate climbs to 35 percent on taxable amounts above $9 million. Unlike the federal unified credit, the Washington exemption is not portable between spouses. That non-portability is one of the most commonly misunderstood features of state-level planning for married couples and frequently shapes the structure recommended for couples with significant assets.
Power of attorney requirements under RCW 11.125. Washington's Uniform Power of Attorney Act is codified at RCW 11.125. Any power of attorney executed in Washington on or after January 1, 2017, must meet the signing requirements set out in RCW 11.125.050 to be enforceable. A power of attorney designated as durable under RCW 11.125.020 remains in effect after the principal's incapacity, which is precisely the moment when the document needs to function.
Important Aspects of an Olympia Estate Planning Case
Selecting the Right Document Structure
The right combination of documents looks markedly different for a 35-year-old with two young children than for a 60-year-old couple with a paid-off house and substantial retirement savings. A single individual with modest assets is often well-served by a will, a durable power of attorney, and a healthcare directive. A married couple whose combined estate approaches the Washington exemption typically needs a more structured plan, often including a revocable trust and deliberate tax planning provisions. We work through the right questions with each client before recommending a particular structure.
The Real Risk of Skipping Probate Planning
Most clients want their estate to pass to their family without court involvement, but that outcome does not occur automatically. A will still goes through probate. A revocable trust avoids probate, but only for assets that have actually been retitled into the trust's name. Property acquired after the trust was established but never transferred in, and accounts that lack proper beneficiary designations, can still land in probate court. We walk every client through the funding process so the plan operates the way it was designed to operate.
Planning for Incapacity, Not Just Death
A durable power of attorney and a healthcare directive address what happens if you become unable to make your own decisions. Without those documents, a family member seeking authority to handle your finances or direct your medical care typically must petition a Washington court for guardianship or conservatorship. The process is slow, expensive, and a matter of public record. The risk applies to anyone who has not documented their wishes in advance, regardless of age.
Keeping Plans Current After Life Changes
An estate plan is not a one-time exercise. Marriage and divorce, the arrival of grandchildren, the sale or purchase of significant property, a move into or out of Washington, and amendments to state law can each alter how the existing plan performs. The 2025 update to Washington's estate tax statute revised the rate structure and raised the exemption, with practical consequences for how a number of pre-existing plans now function. Reviewing and updating documents after major life events is not optional if the plan is meant to hold up.
The Stakes Are Higher for Blended Families
Blended families require a level of drafting precision that off-the-shelf estate plans rarely deliver. Without targeted provisions, assets intended for a surviving spouse can eventually pass to that spouse's children from a prior relationship rather than to the children of the first marriage. The opposite problem also occurs: overly rigid drafting can leave a surviving spouse financially exposed during their lifetime. Balancing those competing interests calls for deliberate distribution language and trust structures, not generic templates with names dropped into blank fields.
Contact Eastside Estate Planning
If you've been putting off estate planning, now is a reasonable time to start. The process doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't have to take months. A free consultation with our Marysville estate planning attorney gives you a clear picture of what your situation requires and what it will cost. At Eastside Estate Planning, we develop the right estate plan to meet your needs, so you can approach the future with confidence.
Contact us to schedule your free consultation.