Tacoma Estate Planning Lawyer

Trusted estate planning lawyers with over 10 years of experience.

If you need a Tacoma, WA estate planning lawyer to help you draft a will, set up a trust, or handle a probate matter, our firm can help. At Eastside Estate Planning, we draft wills and trusts for Washington families and have done so for over a decade. Our founder, Robert Franco, focuses his practice on estate planning and probate, and we operate on a flat-fee model so clients know the cost before any work begins. Contact us to talk through your situation.

Estate Planning Lawyer Tacoma, WA

An estate plan is a set of legal documents that direct what happens to your property, your minor children, and your medical care when you can't make those decisions yourself. A complete plan usually includes a will, a power of attorney, a health care directive, and often one or more trusts. The right combination depends on what you own, who your family is, and what you want to happen if you become incapacitated or pass away.

Estate planning isn't only for the wealthy. Washington has its own estate tax, separate from the federal one, and that catches many Tacoma families off guard. A Tacoma estate planning attorney can help you avoid probate where possible, reduce tax exposure, and create documents that hold up when they're tested. Even modest estates benefit from clear planning, because the alternative is letting state intestacy rules decide who inherits what. Those default rules rarely match what most people would actually choose for their families.

Types of Estate Planning Cases We Handle in Tacoma

Estate planning isn't one document or one decision. Most clients need a combination of services that fit their family, their assets, and where they are in life. Below are the matters we regularly handle for Tacoma clients.

• Wills. A will directs who inherits your property and names a guardian for minor children. We draft wills that comply with Washington execution requirements and reflect what you actually want to happen.
• Revocable Living Trusts. A revocable living trust keeps your estate out of probate and private. It's especially useful for blended families, property owners with assets in more than one state, and parents who want staged distributions to children.
• Irrevocable Trusts. When the goal is asset protection or tax planning, an irrevocable trust may be the right tool. These structures are more rigid than revocable trusts but offer protections the revocable version can't.
• Special Needs Trusts. Families with a child or relative who relies on government benefits need a trust that doesn't disqualify them. We draft special needs trusts that preserve eligibility and provide for quality of life.
• Powers of Attorney. This document lets someone you trust handle financial or legal matters if you can't. Standard forms often fall short, so we draft documents that address gifting, trust authority, and digital assets.
• Health Care Directives. Also called a living will, this document tells doctors and family what medical care you want if you're incapacitated. It removes guesswork at the worst possible moment.
• Estate Tax Planning. Washington's estate tax kicks in at a much lower threshold than the federal one. Married couples in particular benefit from estate tax planning that uses both spouses' exemptions.
• Trust Administration. When someone passes away with a trust in place, the successor trustee has work to do. We guide trustees through their duties, asset distributions, and tax filings.
• Probate. Not every estate avoids it. When probate is necessary, we handle the court filings, notices, and distributions for personal representatives in Pierce County and across Washington. Pierce County has its own filing procedures, and we know what the local court expects.

Why Choose Eastside Estate Planning for Estate Planning in Tacoma, WA?

Washington-Focused Estate Planning Background

Our founder, Robert Franco, has practiced estate planning law for over 10 years. He earned his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2013 and went on to complete an LL.M. in Tax Law from the University of Washington in 2018, giving him formal training in the tax issues that drive much of estate planning in this state. That tax background matters in Washington, where the state estate tax affects far more families than the federal one.

Robert is admitted to practice law in Washington. He is a member of the Cardozo Society of Washington State and the Tax Section of the Washington State Bar Association. His background in tax law shapes how the firm handles estate tax exposure, gifting strategies, and beneficiary planning for retirement accounts. Estate planning at our firm isn't a form-filling exercise. Each plan is drafted around the specific family and assets in front of us.

Flat-Fee Pricing

Most estate planning firms bill by the hour, which leaves clients unsure what the final bill will be. We don't operate that way. Our flat-fee estate planning model means you know the price before we start. No surprise invoices. No clock running during phone calls. Pricing for our services is published openly, so you can see what to expect before reaching out. Clients who have worked with hourly firms in the past often tell us the predictability is the part they value most.

Understanding Estate Planning Cases

Key Estate Planning Documents and What They Do

Most plans rest on a small group of documents. Each one has a specific job, and gaps between them cause most of the problems we see when families come to us after a loved one has died.

• Last Will and Testament. Directs distribution of probate assets and names guardians for minor children.
• Revocable Living Trust. Holds assets during your life, avoids probate at death, and can stage inheritances for beneficiaries who aren't ready for a lump sum.
• Durable Power of Attorney. Names someone to handle finances if you lose capacity.
• Health Care Directive. Documents your wishes for end-of-life and incapacity medical care.
• HIPAA Authorization. Lets named individuals access your medical information.
• Beneficiary Designations. Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by designation, not by will, and need to be coordinated with the rest of the plan.

Important Aspects in Your Estate Planning Case

Several factors shape what a Tacoma estate plan should look like. We discuss each of these in your consultation, and the answers change which documents you actually need. Two families with the same net worth often need very different plans because of how their assets are titled, who their beneficiaries are, and what protections they want in place.

• Whether you own property in more than one state
• Whether you have a blended family or children from a prior relationship
• Whether anyone in the family has special needs or addiction concerns
• The size of your estate relative to Washington's estate tax threshold
• Whether you own a business or rental real estate
• How you want minor children's inheritances managed

Estate Planning Case Timeline

Putting together a plan doesn't take as long as people expect. Most clients move from first meeting to signed documents within a few weeks. Larger estates or more complex family situations can take longer, but the general flow is the same.

• Initial consultation to identify goals and family situation
• Asset and beneficiary review
• Drafting of documents based on the plan we agree on
• Review meeting to walk through every document
• Signing meeting with required witnesses and notary
• Funding instructions for any trust, including retitling assets

What to Bring to Your Estate Planning Consultation

You don't need to arrive with a binder of paperwork. But a few items help us give you better answers in the first meeting.

• A rough list of your assets and approximate values
• Current beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance
• Any existing estate planning documents, even old ones
• Names of people you'd consider as executor, trustee, or guardian
• Questions about your family situation that you want addressed

Expect the consultation to take about an hour. By the end, you'll have a clear sense of what your plan should include and what it will cost. There's no obligation to move forward, and we don't pressure anyone to make decisions on the spot. Estate planning involves choices that deserve real thought, and most clients take a few days to consider what they want before we begin drafting.

Washington Legal Resources for Estate Planning

For Tacoma residents who want to research Washington law on their own, several state and federal resources are useful starting points. These won't replace working with an attorney, but they can answer general questions and help you understand the framework.

• The Washington State Legislature publishes the Revised Code of Washington, which contains all state statutes.
• The Washington Courts self-help center provides general information for residents working through the legal system without an attorney.
• The Washington Department of Revenue provides general information on Washington's estate tax.
• The IRS estate tax page covers the federal estate tax framework.
• The Washington State Bar Association maintains general legal resources for the public.

Reach Out to Eastside Estate Planning to Schedule a Consultation

We offer free initial consultations and flat-fee pricing for estate planning matters. In your first meeting, we'll discuss your family, your assets, and your goals. You'll leave with a clear picture of what your plan should look like and what it costs. Contact us to schedule a time that works for you.