Gig Harbor Estate Planning And Probate Blog

Sound estate planning is important to prevent legal confusion

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

The more money your estate holds, the more complicated things will be for your heirs after you die, especially if you die without an estate plan. This is why it's essential for individuals who have substantial assets to create a rock-solid plan that will be followed after their deaths.

Estates in Washington that don't have any kind of estate plans associated with them could be substantially diminished in probate proceedings while relatives argue over who gets what. The ongoing, two-year estate battle regarding the late pop musician Prince's estate that's playing out in another state is proof of just how bad things can get.

When families argue: The issue of the contested will

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

When individuals create a will, they expect that it is going to be followed. In many cases, the estate will go through probate without any issues. There are other instances in which a person who has an interest in the estate will question the will. This might lead to a contested will.

There are only certain situations that can lead to someone challenging a will. It isn't possible for some random person to decide that he or she wants to hold up the distribution of an estate and file a will challenge. Here are some points to know about when a will contest is legal.

A trust-planning checklist for your special needs child

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

When you have a special needs child, setting up a trust to pay for your child's needs in the event of your death or incapacitation is virtually a necessity. No matter what your financial situation happens to be, a special needs trust can be enormously beneficial for your child.

First, your special needs trust will allow for the disbursement of funds to your child to finance his or her care without affecting your child's eligibility for vital government benefits. Second, even if you're not wealthy, you can finance the trust with a life insurance policy.

Commercial leases require negotiation and attention to detail

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Monday, January 22, 2018.

A commercial lease is necessary for business owners who don't own a property but need a space to house the business. These leases aren't as simple as residential leases so you must give great attention to the details.

There are several points that you need to remember when you are negotiating and reviewing a commercial lease. Here are a few to get you started:

Are you ready to create your estate plan?

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in Estate Planning on Thursday, December 21, 2017.

Protecting your estate may take many forms, depending on your particular needs and the goals that you prioritize. However, some pieces of wisdom apply to anyone creating or maintaining an estate plan.

If it's been some time since you revisited your estate plan, or if you're considering making your first plan soon, be sure to take time to research just what tools are available. You may find that you have more options than you realize.

Blended families: Complicated families need estate plans

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Thursday, November 30, 2017.

Blended families, or those with step children, half brothers and sisters, stepmothers and stepfathers, bring two families together as one. The problem with blended families is that many people aren't related to one another. When it comes to estate planning, this can be an issue.

Although blended families outnumber the traditional families in the United States, they're still complicated when it comes to estate planning. Instead of having a natural flow of property from a father to son, for example, there could be a wife, ex-wife, son, stepson or others looking to benefit from a person's passing.

Small business owners need a comprehensive estate plan

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Monday, October 23, 2017.

As a small business owner, you have poured your adulthood into building your business and growing it. You probably think that you have everything covered when it comes to the business, but there is one thing that you might have missed -- your estate plan.

You aren't going to live forever. You need to have an estate plan that includes the business. This process can range from simply if you are the sole owner of the company to much more complex if you have business partners. Consider these points to determine what you need to do:

Have you reviewed your will lately? If not, do it now

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Monday, September 25, 2017.

Let's face it -- creating a will isn't something that most people would consider one of their favorite activities. Still, this is important for all adults to do so that they aren't leaving their loved ones without knowing their wishes.

Once you create a will, you can't just shove it in a safe and forget that it exists. You should review your will periodically or when things in your life change. This ensures that the will contains your wishes.

Determine what you need to legalize your business

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Wednesday, August 23, 2017.

The last thing that you need when you are starting a new business is to find out that you didn't take care of the required permits and licenses to formalize your business legally. These are important because you can face serious consequences if you don't have everything in order.

Of course, the permits and licenses you need vary based on the type of business that you are opening. It is best to work with someone who is familiar with your industry to ensure that you don't miss anything important.

Estate planning for blended families

On behalf of Gordon & Alvestad, PLLC posted in blog on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.

Estate planning is often straightforward, but there are some cases that are a bit more complicated. One of these instances is when you have a blended family. You have to determine how to set up your estate so that everyone gets what you feel they should receive.

There are many different ways that you can ensure your estate is set up in a way that lets your heirs and beneficiaries know exactly what you want and in a manner that makes it as easy as possible for them to handle everything.