Having a friend or relative with a disability may complicate your estate planning process. After all, if you give cash or other assets to your loved one, you may inadvertently make him or her ineligible for Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and other means-tested...
If you own a business and want to plan for your retirement, you can think about liquidating your company or selling it. If you have hard-working, loyal employees, you may want to give one of them the right of first refusal. But is this the best business decision for...
Business owners considering the sale of their enterprise in Washington State generally need to resolve any outstanding tax issues. For example, if your business has past-due tax liabilities, a potential buyer may not want to take on those debts. The Internal Revenue...
If you have a child with special needs, you may worry about his or her care after your death. While you may use your estate plan to leave assets to your son or daughter, doing so may render him or her ineligible for vital needs-based government benefits. To ensure...
When you own a property in Washington and want to leave it to a loved one after your death, one way to do so involves something called a transfer-on-death deed. A way to leave your home behind to someone without listing it in a will, the transfer-on-death deed offers...
While estate planning is important for everyone, it is of particular concern if you are part of a blended family. You or your spouse may have children from a previous relationship as well as with each other. If you do not have an estate plan or it is insufficiently...
While a tax audit can seem daunting, cooperating with the IRS can help the process go as smoothly as possible. You should closely follow the instructions you receive on all official communications about your audit. These five errors can prolong the process of your...
Most working Americans must file tax returns every year. Those who fail to do so may face serious repercussions. If you have yet to file your tax return and the deadline has passed, you may be wondering how to handle the situation and fulfill your obligations as soon...
Many Washington state residents choose to bypass probate by leaving the entire estate to the surviving spouse. Depending on your circumstances, this arrangement, called a community property agreement, may not be appropriate for your estate. These are the common issues...
There are quite a few companies running advertisements these days claiming to provide debt relief. Most of these ‘services’ provide no debt eliminations but instead can charge the consumer hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in fees resulting in higher debt than...
