Clear guides to Washington law, legal aid, and your rights
Posts tagged with estate planning
The executor of a will carries out everything the will instructs after the person dies. It is a real job with real legal responsibility. Here is what the role involves, what makes someone a good choice, and how to name one correctly.
Simply leaving someone out of your will does not always disinherit them. Here is how to do it correctly, who cannot be fully disinherited under state law, and how to make the decision hold up if it is challenged.
A holographic will is handwritten and signed by the testator with no witnesses required. About half of U.S. states recognize them. Here is how they work, where they fail, and when one actually makes sense.
Dying without a will means the state decides who gets your property using a formula that has nothing to do with your wishes. Here is how intestate succession works, who it leaves out, and what it costs your family.
A will written years ago may no longer reflect your wishes after marriage, divorce, new children, or major asset changes. Here is when to update, how codicils and new wills differ, and what informal changes cannot do.
A will that does not meet your state's execution requirements has no legal effect, regardless of how clearly it expresses the testator's wishes. Here is what every state requires and where the rules most commonly diverge.
A will does not need to be long to be legally effective. It needs the right form, the right signatures, and the right witnesses. Here is what every valid will must include and how to get the execution right for your state.
Writing a living will requires thinking through hard questions first and then turning your answers into a valid document. Here is what to include, how to address each type of treatment decision, and how to execute it correctly for your state.
Living will and healthcare directive are often used interchangeably, but they are not always the same thing. One records treatment instructions. The other designates a decision-maker. Whether they are one document or two depends on your state.
A durable POA has no automatic expiration date, but several things can end its validity including death, divorce, revocation, and defective execution. Here is when a POA terminates and what to do about each situation.
