Seattle Estate Planning Lawyers
Seattle estate planning counsel for tech-equity families, business owners, and long-tenured Washington households: wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and Washington estate tax planning, with scope and fees discussed before engagement.
Serving Seattle, Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, and communities throughout Washington.
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Seattle Estate Planning & Trusts
Estate planning involves choices about people, property, and decision-making. A lawyer can explain how a will, trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives might work together, including the steps needed to implement the chosen plan. Probate and tax consequences depend on the assets, documents, and applicable law.
What We Offer
Wills & Living Trusts
Foundational documents that direct how your assets will be distributed and who will care for minor children.
Revocable Living Trusts
Avoid probate, maintain privacy, and provide for seamless asset management during incapacity.
Irrevocable Trusts
Asset protection, tax planning, and Medicaid planning through various irrevocable trust structures.
Powers of Attorney
Financial and healthcare powers of attorney that ensure someone you trust can act on your behalf.
Healthcare Directives
Living wills and advance medical directives that communicate your medical treatment preferences under state law.
Beneficiary Designations
Review and coordinate beneficiary designations across retirement accounts, life insurance, and other assets.
Estate Planning & Trusts in Seattle
Seattle, WA Estate Planning Lawyers
From South Lake Union to Ballard's locks, Seattle households carry a uniquely complicated balance sheet: vested RSUs from Amazon, Microsoft, or Expedia, a craftsman in Queen Anne that has quadrupled in value, retirement accounts built over decades, and—often—a blended family or second marriage adding another layer. Our Seattle estate planning lawyers build plans around that real-world complexity rather than a generic template. Whether you are a first-time parent in Fremont drafting an initial will, a Capitol Hill couple revisiting a trust after a remarriage, or a West Seattle business owner planning succession, estate planning in Seattle has to account for community property, Washington estate tax, and the new Washington capital gains tax in a single coordinated document set.
As Seattle estate planning lawyers, we draft revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, durable financial powers of attorney, healthcare directives and HIPAA releases, community property agreements under Ch. 26.16 RCW, and irrevocable trust structures where Washington estate tax exposure justifies them. Plans are drafted against RCW Title 11 (the Washington probate and trust code) with attention to TEDRA procedures, nonprobate transfers, and Washington estate tax under RCW Ch. 83.100. For deaths from July 1 through December 31, 2026, the state exclusion is $3 million—materially lower than the federal threshold. The date of death determines the applicable exclusion and rate schedule; deductions also affect whether tax is due. Our Seattle trust lawyer work also coordinates beneficiary designations on 401(k)s, IRAs, and brokerage accounts so the trust actually funds the way it was designed to.
Relevant Law advises Seattle clients on Washington estate planning and coordinates with clients' outside counsel for property in other jurisdictions. The engagement scope and fees are discussed before legal work begins; the scope can include funding assistance and a follow-up review. Call (425) 655-7875 to begin with a phone conversation with the Client Intake Team. Intake does not provide legal advice; a lawyer advises through a paid engagement.
Why Choose Us
The Relevant Law Difference
- 1Personalized planning based on your family situation and goals
- 2Comprehensive approach that coordinates all estate planning documents
- 3Deep experience with state-specific probate, trust, and estate tax law
- 4Ongoing relationship to update your plan as life changes
Recognition & Trust
Relevant Law advises Washington families and business owners on estate planning with clear scope and fee discussions and coordination with clients' outside counsel for out-of-state assets.
Why Seattle, WA clients choose us
- Washington estate documents drafted under RCW Title 11 and Ch. 26.16
- clear scope and fee discussions quoted before engagement, with funding assistance included
- Embedded advisory relationships with Seattle business owners, tech-equity families, and blended households
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Estate Planning & Trusts
How much does estate planning cost in Seattle?
Fees depend on the scope and complexity of the matter. The Client Intake Team gathers the initial details, and the firm provides a written engagement scope and fee information before legal work begins.
Do I need a trust or just a will in Washington?
In Washington, many families do fine with a well-drafted will because the state's probate process under RCW Title 11 is comparatively streamlined and inexpensive. A revocable living trust can be useful when you own real estate outside Washington, want to keep your affairs private, have a blended family or minor children, or want to avoid probate for properly funded assets. A revocable trust does not by itself reduce estate tax; tax planning depends on the applicable date-of-death rules and the specific provisions and assets involved. A Seattle living trust lawyer on our team will walk through your specific assets and goals before recommending one path. The honest answer is that a trust is a tool, not a default.
How do I find an estate planning lawyer near me in Seattle?
Relevant Law serves Seattle clients, including Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, Fremont, the University District, West Seattle, and Magnolia, through the Bellevue practice. Start by phone with the Client Intake Team to discuss your needs and routing; that conversation does not provide legal advice. A lawyer advises through a paid engagement and discusses document-specific signing arrangements. Call (425) 655-7875 to begin.
How can I avoid probate in Seattle?
Seattle probate avoidance typically uses a revocable living trust funded with your real estate and brokerage accounts, combined with proper beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance. Washington also recognizes community property agreements under Ch. 26.16 RCW and transfer-on-death deeds, which can avoid probate for married couples and single-parcel homeowners without a full trust. The right tool depends on whether you own property outside Washington, whether you have minor or special-needs beneficiaries, and your privacy preferences. We map the options against your asset list rather than defaulting to one structure.
What powers of attorney do I need in Seattle?
Every adult in Seattle should have two: a durable financial power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney with an advance directive (living will). The financial POA lets a trusted person manage banking, taxes, and real estate if you become incapacitated, and Washington requires specific statutory language for it to be honored by financial institutions. The healthcare documents direct end-of-life care and HIPAA access for providers across systems like UW Medicine, Swedish, and Virginia Mason. We draft both as part of every Seattle wills and trusts package, not as add-ons.
Does Washington have an estate tax I need to plan for?
Yes. Washington's exclusion and rate schedule depend on the date of death, not the filing date. For deaths from July 1 through December 31, 2026, the exclusion is $3 million and graduated marginal rates range from 10% to 20%. For January 1 through June 30, 2026, the exclusion was $3,076,000 and rates ranged from 10% to 35%. For July 1 through December 31, 2025, the exclusion was $3 million with rates of 10% to 35%; for January 1 through June 30, 2025, it was $2,193,000 with rates of 10% to 20%. Rates apply to the Washington taxable estate after the exclusion and allowable deductions, not the entire gross estate. A return may be required even when no tax is due. Washington does not allow portability of an unused exclusion between spouses. The federal basic exclusion is $15 million for 2026. Check Washington Department of Revenue tables for other dates, including annual adjustments from 2027. Planning may include credit shelter trusts, lifetime gifts, or charitable arrangements after reviewing the family's assets and goals.
Related Resources
Estate Planning Guides from Relevant Law
Foundations
Estate Planning: Why Every Adult Needs a Plan and How to Start
What an estate plan includes, why you need one, and how to get started.
Trusts
Revocable Living Trusts: Strategic Estate Planning for Modern Families
When trusts make sense, what they accomplish, and when simpler tools are a better fit.
Estate Tax
The New $15M Estate Tax Exemption: What It Means for Your Wealth
How the new permanent federal exemption reshapes wealth planning for families.
Business Owners
Business Succession Planning: A Strategic Framework for Ownership Transition
Valuation, legal structures, and tax planning for owners transitioning the business into their estate plan.
Areas We Serve
Estate Planning & Trusts Services Across Washington
The Seattle team provides estate planning & trusts services throughout Washington. Seattle is served by Relevant Law's Bellevue regional hub.Whether you're located in Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, or anywhere in the surrounding area, your lawyer provides the same high-quality legal services.
Practice Breadth in Seattle
We also help Seattle businesses with formation, contracts, M&A, and succession — so the same trusted office handles both your family plan and your company's legal foundation.
Also Available
Business Law
Formation, contracts, M&A, and ongoing advisory counsel for Seattle businesses.
Also Available
Business Formation
LLC and corporation formation, operating agreements, and entity structuring for Seattle founders.
Also Available
Contracts & Agreements
Commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation for Seattle businesses.
Also Available
Mergers & Acquisitions
Buy-side and sell-side M&A support for Seattle owners and acquirers.
Also Available
Business Succession
Buy-sell agreements, transition planning, and exit strategy for Seattle business owners.
Also Available
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Personal wills and trust planning for individuals across Seattle.
Ready to Schedule a Consultation?
Start with a phone conversation with the Client Intake Team serving Seattle. They explain fit and next steps; legal advice is provided through a paid lawyer engagement.