Reed, Longyear, Malnati & Ahrens, PLLC partner Jason W. Burnett prevailed in the Court of Appeals for his client Gloria Petelle. On May 6, 2019, the Washington Court of Appeals Division published its opinion In the Matter of the Estate of Michael A. Petelle, Gloria Petelle v. Michelle Ersfeld Petelle, reversed the trial court and remanded the case with instructions to grant the entire relief sought by Mr. Burnett at the trial court level for Ms. Petelle, Michael Petelle’s surviving parent.  The Court of Appeals held that a separation contract that states it is a complete and final settlement of all marital and property rights and obligations includes a complete and final settlement of a spouse’s statutory right to inherit, and that Michael Petelle’s wife, Michelle Ersfeld-Petelle waived her right to intestate succession by signing a separation contract that was a “final settlement of all their marital and property rights and obligations.”

See the decision in its entirety here.

Happy anniversary! As of May 1^st, Mike Malnati, Shane Yelish, and Joshua Reinertson have been with RLMA for 33 years, 9 years and 2 years, respectively. Congratulations on the years you’ve been with us, and cheers to many more! 

One of our namesakes, Michael C. Malnati has over 30 years of legal experience counseling individuals and small businesses regarding all aspects of real estate transactions, general business and corporate matters and creditors’ rights. Whether preparing or reviewing documentation on complex commercial transactions, or helping clients analyze the risks and options involved when considering litigation, Michael brings experience and problem solving skills to assist clients to formulate the best plan of action.

Shane Yelish works closely with contractors, developers, and other small businesses on a broad range of issues related to real estate development, business formation, construction, and dispute resolution. Providing creative solutions to solve complex problems, Shane also guides clients through complicated business and real estate transactions.

One of our newest associates, Joshua enjoys working closely with clients to develop estate plans that embody RLMA’s tenets of “proactive planning” and “sensible solutions.” Joshua has experience drafting wills and trusts which implement client goals, such as ensuring that client assets are used to set up scholarship endowments, or simply reducing tax liabilities to ensure wealth is available for the use of future generations.

Losing your spouse is devastating. It is important to reach out for professional advice on estate planning and financial management during this challenging time.

Check out this article from the New York Times regarding estate planning and management after the loss of a spouse.

Feel free to reach out to any of our Estate Planning attorneys if you need help, or have any questions.