Separate and Community Property Considerations for Personal and Estate Planning What’s yours, what’s mine, and what’s ours? In Washington State, it depends. Property interests become blurred once two people enter into a committed intimate relationship (aka “CIR”) or get married. Our laws provide guidelines that determine what is separate property and what is community property. […]
What is the “Dead Man’s Statute” and Why You Should Create an Estate Plan
You might think it is enough to tell your loved ones what you would like them to inherit from you, but your statements alone are not enough, and here is why: The Dead Man’s Statute, RCW 5.60.030, is designed to prevent interested parties from testifying against the decedent’s estate about interactions they had with the […]
Proactive Planning: A Quick Guide to Purchasing Insurance
An important variable in determining whether my clients will receive full value on their injury claim is their selection of insurance coverage and certain contract clauses buried in their insurance policy. Often a personal injury client believes they have “full” or “comprehensive” coverage; only to discover, at the most important time, they have not purchased […]
The Art of Personal and Estate Planning : An Overview for Artists
While Personal and Estate Planning can be complex and difficult for anyone to do, artists have the added burden and complexity of making specific provisions for their art to ensure their legacy. This blog post addresses some important items for an artist to consider while doing their estate planning, as well as provides some insight […]
Tipping in Washington State: FAQ for the Employer and Employee
I frequently receive questions about tipping from small business or restaurant owners and employees. The purpose of this article is to provide initial answers to a couple of common questions. As always, this is not intended to be legal advice and context is everything. If you have questions specific to your situation you should consult with […]
Guardianship Pt. 2: How to Start a Guardianship
This is part two of a series on guardianship. The introduction to the series can be viewed here. How is a guardianship started? Anyone who is interested in the well-being of an alleged incapacitated person’s (AIP) can petition the court for the appointment of a guardian of the person and/or estate. A guardianship petition contains allegations […]
What an Employer Needs to Know When Creating an Employee Manual
What is an Employee Manual? In Washington State it almost certainly is not a contract or agreement to change the at-will nature of your employment. It is a guide for Employees to understand Company policies. It is a guide for Employers to understand their obligations under the law, and to establish policies and goals in […]
Guardianship Pt. 1: An Introduction to Guardianship
Clients often come to Reed Longyear Malnati & Ahrens, PLLC with questions about guardianship and what it means. While a guardianship proceeding can be stressful and complicated, it can be mitigated with the help of an experienced guardianship attorney, as well as taking a proactive approach to gain an understanding of the process and the […]
Michael Longyear named as 2014 Washington Super Lawyer
Congratulations to Michael Longyear, who was named as a 2014 Washington Super Lawyers honoree in the areas of Estate Planning & Probate, Closely Held Business, and Elder Law.
What is a Health Care Durable Power of Attorney?
In Washington State, a Health Care Durable Power of Attorney (HCDPOA) is a document that allows the principal (the person for whom the document is prepared) to give a trusted individual the authority to make health care decisions on the principal’s behalf when the principal is unable to due to incapacity (See State of Washington […]