News & Resources

Recent News and Educational Resources from Reed Longyear

Attorney Cauthorn to speak at Probate & Trust Law Section Meeting

Tomorrow, September 4th, 2019, Reed Longyear’s own Anton Cauthorn will be speaking at the Probate & Trust Law Section Meeting regarding a topic we posted about a few months ago–what to do with your body when you die. We look forward to hearing what Attorney Cauthorn has to say regarding the matter! 

Summer Fun!

Last week, the RLMA office enjoyed a fun day of golf and food at Interbay Golf Course for the annual summer event. Organized by our wonderful paralegal, Melissa MacDonald, everyone had a lovely time enjoying golf, the driving range, and putt putt. The day ended with a delicious burger bar, as well as prizes handed […]

What Do I Do With My Possessions When I Die?

Washington State law provides for the disposition of personal property like dishes, silverware and other family heirlooms in wills or trust documents. However, a recent article in the Seattle Times discusses a cultural and social change to consider when planning your estate  – younger family members are now less inclined to want family heirlooms when […]

Pitfalls When Accessing the Phone and Computer of a Loved One

A recent New York Times article titled I Needed to Save My Mother’s Memories. I Hacked Her Phone discusses the plight of a woman who has just lost her mother. The article discusses how her mother’s history and personal information was only accessible through her iPhone or apple accounts. However, she did not have her […]

Major Changes to Washington Non-Compete Law

For the first time, Washington state has passed a comprehensive law controlling Non-Compete Agreements in Washington State. The status quo of uncertain enforcement and difficult interpretation of “reasonable” agreements provisions are no more. In short, Non-Compete type Agreements for the majority of employees in WA will no longer be enforceable beginning January 1, 2020. Of […]

What Can I Do With My Body After I Die?

You may have heard that Washington just passed a new law that allows human composting (officially called “natural organic reduction”). This law also allows another option called hydro cremation (officially called “alkaline hydrolysis”). This means we now have four options for disposing of our remains in Washington that include: burial, cremation, composting, and hydro cremation. […]

Attorney Burnett Prevails in Court Of Appeals

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 […]

Happy Anniversary!

Happy anniversary! As of May 1st, 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 […]

You’re A Widow. Now What?

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 […]

With Funeral Home Rules Due for an Update, There’s a Push for Online Prices

Check out this article from the New York Times regarding the concept of pricing for funeral homes being available for consumers online. Excerpt: “Shoppers routinely use the internet to compare prices, whether for appliances, cars or hotel rooms. But online pricing remains scant for funeral services, putting bereaved and vulnerable people at a financial disadvantage […]