Estate Planning

Estate planning is the process that allows individuals to direct the disposition of their assets upon death. Estate planning also allows individuals to plan for their incapacity or inability to manage their affairs during their lifetime.

ADAMS & DUNCAN, Inc., P.S.
3128 Colby Avenue
Everett, Washington 98201
Telephone: 425-339-8556
Fax: 425-339-2353

We assist clients with putting together an estate plan that ensures that their estate planning desires and objectives are documented, and their assets are distributed to their intended beneficiaries. We also assist clients in making sure that their financial and health care decisions are in the hands of the individuals that they trust with making those decisions.

The estate planning attorneys at Adams & Duncan provide services such as:

Everett Marina

Planning For Incapacity: We assist individuals with putting together the necessary estate planning documents should they ever become incapacitated or unable to manage their own affairs during their lifetime. These documents can include the use of a Durable Power of Attorney, a Health Care Power of Attorney and a Health Care Directive. By using these documents, individuals can be assured that their wishes will be carried out as they had intended during their lifetime.

Property Dispositions: We assist individuals in properly designating and directing where their assets will go upon their death, such as gifts to spouses, children, disabled individuals, charities, or gifts into trust for beneficiary protection. This can be properly implemented by the use of a Last Will and Testament and/or a Community Property Agreement (for married individuals). We also assist individuals in setting up Revocable Living Trusts to manage their property during their lifetime and direct where property will go upon death.

Reduce Estate Tax Liability: We assist clients with understanding and implementing gifting strategies, during lifetime and at death, to reduce estate tax liability at both the state and federal levels. This includes tools such as Credit Trusts, QTIP Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Life Insurance Trusts and other types of irrevocable trusts.

Beneficiary Protections: We assist clients in implementing protective devices, such as trusts and custodial accounts, for beneficiaries who may not be able to manage money and/or property on their own, including minors, individuals with disabilities, surviving spouses, etc. Through the use of a properly drafted trust, clients can limit the amount of money a beneficiary can receive each year and under what circumstances a beneficiary can receive other distributions from the trust. Properly drafted trusts can also provide creditor protection to beneficiaries, and ensure that an individual with special needs will not be disqualified from receiving public benefits when he or she receives an inheritance.