Wills and trusts lawyer in Silverdale, WA

Estate planning

Take control of what happens to your property

Deciding what will happen to your home, your financial accounts and your personal belongings after you pass can feel difficult, and it is easy to put off. But if you do not make these decisions, a court may end up dividing your property for you, which can cause stress and confusion for the people you leave behind.

The terms will and trust come up often in estate planning, and it helps to understand the difference before you settle on a plan. Kitsap Law Group helps families in Silverdale, Bremerton and across Kitsap, Jefferson and Mason Counties decide whether a will, a trust or a combination of the two fits their property and their goals.

Wills that reflect your wishes and name guardians for minor children
Living, revocable, special needs and other trusts
Financial and health care powers of attorney

Bill H. Broughton, David P. Horton, David A. Weibel and Christy Palmer on a waterfront path beside a gazebo

Planning for every stage of life

Your plan should change as your life does. A will written when your children were young may no longer fit once they are grown, and a move to Washington from another state is a good time to make sure your documents reflect Washington law. We help clients in Silverdale, Poulsbo, Port Orchard and throughout Kitsap County review and update their plans, so the decisions you made years ago still carry out your wishes today.

What we handle

Wills and trusts services

We prepare the documents that make up a complete plan and explain how they work together.

Drafting a will

A will that directs how your property is distributed and names a personal representative and guardians for minor children.
Living trusts

Revocable living trusts that hold assets during your life and pass them to beneficiaries, usually outside probate.
Special needs trusts

Trusts that provide for a loved one with a disability while taking their eligibility for benefits into account.
Business, education and retirement trusts

Trusts designed for a specific purpose, such as passing on a business interest or funding a grandchild's education.
Powers of attorney

General financial powers of attorney and health care powers of attorney naming the people you trust to act for you.
Reviewing existing documents

Checking an older will or trust, or one signed in another state, to make sure it still does what you want under Washington law.

Our approach

Wills and trusts, side by side

A will is a legal document that sets out how your assets are distributed when you die. It can also name a guardian for minor children in your care. A will generally goes through probate and can be contested, but it is often the more complete document for directing how property is distributed and how obligations are handled.

A trust holds assets for beneficiaries under terms you set. Assets in a properly funded trust can usually pass outside probate. A trust must be coordinated with your will and with debts the estate may owe, and it does not replace a will. Most people with a trust also need a will.

Learn about your family and property
We talk through your goals, your family and what you own.
Recommend a structure
We explain whether a will, a trust or both fits your situation, and why.
Draft and review together
We prepare the documents and go through them with you line by line.
Sign and fund
We oversee signing and, for a trust, help make sure the right assets are transferred into it.

David A. Weibel at his desk with a laptop and legal pad

Who handles it

Attorneys who handle estate planning

Bill H. Broughton has tried bench and jury trials involving will contests, experience that informs how we draft wills and trusts to hold up if they are ever questioned.

Bill H. Broughton

Partner

Meet the full team

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

A will directs how your property is distributed after death and can name guardians for minor children. It generally takes effect through probate. A trust holds property under terms you set and, when properly funded, can usually pass assets to beneficiaries without probate. Many plans use both.

Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?

It depends on your property, your family and your goals. A will alone works well for many people. A trust may make sense if you want to avoid probate for certain assets, provide for a beneficiary with special needs, manage property for young beneficiaries over time, or keep details of your estate more private.

Does a trust replace a will?

No. Even with a trust, most people need a will to handle any property left outside the trust and to name guardians for minor children.

Can I write my own will or trust?

Washington does not require a lawyer, and people do write their own documents. The risk is that a small error in wording, signing or witnessing creates confusion or a challenge later. Legal oversight helps make sure the documents are valid and work together.

Can a will be contested?

Yes. A will can be challenged, for example over the person's capacity or claims of undue influence. A carefully drafted and properly signed will makes a challenge less likely to succeed.

What is a power of attorney?

A durable power of attorney lets someone you choose handle financial matters if you cannot. A health care power of attorney names someone to make medical decisions for you. Both are usually signed alongside a will or trust.

Do my estate planning decisions affect estate taxes?

They can. The way you structure your plan affects how property is divided and may affect what estate taxes are owed after your passing. We can talk through whether that is a concern for your estate.