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Your Divorce Decree: The First Step in Estate Planning

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Your Divorce Decree: The First Step in Estate Planning

You have recently divorced your spouse and the judge has signed the divorce decree. Now what? Although you may feel as though you have spent enough time and money on lawyers, there is one last attorney you need to talk to: an estate planning attorney. If you and your former spouse had estate planning done together previously, it is necessary for you to come in and make changes to avoid having your hard earned money and property be distributed in a way you did not intend when you pass away. If you have not done any planning, now is the perfect time to get your affairs in order.

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Important Estate Planning Considerations for LGBTQ Couples

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Important Estate Planning Considerations for LGBTQ Couples

Everyone needs estate planning. Regardless of your age, race, gender, or sexual orientation, properly protecting your future and your loved ones requires a plan. For LGBTQ couples, there are a few things you should consider when thinking about crafting an estate plan. Each couple is unique, and it is our goal to ensure that your personal wishes are carried out and that no one else is dictating what should happen with your money, property, or children.

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How to Own Your Real Estate

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How to Own Your Real Estate

Real estate is more than just your primary residence. It can include other real estate such as a vacation home or a rental property. Depending upon the type of real estate you own, the ideal form of ownership can vary. Below, we take a look at the different types of real estate and make suggestions about the best form of ownership for each.

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Saving for College? Things to consider before investing in a 529 Plan

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Saving for College? Things to consider before investing in a 529 Plan

According to U.S. News and World Report, for the 2019-2020 school year, the average cost of tuition and fees is $10,116 at an in-state public university and $36,801 at a private university. This does not even include housing, books, and meal plans, which typically add thousands of dollars to the cost. There are many ways that you can begin saving for your children or grandchildren’s college expenses: 529 plans are among the most popular types of accounts used to set aside these funds. There are a variety of factors you should consider in determining whether a 529 plan is the best option for your family, including some that may impact your estate planning.

The SECURE Act: How Does It Affect Your Retirement Accounts?

The SECURE Act: How Does It Affect Your Retirement Accounts?

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act), which became effective on January 1, 2020. The Act is the most impactful legislation affecting retirement accounts in decades. It will have a positive impact for many older Americans but could have negative tax consequences for many beneficiaries of their retirement accounts.

Lobbying and the Nonprofit Sector

Lobbying and the Nonprofit Sector

Being in the business of making the world a better place often requires nonprofit organizations to become politically active. The IRS rules prohibit 501(c)(3) charities from engaging in certain kinds of political activities, but there are a lot of political activities that charities can (and should) engage in to further their exempt purpose and mission.

Great news for small would-be nonprofits

Over the last 15 years, the IRS has made life much easier for small nonprofits. The first big change was to create a Form 990-N, which allowed nonprofit organizations with less than $50,000 in gross receipts to file the 990-N “e-postcard.” Unlike the lengthy Form 990 that requires detailed accounting information and disclosure of the highest compensated employees, the e-postcard only

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What to do when someone dies

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What to do when someone dies

While this isn’t a cheerful topic, it is a necessary one. Sooner or later, someone you know will pass on. The purpose of this blog post is to give you a checklist for what to do in the minutes, days, and weeks following death. In Washington State, it usually takes about a year to “wind down” someone’s life — but you should have assistance of a probate attorney after the first week or two. If death is anticipated, it is helpful to think about these steps before someone passes, so that you can be ready.