Proudly Offering Comprehensive Estate Planning and Probate Services to Clients in Washington State
Life is inherently unpredictable. We all encounter our fair share of ups and downs, and we do our best to cope with each new challenge with grace and acceptance. Although there is no way to predict the future, there are steps we can take to prepare for unexpected losses or diminished health. Taking some time to establish an estate plan is the best way to feel more confident and secure, no matter what the future may bring. At Kristina Mattson Law, we believe in partnering with our clients to understand their unique needs and goals. Together, we will explore various estate planning tools available to Washington state residents and help you put legal protections in place to ensure you and your loved ones are protected.
As a Spokane resident of over 16 years, attorney Kristina Mattson is proud to assist clients with their estate planning, probate, and elder law needs. She enjoys working closely with individuals and families to identify the most strategic path forward to help them obtain their desired outcomes. Kristina Mattson Law offers a wide range of estate planning services, including trusted legal guidance regarding Wills and Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships, Special Needs Trusts, Medicaid planning, Durable Powers of Attorney, Advanced Health Care Directives, and several other tools and strategies aimed at protecting your loved ones and your legacy. We also provide legal guidance and advocacy in probate and probate alternative matters so you can enlist our support to help you move through the probate and estate administration process with greater clarity and confidence. No matter what your specific needs and goals may be, Kristina Mattson Law is here to support your best interests and protect your assets.
Estate Planning
Although the prospect of a future in which you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself or you are no longer around to support your loved ones may be daunting and unpleasant to think about, devoting time to creating an estate plan is the best way to feel confident that your spouse, children, and family members will know how to care for you and will be able to protect and receive your assets at your death. Estate planning encompasses so much more than just a list of your assets and the beneficiaries you wish to receive such assets upon your passing. You can address your preferences regarding durable powers of attorney so a trusted individual can make important health and financial decisions on your behalf, your end-of-life medical choices, and establish trusts that minimize tax obligations and ensure that your loved ones remain economically supported when you are no longer here to provide for them.
It’s never too early to put legal protections in place to clarify your wishes and protect your assets. Reach out to Kristina Mattson Law today to get started with a skilled and caring Spokane estate planning lawyer who will listen to your needs and goals and help you achieve them. Together, we will explore various estate planning tools and strategies that can transform your vision of the legacy you wish to leave behind into a reality. Working with a dedicated Spokane estate planning lawyer is the best way to customize your estate plan to suit your unique circumstances. Depending on the details of your situation, we may consider including the following estate planning tools: Durable Powers of Attorney for health and finances, Advanced Health Care Directive, Last Will and Testament, Special Needs Trust, Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Transfer on Death Deeds, and other strategies that minimize your probate and tax obligations and protect you and your loved ones.
Probate and Probate Alternatives
When someone passes away in Washington, their estate usually moves through a legal process known as probate. A probate is a court action where a person files documents with the court and asks a judge to authorize the person to gather the assets of the estate, pay bills, and distribute the remaining assets of the estate to its beneficiaries (persons or entities entitled to receive the remaining assets of the estate, after debts and costs are paid). Kristina Mattson Law can represent you and the estate as the Personal Representative or executor of the estate in probate. While some probate proceedings move forward relatively smoothly and uneventfully, others may encounter challenges that benefit from the guidance of a knowledgeable and experienced Spokane probate lawyer.
Whether you have been selected to serve as the personal representative or executor of an estate, or you have questions about the probate process in Eastern Washington, the dedicated legal team at Kristina Mattson Law is prepared to answer your questions and support you at every step of the probate process. We can also help you explore probate alternatives to see if they are applicable to your situation. No matter what your specific circumstances or goals may be, you can trust that working with a knowledgeable and empathetic Spokane probate lawyer will help you achieve your desired outcome.
Special Needs Trusts, also known as Supplemental Needs Trusts
There are several reasons to consider setting up a Special Needs Trust as part of your Washington estate plan. The primary benefit of creating a Special Needs Trust is that it allows a disabled beneficiary to receive the trust assets without becoming ineligible for needs-based benefits from government or public assistance programs. Essentially, the Special Needs Trust functions as a tool to protect the beneficiaries’ needs-based benefits while providing them with supplemental financial assets. It’s helpful to think of a Special Needs Trust as a protective barrier that shelters valuable assets from abuse, theft, or waste. The trustee can use their discretion to administer the assets held in the Special Needs Trust in ways that improve and support your loved one’s life.
Establishing a Special Needs Trust (also referred to as a Supplemental Needs Trust) as part of your estate plan is a strategic way to ensure that when your loved one receives a gift, proceeds from a settlement, or their inheritance without jeopardizing the needs-based benefits the beneficiary relies on for support. The dedicated and empathetic estate planning legal team at Kristina Mattson Law is prepared to help you identify your goals and implement strategies to keep your loved ones as protected and secure as possible, no matter how the future unfolds.
Guardianships and Conservatorships
A Washington State guardianship and/or conservatorship may become necessary when a person over the age of 18 is unable to make decisions about their health or finances, and a Durable Power of Attorney document is either not in place or the individual lacks the ability to sign a Durable Power of Attorney. Simply put, guardianship is a legal relationship that allows a trusted and court-appointed guardian and/or conservator to oversee and make personal and financial decisions on behalf of a vulnerable individual, making sure that such decisions serve the protected person’s best interests.
The guardianship and conservatorship process involves a number of court proceedings that require presenting documents to a judge for approval, including the petition for guardianship and/or conservatorship, contesting a petition, transfer of guardianship and/or conservatorship from another state, filing periodic guardianship reports, and the sale of the protected person’s house or other real property. If you are interested in exploring how guardianship or conservatorship may help you protect those you love, reach out to Kristina Mattson Law to discuss your goals with a dedicated Spokane guardianship and estate planning lawyer.
Medicaid Planning
As you start thinking about planning for the future of you and your loved ones, it’s helpful to engage in Medicaid planning to ensure that you can secure these benefits when the need arises. There are certain transactions and expenses that will not impact a person’s ability to qualify for and maintain Medicaid benefits. Kristina Mattson Law can assist you with preventative asset protection planning prior to applying for Medicaid. The dedicated and compassionate legal team can help with completing and submitting the Medicaid application and questions and challenges that arise in the process. We invite you to contact our office today to discuss your Medicaid planning needs with an experienced and knowledgeable Spokane estate planning lawyer.
Kristina Mattson Law offers a wide range of estate planning services, including trusted legal guidance regarding guardianships and/or conservatorships, Special Needs Trusts, Medicaid planning, and probate. Contact our office today to learn more.
If you have questions about the estate planning or probate process in Washington, Kristina Mattson Law is prepared to provide you with personalized legal guidance. Reach out to our Spokane office today at (509) 998-6629 to start discussing your goals with a dedicated and caring Spokane estate planning and probate lawyer.