This firm has conflicting emotions on the latest news about Smith Alling shareholder Tom Quinlan: pride and regret.It is with pride that we are pleased to announce that Tom is becoming a Pierce County Superior Court Judge.Yet we regret that he will be leaving us.
Author Archives: Joe Opsahl
Considerations for the Elderly During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has directed our attention to a variety of issues such as hand washing and social distancing, but with many elderly individuals not leaving their residences it is important that we are making sure they receive the care they need.
These Are Very Strange Times
Regardless of when you were born, there are world-wide events that you know influenced you in some way. It may have been because you were a child watching your parents go through it, regardless, you remember it.
Estate Planning During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Facing mortality and the difficult conversations that come with it are obstacles we deal with every day as we help our clients build their life plan. However, in this case, coronavirus presents a more imminent threat—one that can’t be swept under the rug.
The Problems with Do-It-Yourself Online Wills
We understand that using a DIY website to draft a will can save money and time, and in a pinch it’s better than nothing, but often they can lead to expensive and unpleasant estate planning mistakes and disastrous results!!
When An Estate Planning Attorney Can Help
Let’s say your mother has a trust that includes stocks that were your father’s. Possibly the stocks started as an employee purchase and were touched only two or three times over the years. Your mother receives a quarterly dividend from the stock, typically half in cash and half to the stock growth. So, what would the tax consequences be if this stock is left upon her death to be split among her three surviving children? Would it be better to start cashing the stock before she passes and put it in a trust account for her needs?
Can You Challenge A Trust Based on Undue Influence?
What happens if you believe someone (say a sibling) used undue influence on an aging parent to get them to amend their trust? Let’s say the trust originally split everything evenly between you and your sibling, but now your parent is experiencing dementia and your sibling has hired an attorney and coerced your parent to […]