Smith Alling is proud to announce its new Associate Attorney, Gabe Hinman, who began work on October 1.
Author Archives: Joe Opsahl
A. Scott Marlow joins the Firm as Principal
Smith Alling is pleased to announce that A. Scott Marlow has joined the firm as a Principal.
For over 16 years, Scott has been practicing law in western Washington, with his primary focus on Family Law.
Scott is a passionate, motivated Family Law attorney. He has extensive legal knowledge and experience, including an outstanding record of performance, handling high asset dissolutions, military dissolutions, parenting plan and support cases, adoption and termination of parental rights, and committed intimate relationships. Scott is empathetic about the concerns of his clients and the effects a family law action has on a family. As a former United States Marine, Scott also has a passion for helping and representing our military community.
Scott has written and published a number of materials including “What Family Court Judges Want You to Know; Spousal Support, Child Support, and Parenting Plan Determinations.” Scott also has spoken on a number of Family Law events. He is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including the “Top 100” recognition from the Association of American Trial Lawyers.
Away from work, Scott enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three active children. He played and coached tennis in college.
This Firm is Pleased to Announce Our New Associate Attorney, Kevin Bukoskey
This firm is pleased to announce our new associate attorney, Kevin Bukoskey. Kevin previously worked as an associate attorney at a Seattle law firm, and was a Legal Extern for a large regional bank. Kevin holds a BA degree from the University of Washington (UW), and an MBA from UW’s Albers School of Business and […]
Congratulations, Tom Quinlan!
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.
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 […]