When I started my first job, estate planning was not on my radar. It felt like something meant for much later in life. Estate planning sounded like it was only for retirees, homeowners, or people with significant wealth. I had a paycheck, a small savings account, and if I was lucky a retirement plan I had just enrolled in. That was it. Many young people feel the same way, and for good reason. There is a lot about money and planning ahead that simply is not taught early on.

Picture this... Your child is graduating from high school and has already been accepted to a school of their choosing. You are now in the process of making a list of all of the things you think your child will need during their first year of college. Your list is almost complete when a thought pops into your head: "My baby is now an adult." ... pause... "Now that they are an adult, do they need their own legal documents?" You try to shrug the thought away because you are t

You took the first step. You met with your estate planning attorney and have decided to do a Living Trust or a Will. You are excited to sign your estate planning documents. But wait! You are told that it is going to be several weeks before you can sign your documents. What? Why? Don't attorneys simply enter information into a computer and documents come out ready for signature? The answer to that question is "it depends." It is true that some estate planning

Are you thinking about the possibility of upgrading, downsizing, or refinancing your home? If so, do you have a Revocable Living Trust? If you answered, "yes" to both questions, then depending on what you plan to do, there are certain documents that you may need to provide to a mortgage, escrow, or titling company. Buying or Selling Property . If you have a Trust and are thinking about buying property, you should purchase the property in the name of your Trust to avoid a fu

What image comes to mind when you hear the term "Trust Protector"? A knight with a sword standing before a castle preparing to defend it? Or is it an image of a butler overseeing the work of the household staff? While the image of the knight is more exciting, a Trust Protector falls into the latter image. A Trust Protector is an individual or organization whose job it is to oversee certain decisions made by the Trustee. While a Trustee is given the authority to manage Trust a

Meet Jack. Jack attended a time share seminar, so that he could go on a free vacation. He started his day with a free breakfast and jet skiing in Maui, followed by a half-day seminar on the wonders of owning a timeshare. Jack came home the proud owner of a new deeded time share. Six months later, Jack's grand-aunt passed away and she left Jack a 1/25th share of a mineral deed in Montana. Jack's story may not exactly be yours, but regardless of how you ended up with a time sha

What started as a career supporting attorneys has become one of her own. Earlier this month, Amber Eakins officially received her bar number, completing her journey from legal assistant to attorney. Her hard work, perseverance, and passion for the law have paid off, and this milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Join us in congratulating Amber, on reaching this incredible accomplishment.

Are you concerned about how to give assets to your beneficiaries (outright or in a testamentary trust being distributed over time)? Or, how to provide for a surviving spouse, but being able to protect assets from their next spouse, or their creditors? What about how your beneficiaries will manage the assets that are given to them? Or, how such a distribution would impact your beneficiaries' lives? How about what would happen if all of your primary beneficiaries are deceased?

We are excited to share that after reviewing feedback, analyzing how visitors use the RLG website, and exploring new ways to better serve the RLG community, the website has received a major upgrade designed with your experience at the forefront. One of the first things you will notice is the refreshed look and feel. The updated design focuses on simplicity, improved readability, and a more open layout. This cleaner presentation helps you quickly find what you need without u

March is a month filled with all things green! Shamrocks, parades, and celebrations of luck and prosperity. But while many people hope for a little extra good fortune this time of year, the most reliable way to protect your financial future isn’t luck at all- it’s thoughtful estate planning. A thoughtful plan can help you stay out of probate, a process that can be both lengthy and expensive, if that is your desire. Court fees, attorney fees, and ongoing administrative expen

Are you worried about who would take care of your pet if you passed away? Or are you more worried about your chosen caretaker having sufficient funds to provide for your pet's care throughout your pet's life? If your answer is "yes," then there is a tool available to you-- a Pet Trust. Washington State allows Pet Trusts. Like testamentary trusts for your minor children or other (possibly irresponsible) beneficiaries, you can set up a testamentary trust for the benefit of

On Monday afternoon, our Rehberg Law Group team spent the afternoon volunteering at the Kent Food Bank to support local families and individuals in need. Sixteen members of our firm worked together to sort crates of donated food, pack grocery boxes for delivery, and clean and restock pantry shelves to help ensure the food bank could continue serving the community efficiently. Giving back is an important part of who we are as a firm. Community organizations like the Kent Food

Are you concerned about how to give assets to your beneficiaries (outright or in a testamentary trust being distributed over time)? Or, how to provide for a surviving spouse, but being able to protect assets from their next spouse, or their creditors? What about how your beneficiaries will manage the assets that are given to them? Or, how such a distribution would impact your beneficiaries' lives? How about what would happen if all of your primary beneficiaries are deceased?

Beneficiary designations control many major assets, including retirement accounts, bank accounts, and life insurance policies. Because these assets pass outside of a will or trust, even small errors can override an entire estate plan. Unfortunately, beneficiary forms are often treated as an afterthought. That is where problems begin. Mistake 1: Outdated beneficiaries Life changes quickly. Marriage, divorce, remarriage, births, deaths, and blended families all affect who som

When a loved one dies, families are often unsure what to do with outstanding bills. Should they pay them immediately? Are they personally responsible? What happens if there is not enough money in the estate? In Washington State, the answers are governed by specific probate and creditor laws. Understanding these rules is essential, especially for Personal Representatives (executors), because mistakes can lead to personal liability. Are Family Members Responsible for a Dece

Are you concerned about how to give assets to your beneficiaries (outright or in a testamentary trust being distributed over time)? Or, how to provide for a surviving spouse, but being able to protect assets from their next spouse, or their creditors? What about how your beneficiaries will manage the assets that are given to them? Or, how such a distribution would impact your beneficiaries' lives? How about what would happen if all of your primary beneficiaries are deceased?

On October 9, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Revenue Procedure 2025-32 , providing the annual inflation adjustment amounts for tax provisions to be used by individual taxpayers for the 2026 calendar year. The adjustments include the following: The estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions for 2026 are $15 million, reflecting the increased exemption amount under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ; this is an increase from $13,990,000 for tran

Season’s Greetings! The holidays are a time for twinkling lights, cozy gatherings, and heartfelt generosity. As we celebrate with family and friends, it’s also the perfect moment to reflect on how our giving can create lasting impact. Thoughtful holiday gifting isn’t just about spreading cheer; it can also be a smart way to support your estate planning goals and secure your loved ones’ futures. One of the simplest ways to give meaningfully is by using the annual gift tax ex

Join us Thursday for this in-person seminar 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the SeaTac office in the Earhart Conference Room, Plaza Level (PL). RSVP by email or phone at: kolsson@rehberglaw.com 206.246.8772 You have worked hard for what you have. Do you know what will happen to it? Are you considering creating a Living Trust or already have one? Or perhaps you are wondering how a Will fits into your estate plan? Many peop

In March 2024, Professor Tanya D. Marsh and Quincey J. Pyatt conducted the first academic survey regarding preferences in disposition of remains. For their study, Marsh and Pyatt defined six methods of disposition and asked a representative sample of the U.S. adult population whether they 1) had heard of the method, 2) knew anyone who was disposed in that method, and 3) would consider being disposed by that method. The methods of disposition used in the study are defined in t