FAQs

Why Should We Create an Estate Plan for Our Children?

As parents, we want what is best for our children.  Creating an estate plan allows a parent to develop a personalized plan to ensure that a parent or parents can provide both financially and relationally for their children.  A personalized estate plan can also provide a structured plan and guidance to the person or people that you select to care for your children after you pass.  You can select a guardian to care for your children, provide instruction for their care, and provide the financial tools to the guardian to give the kind of care you wish to see given to your children in your absence. 

What Should We Do to Properly Plan for Our Children?

In order to properly plan for your children, I recommend that you consult with an attorney to guide you in creating your personalized estate plan.  The estate plan may contain any of the combination of the following documents to provide for the financial and relational well-being of your children and loved ones: a Will, a Health Care Directive, Durable Power of Attorney and Trust Documents. You should also have a Child Protection Plan to ensure your kids are cared for by those you choos. You may also need to consider purchasing life insurance.

I Can Get a Free Form Online. Why Do I Need an Attorney?

I am a fan of DIY, but not when it comes to making sure your children will be taken care of in your absence. The online forms are just that, forms that do not take into consideration your particualr circustance. They may omit key things in your planning, may not be up to date, or be compliant with Washington law. Your children may not be safeguarded the way you intend, and unfortunately they won’t find out until it’s too late. An experienced attorney will guide you to make sure your customized plan for your family is in place.

When Should We Do Our Estate Planning?

I recommend that you consult with an attorney and create your personalized estate plan as soon as possible. As parents we scrutinize every decision we make regarding our children. What school? Which car seat? Which babysitter? Organic or is non- organic ok? With so many immediate concerns, consulting with an attorney and creating a personalized estate plan can get thrown on the back burner. However, creating a personalized estate plan should not be neglected. A personalized estate plan ultimately ensures that should unexpected events occur to render you incapacitated or cause you to pass away, that your children and loved ones will still have the benefit of your financial and personal care plan for them.