Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Probate

Caring for Family Members Today and Tomorrow with Proper Estate Planning

Whether you are just starting a family or your kids left home long ago, you can show your loved ones you care by handling your estate planning now. Talk to estate planning lawyer Ray Dudenbostel at the Dudenbostel Law Offices. Contact our Elma, Washington, law office to schedule an initial consultation at a reduced fee. We are located just 30 miles west of Olympia.

Estate Planning

When couples come to us to discuss a will or a trust, we take the time to talk with them about their goals, their relationships, and the extent of their assets.

For some families, tax planning will form the basis of their plan. We may suggest credit shelter trusts or bypass trusts to ensure loved ones receive the assets you intend them to receive. In other cases, a simple will or trust will do.

Washington is a community property state. With proper planning, married couples can distribute property to the other spouse upon their death without going through probate. Ask us about a community property agreement.

Estate planning is about more than money. It is also about taking care of important decisions that may need to be made in the future—decisions about who will care for your children in your absence, about end of life medical care, about who can make financial decisions for you. Each of these can be addressed with an estate planning tool:

• A durable power of attorney
• A living will or medical power of attorney
• Naming a guardian for minor children

We encourage all our clients to consider the benefits of medical powers of attorney, financial powers of attorney, and living wills. Durable powers of attorney give a family member or trusted friend the power to make financial or medical decisions when we can no longer do so. A living will (also called a healthcare directive) tells your loved ones the kind of medical care you would like to receive—or not receive—in medical emergencies or at the end of life.

Elder Law

Talk to elder law attorney Ray Dudenbostel about planning for nursing home care for yourself or for an elder relative. The financial impact of nursing home care is great, but there are steps you can take early on to protect a healthy spouse from becoming impoverished while ensuring a sick spouse receives the care he or she needs.

Washington Probate

In Washington State, few people try to tackle the task of probating an estate by themselves. The process requires a great deal of paperwork and is fraught with deadlines and details. A probate lawyer with experience in Washington probate court and who has systems in place to ensure deadlines are met can accomplish this task much more efficiently than a layperson.

Unless an objection is filed by an heir or a debtor, there should be no reason you would ever need to appear in court. We can handle every aspect of probate for you, including paying creditors, distributing assets, and transferring property, and hiring an accountant to complete required tax forms.

At Dudenbostel Law Offices, we work with many out-of-state clients who need to probate the estate of a parent or loved one who lived or owned property in southwestern Washington. There is no need for you to come to Washington. Contact our Elma law office to discuss your probate needs and how we can help you.

Dudenbostel Law Offices

201 South Third Street
P.O. Box B-2
Elma, WA 98541
Telephone: (360) 482-3400 • Fax: (360) 482-5488
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Elma, Washington attorney Ray Dudenbostel provides legal services for people across southwestern Washington in Grays Harbor County, Mason County, Thurston County, Lewis County, Pacific County, and communities such as Shelton, Hoodsport, Belfair, Aberdeen, Olympia, Lacey, Rainier, McCleary, Elma, Ocean Shores, Westport Rochester, Centralia, Raymond, and South Bend.