How We Help Washington Families Create Clarity, Stability, and a Lasting Legacy
Most people begin estate planning with a mixture of discomfort and determination. They know it matters, but the details feel overwhelming. They don’t want to dwell on illness or death. They don’t want to imagine their children growing up without them. And they don’t want to make a mistake that creates conflict or confusion down the road.
We understand that feeling. Estate planning asks people to confront the most vulnerable parts of life. That is why the process you follow and the people who guide you matter as much as the documents you receive. A good estate plan is built through conversation, reflection, and careful listening. It is never built through a template or a rushed appointment where the attorney barely remembers your name.
Pacific Northwest Family Law created a process that is deliberately different. It is designed for families who want stability, clarity, and peace of mind. It is designed for blended families who need fairness, not accidental disinheritance. It is designed for special needs parents who carry fears that most people never have to face. It is designed for farmers whose land represents generations of sacrifice and identity. And it is designed for anyone who wants a plan that will work when their family needs it most.
This page explains how our process works and why it is built the way it is.
For more information about estate planning, see our page Estate Planning in Washington State
Why Our Process Is Different From What You May Expect
Because we cannot advertise the way national brands do, you will not hear us on big podcasts or see our names on sponsored retirement articles. We are focused on Washington State, not a nationwide agenda. And that is precisely why our process is different.
Large online platforms rely on automation. They use templates to maximize volume, not outcomes. They cannot ask questions that reveal nuance. They cannot catch contradictions or offer tailored solutions. They cannot say, “This part of your plan may unintentionally harm your child” or “This clause will create a conflict between siblings.” They cannot think strategically or relationally.
We can. And we do.
Our estate planning process is hands-on because every family is unique. The value is not in the document itself but in the thinking behind it. What you get from us is not a stack of papers. You get a team that listens, understands, and builds a plan that reflects your family’s values and protects your family’s future.
Step One: Reaching Out
Every estate plan begins with a single conversation. Your first point of contact will be a member of our Client Experience Team. Their role is not to sell you anything or pressure you into a decision. They are trained to help you find clarity about what you want, what you fear, and what feels important before you speak with an attorney.
This step matters because it protects you. Many firms immediately route every caller to an attorney. That often leads to rushed conversations filled with legal jargon or incomplete guidance based on tiny bits of information. It also drives up your costs unnecessarily.
At Pacific Northwest Family Law, we separate education from legal advice. Our Client Experience Team explains how our process works, what you can expect, and what kind of attorney-client relationship you would be stepping into. They help you decide whether we are the right firm for you and whether you are ready to take the next step.
You will not receive legal advice at this stage, and you will not receive document review. But you will receive clarity and honest expectations, which is far more valuable at the beginning.
Once you decide to move forward, you become a client by signing our engagement agreement and making an advance deposit for hourly work. Hourly billing allows us to tailor every step to your needs. You pay only for the time your attorney actually spends working on your plan, and all time is carefully documented and reported.
Step Two: The Kickoff Meeting
Your first meeting with your attorney is what we call the Kickoff. It typically lasts one to two hours. This meeting is not about paperwork. It is about listening, understanding your goals, and building a picture of what a successful plan looks like for you.
Most clients find that legal terminology like AB trusts or pour-over wills does not help them at this stage. They don’t need to learn the vocabulary. They need to explain what they want for their spouse, children, and extended family. The technical solutions come later. What matters now is the outcome you want to achieve.
During the Kickoff, we talk about your values, your relationships, and your vision for the future. We talk about the people you trust and the people you worry about. We talk about the challenges your family faces and the legacy you want to leave. The law is only part of the plan. The rest is deeply human.
Step Three: Information and Identification
After the Kickoff, you will complete a detailed questionnaire. This includes your assets, property, bank accounts, life insurance, retirement plans, business interests, and personal belongings. We need names, account types, descriptions, and beneficiaries. We also need the names of your spouse or partner, children, stepchildren, and extended family members who play a role in your life.
If you have minor children, we discuss guardianship. Choosing a guardian is one of the most emotional parts of estate planning because you are trying to imagine your child’s life without you. We discuss who would love your children, who would provide stability, and who aligns with your values.
We consider questions you may not have thought about, including:
- What if the guardian you choose divorces
- What if they move out of state
- Whether you prefer a married couple or a single individual
- How much discretion they should have
Then we talk about trust terms. Should the money be used primarily for education or living expenses. Should large distributions wait until the children reach a certain age. Do you want a trustee who is different from the guardian to create balance and accountability.
These conversations take time, and that is by design. They are too important to rush.
Step Four: Legal and Tax Assessment
Once we have your information, our attorneys analyze the total value of your estate. Washington’s estate tax can affect families more often than they realize, because the threshold does not rise with inflation. If your estate is large enough, we may recommend strategies such as tax-sensitive trusts or structured gifting to reduce future burdens.
Even if your estate is below the tax threshold today, laws change frequently. We assess whether your plan needs to anticipate future adjustments, especially if you own real estate, farmland, business interests, or investment properties.
For some families, particularly farmers, business owners, and high-asset households, this step is essential for long-term stability.
Step Five: Drafting the Plan
Drafting begins once your goals, family structure, asset list, and fiduciary choices are clear. The time this takes depends heavily on how quickly we receive information from you. Some clients have everything ready within days. Others take more time to reflect on their choices.
Drafting can take anywhere from one week to two months. Complex estates take longer, especially when we are coordinating with financial advisors, accountants, or business partners. Farmers, business owners, and blended families often require additional customization.
During the drafting phase, we may contact you with clarifying questions.
Estate planning is iterative. Your attorney may need details about assets that pass outside probate, such as retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, or life insurance policies. We need to understand how each of these fits into your overall plan and whether beneficiary designations need to be updated.
We never guess. If something is unclear, we ask.
Step Six: Review and Revision
Once the documents are drafted, you will receive copies to review. This is your chance to confirm that names are spelled correctly, assets are properly identified, and the plan reflects your intentions. We walk you through the structure and answer any questions you have.
If changes are needed, we revise. Estate planning is not a one-step product. It is a conversation that moves toward clarity. Your attorney helps you understand how each part of the plan functions, and we make adjustments until the plan feels complete and aligned with your goals.
Step Seven: Signing and Execution
Once you are satisfied with the plan, we schedule the signing. Washington law has specific requirements for the execution of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents. We guide you through each signature, each witness requirement, and each acknowledgement so everything is legally valid and ready to serve its purpose.
The signing meeting often brings a sense of relief. You finally have clarity in writing, and the people you trust are named and empowered to act. But while signing is a major milestone, your plan is not complete yet. Certain documents, like trusts, still need to be connected to real-world assets. Before we reach that final stage, we provide you with clear instructions about how your plan is organized, what each document accomplishes, and how to store them safely. We also talk with you about when and how to communicate your decisions to the people who will carry them out.
Our goal is to make sure you leave the signing meeting with confidence and a roadmap to the final steps ahead.
Step Eight: Funding Your Trust (If Applicable)
If your estate plan includes a trust, the next step is making sure the trust actually owns or controls the assets it is meant to protect. This step is called funding the trust, and it is one of the most important parts of estate planning. A trust does not function simply because it exists on paper. It must be connected to your bank accounts, real property, investment accounts, life insurance, and other assets.
For some families, funding is as simple as retitling a home or updating a few beneficiary designations. For others, especially those who own farms, rental properties, or multiple business interests, funding requires careful coordination and documentation. If an asset remains outside the trust unintentionally, it may still require probate. Funding closes that gap and ensures your trust works exactly the way you intended.
We guide you through each step of funding so you know nothing has been overlooked.
Step Nine: Finalization and Long-Term Maintenance
Once your trust is funded and your plan is fully executed, it is time to finalize everything. We help you organize your documents, confirm that every asset is aligned with your intentions, and ensure that your beneficiaries, guardians, and trusted agents are aware of their roles when appropriate. Some families choose to hold a family meeting, others prefer private communication, and some prefer a sealed letter to be opened when the time comes. We can guide you through these decisions.
Finally, we explain when to return for updates. Estate plans are living documents. They should evolve as your life changes. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a child reaching adulthood, the purchase of real estate, the sale of a business, a diagnosis, or even a change in Washington law may require adjustments. Reviewing your plan every three to five years keeps everything stable and aligned with your goals.
This final step is what transforms an estate plan from a static set of documents into a long-term structure that supports your family for decades.
Why This Process Matters
Estate planning is not a document assembly exercise. It is the foundation you leave behind for your family. When done well, it prevents conflict, protects loved ones, and preserves your values across generations.
Many families we meet have tried to plan using online tools or bargain-priced templates. These shortcuts often create more problems than they solve. They misclassify property, omit critical powers, fail to consider Washington-specific rules, and completely ignore blended-family dynamics, disabilities, tax exposure, or the realities of farmland ownership.
Our process avoids those pitfalls by focusing on people, not paperwork. We help you think clearly, plan intentionally, and create structures that actually work. That is the difference between a stack of documents and a true estate plan.
Reviewed by Attorney Zachary C Ashby, Pacific Northwest Family Law, December 2025