Seattle Wills Lawyer

Are you looking for a wills lawyer in Seattle, WA?

At Latterell Law, we prepare thoughtful and personalized wills for clients throughout Seattle, WA and the surrounding area.

Creating a will gives you the opportunity to make important decisions about your future. You can specify who will receive your property, nominate a guardian for your children, and provide clear instructions for administering your estate. Without a will, those decisions are governed by Washington law rather than your personal wishes. Latterell Law helps clients put a valid will in place so those choices stay theirs. Our Seattle, WA wills lawyer drafts wills that meet Washington’s requirements, name the people a client trusts, and fit within a plan that works when it is needed. Schedule a consultation to talk through what you want your will to do.

Wills Lawyer Seattle, WA

A will is a legal document that states who receives a person’s property after death, who should serve as personal representative to carry out those wishes, and, for a parent, who should be nominated as guardian of a minor child. It takes effect only at death, and until then it can be changed or revoked as circumstances shift.

For a will to be valid in Washington, it has to meet the requirements the law sets: the person making it must be at least 18 and of sound mind, and the will must be signed and witnessed as the statute directs. A will that falls short of those requirements can fail, sending an estate into a result the person never intended. A wills attorney makes sure the document is valid, clear, and built to do what the client wants.

Types of Wills Matters We Handle in Seattle

A will sits at the center of most estate plans, and it connects to the documents that surround it. Our Seattle wills attorney prepares the will itself and coordinates it with the wider plan a client needs.

Last will and testament. The core document, directing who receives a person’s property and naming the personal representative who will carry the will out.
Guardian nominations for minor children. A will is where a parent names the person who should raise their children, one of the most important reasons for parents to have one. We help clients think through choosing guardians for children.
Living trusts. Some clients pair a will with a living trust that avoids probate, and a pour-over will directs any remaining assets into the trust.
Powers of attorney. A will operates at death, while a power of attorney covers incapacity during life, so the two are usually prepared together.
Living will. A health care directive states a person’s wishes about medical treatment, completing the set of documents a will begins.
Special needs trust. A will can direct a beneficiary’s inheritance into a special needs trust rather than to them directly, protecting their public benefits.
Trust administration. When a will and a trust work together, we advise the personal representative and trustee on their separate roles.
Will revisions and updates. Marriage, children, and changes in assets are all reasons to revise a will, and we help clients keep theirs current as life changes.

Why Choose Latterell Law as My Wills Lawyer in Seattle, WA?

A Foundation Every Adult Needs

A will is the document nearly everyone over 18 should have, and for parents it is the only place to name who would raise their children. Latterell Law was founded by Angel M. Latterell, who over more than 20 years has helped Washington clients put this foundation in place and build the rest of a plan around it. She approaches each will as part of a client’s larger picture rather than a form to fill out, so the document reflects what the client actually wants for their family and their estate. When additional planning is needed, our estate planning lawyer in Seattle, WA can coordinate your will with the other legal documents that protect your family, your assets, and your wishes.

Two Decades of Washington Estate Practice

Angel M. Latterell has practiced in Washington since 2005, with more than 20 years across estate planning, probate, and elder law. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and a Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She has been a member of the King County Bar Association since 2006 and of the Washington State Bar Association, and the county bar named her Volunteer of the Month in 2005.

Understanding Wills Matters in Seattle

What a Will Does and Does Not Cover

A will directs much of what a person leaves behind, but not everything, and understanding the line matters. A will governs property that passes through the estate, names a personal representative, and nominates a guardian for minor children. It does not control assets that pass by other means, such as accounts with named beneficiaries, life insurance, or property held in a trust or joint tenancy. Knowing which assets a will reaches, and which move outside it, is part of building a plan that works as a whole.

Why a Will Alone May Not Avoid Probate

A common misunderstanding is that having a will keeps an estate out of court. In fact, a will is the document a court uses during probate to confirm a person’s wishes and appoint the personal representative. Washington’s probate process is more streamlined than many states’, but a will still passes through it. For clients who want to reduce or avoid probate, we discuss pairing a will with a living trust or other tools that move assets outside the estate.

What Should You Bring to Your Wills Consultation?

The meeting is most useful when we can see your situation and understand your wishes. Bringing the following helps our Seattle wills attorney give focused guidance.

A list of your significant assets, including real estate, accounts, and personal property
The names of the people or organizations you want to receive specific gifts or shares
The name of the person you want to serve as personal representative, and an alternate
For parents, the person you would want to raise your minor children
Any existing will, trust, or other estate planning documents

The consultation is an opportunity to begin building an estate plan that reflects your wishes. We will explain how a will operates, discuss the key decisions that shape its terms, and provide a clear overview of our fees so you understand both the planning process and the associated costs before moving forward.

Keeping a Will Current

A will is not a document to sign once and forget. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a move to Washington from another state, or a significant change in assets can all call for an update. We help clients review and revise a will so it keeps pace with changes in their life, because a will that no longer matches a person’s circumstances can create the very problems it was meant to prevent.

What Are Important Washington Legal Resources for Wills?

Clients often want to understand the rules a will operates under, and a wills lawyer can explain how they apply to a particular estate. The references below relate directly to wills and their administration in Washington.

Washington’s wills statute sets out who may make a will and how it must be signed and witnessed.
The chapter on probate of wills governs how a will is proved and admitted after death.
The rules on letters testamentary describe how a court appoints the personal representative named in a will.
The chapter on claims against an estate sets out how a personal representative handles creditors.
The Internal Revenue Service explains the final tax return a personal representative named in a will may need to file.

Reach Out to Latterell Law to Schedule a Consultation

Making a will is one of the most straightforward and important steps a person can take to protect their family. Contact us to schedule time with Latterell Law. Our Seattle wills lawyer can walk you through the choices a will involves, help you name the people you trust, and prepare a document that holds up when it matters. What the work costs depends on the legal services involved, and we can review that with you up front. You can count on a timely response after you reach out.