Death and the Law

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I recently had a client come in to have a Will, Durable Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive prepared. He just found out he had cancer, and was given only about a month to live. To say the least, he was in a state of shock. As a lawyer, I am prepared to prepare the proper legal documents for him, but the important issues of life and death, are outside of my legal training.

In talking with him, I had to admit that I could not relate to what he was going through, and could offer him no answers to the questions like why me. The one thing I could offer him was the one thing that gives me comfort and confidence in this life, and in the life to come. That is the assurance of my salvation though faith in Jesus Christ. I shared that I have the confidence in going to heaven after my death, not due to who I am or what I have done, but simply because Jesus lived the perfect life that I should be living (but can't as hard as I try), and died the tragic death that I deserve to have (because of the sinful life I have lived). By putting my faith in Him, believing that He died to pay the penalty of my sin, I am now in right standing with God, and can therefore be in His perfect presence. His resurrection from the dead, can assure me of my life with Him after death.

The loss and sorrow of death is real, but it is extremely comforting to know that one can go to a better place. Please contact me if your are interested in more information about this, or read the following short track: Where Will You Spend Eternity

The Renton law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases, both contested and uncontested. We have 4 attorneys for you to chose from. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/legalarticle/Wills-and-Probate-Information.html for more information.

When to Change Your Washington Will

Clients often ask us when it is appropriate to make a change in the provisions of their wills. The following is a brief listing of when you might want to make a change to your will.

1. Marriage: A new, post-will spouse can take a share of the estate if not mentioned in the will.

2. Separation: If a person dies while separated from their spouse, their separated spouse will still receive their share of the estate under the old will, or their intestate share if there is no will. To avoid this, a new will would need to be prepared disinheriting the separated spouse.

3. Divorce: The will is revoked as to a divorced spouse, so former provisions for the spouse may pass as residue or by intestacy.

4. Death of Spouse: Major tax consequences to estate plan of family may require revision of the plan.

5. Birth of New Child: Failure to name or provide for all children entitles omitted child to take an intestate share of the estate. One can disinherit children, but this must be specifically stated.

6. Change in Personal Representative: You may want or need to change the executor, trustee or guardian named in your will. The named person may be too old to serve or no longer be close to the family.

7. Change in Financial Condition: You may want to give more or less wealth to more, different, or fewer people, and review and revamp your tax strategy.

8. Change in Law: The laws may change and you can change your estate plan to make the law your friend rather than your adversary.

The above list gives several reasons for changing your will. We recommend that your review your will and estate plan annually, to see if the provisions you made are still applicable.

Our firm offers estate planning documents like Wills, Community Property Agreements and Power of Attorneys. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information, or call us at 4252-255-4542 to schedule an appointment.

Washington Durable Power of Attorney

Power of Attorneys can be a dangerous document. In our society, you are the only one who can sign your name. If someone else does, it is forgery and they can go to jail and you are not bound by what they do. If you give someone your power of attorney, you are giving them the authority to sign your name, and make you bound by it. You should be very careful in giving your power of attorney and consult with an attorney first.There are many types of Power of Attorneys. They can be "special", limited in the powers granted. They can be "general", being very broad in the powers granted. They can be limited in time (good for 1 day, 1 year, from ____ to ____, terminating in 1 year, etc.). They can be "durable", meaning that they continue even when you become incompetent.

Many people should consider a Durable Power of Attorney as part of their estate plan. This is a very limited Power of Attorney. Usually it is for the purpose of caring for you if you become incompetent, avoiding the necessity of a guradianship. It ususally becomes effective, if and only if, you become incompetent. It then is durable so it continues after you are incompetent. If you do not have this and you become incompetenet, it will most likely be necessary for your loved ones to establish a guardianship in court, taking time and money.

Our Renton law firm offers estate planning documents like Power of Attorneys. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information, or call us at 4252-255-4542 to schedule an appointment. We service the greater Seattle and King County area, from Bellevue to Federal Way.

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Washington Wills

Many people have made no plans for the distribution of their estate after their death. A person should have a Will. This gives their directions for how things are to be handled after their death. This primarily addresses the distribution of their assets. It also includes naming the person you want to act as the executor to oversee the process. If you have minor children, you may want to place the estate in trust by someone you trust, to properly invest the funds, and to distribute it to the children for their necessary needs (health, education and welfare) to prevent them from wasting it. You can also name the person you want to serve as guardian of the children, to act as their parents and raise them.

Our firm offers estate planning documents like Wills, Community Property Agreements and Power of Attorneys. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information, or call us at 4252-255-4542 to schedule an appointment.

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Mogren, Glessner & Roti

The law office of Mogren, Glessner&Roti;, P.S. is located in Renton Washington, and we provide services to most of King County. Our firm has been in existence since 1942. We presently have 4 attorneys serving our clients, Peter Mogren, Ronald Glessner, Ruth Roti, and Cindy Stewart.

The main emphasis of our service is in family law (divorce, custody, support, etc.), wills and estate planning (Wills, Commmunity Property Agreements, Power of Attorney, etc.), probate, and personal injury.

Please call visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ to get additional information, or call us at 425-255-4542 to schedule an appointment.

Renton Divorce Kent Family Law Tukwila Wills Bellevue Probate Seattle Custody