Clarity 6/30/26 Clarity 6/30/26

Special Needs Planning in Washington

When a family has a loved one with a disability or special needs, estate planning takes on a very personal focus. It’s about making sure your loved one continues to be supported, cared for, and understood—both now and in the future.

Most families start with a simple but important question: “How do I make sure they’re taken care of when I’m no longer here?” From there, the planning becomes about creating stability and clarity for the people who will step in later.

Why this kind of planning is different

Many individuals with special needs receive important public benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These programs can be essential to their long-term care, but they also come with rules about income and assets.

Because of that, leaving assets directly to a loved one can sometimes create unintended complications with those benefits. Special needs planning is designed to avoid that issue while still allowing you to provide meaningful support.

A more thoughtful way to provide support

In many cases, families use a Special Needs Trust to hold and manage assets for a loved one. When properly structured, the trust can be used to enhance quality of life—helping with things like education, therapies, transportation, hobbies, personal care, and other supplemental needs—without disrupting access to essential government benefits.

The trust is managed by a trustee, someone you choose who will be responsible for following your instructions and making decisions with care and consistency over time.

Planning for care and decision-making

While financial support is one part of the plan, families also want to know that someone will be there to step in and help guide day-to-day decisions if needed.

In Washington, this may include thinking through who could serve as a guardian of the person in the future. A guardian is someone who may be responsible for personal care decisions such as living arrangements, healthcare coordination, and overall well-being if a court determines that guardianship is necessary.

For many families, this step is less about legal formality and more about peace of mind—knowing that the right person is in mind if support is ever needed in that way.

Every family is different

There is no single way to structure a special needs plan. Some families need a dedicated special needs trust. Others integrate planning into a broader estate plan that includes wills and revocable trusts. Most families benefit from a combination that reflects their situation, support network, and long-term goals.

Planning with clarity and care

During your Peace of Mind Planning Session, we take the time to understand your family, your loved one, and what kind of support system you want to put in place.

We’ll walk through how special needs planning works in Washington, how to protect access to benefits, and how to thoughtfully structure both financial support and future decision-making roles, including guardianship considerations when appropriate.

The goal is simple: to help you put a plan in place that feels steady, compassionate, and clear—so your loved one is always supported by people who know them and care for them, even when you’re not there to do it yourself.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Every situation is unique. Consult with an attorney and your tax or financial advisors to determine which charitable planning strategies are appropriate for your circumstances.

Clarity 6/26/26 Clarity 6/26/26

Charitable Giving Options: Planning a legacy that reflects your values

When most people think about estate planning, they focus on protecting their family and deciding who will inherit their assets. But for many individuals and families, it's also an opportunity to support the organizations, communities, and causes that have shaped their lives.

Charitable giving doesn't have to mean donating a large portion of your estate or establishing a private foundation. Even modest gifts can make a meaningful impact while allowing you to leave a legacy that reflects your values. Depending on your goals, charitable giving may also provide financial and tax planning benefits as part of a broader estate plan.

There are many ways to incorporate philanthropy into your planning, from simple charitable gifts through your will to more advanced strategies like donor-advised funds and charitable trusts. The right approach depends on your family's priorities, financial circumstances, and the impact you hope to make.

Ways to Include Charitable Giving in Your Estate Plan

Charitable giving can be as simple or as comprehensive as you'd like. Some people choose to leave a single gift to a favorite nonprofit, while others create long-term giving strategies that continue supporting charitable organizations for generations.

The following are some of the most common charitable planning options.

Charitable Gifts Through Your Will or Trust

One of the simplest ways to support a charitable organization is by including a gift in your will or trust. You may choose to leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or a particular asset to a charity that is meaningful to you.

This approach allows you to provide for your loved ones while also creating a lasting impact for causes you care about.

Donor-Advised Funds

A donor-advised fund is one of the most flexible and accessible ways to organize your charitable giving.

You contribute assets to the fund, receive the available tax benefits at the time of your contribution, and then recommend grants to charitable organizations over time. Because the funds can remain invested, donor-advised funds also provide an opportunity for your charitable resources to grow before they are distributed.

Many families use donor-advised funds to involve children and grandchildren in charitable decision-making, creating an ongoing tradition of generosity across generations.

Legacy Funds

If you hope your charitable impact continues long after your lifetime, a legacy fund can provide a lasting way to support the organizations and communities you care about.

A legacy fund creates a permanent charitable resource that can continue making grants for years to come. Beyond the financial gift itself, many families appreciate the opportunity to pass along their values, encouraging future generations to continue supporting causes that are meaningful to them.

Giving Circles

Giving circles bring people together around a shared commitment to philanthropy.

Members combine their charitable contributions and work together to decide how those funds should be distributed. This collaborative approach allows individuals, families, and business leaders to increase their collective impact while learning more about local needs and nonprofit organizations.

Giving circles can also be an excellent way to introduce younger family members to thoughtful charitable stewardship.

Charitable Trusts

For individuals and families with more complex estate planning goals, charitable trusts can provide additional flexibility.

Depending on your objectives, a charitable trust may provide income to beneficiaries, support charitable organizations over time, or accomplish both. These strategies can help balance family wealth transfer with long-term charitable goals while providing greater control over how assets are managed and distributed.

Because charitable trusts involve legal, tax, and financial considerations, they should be carefully coordinated with your overall estate plan.

Charitable Giving and Estate Tax Planning

For Washington residents, charitable planning may also play an important role in reducing potential estate tax exposure.

Washington is one of the few states that imposes a state estate tax, making proactive planning especially valuable for individuals and families with larger estates. Depending on your circumstances, charitable gifts made during your lifetime or through your estate plan may reduce the size of a taxable estate while supporting organizations you care about.

Strategies such as donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, charitable bequests, and legacy funds may provide opportunities to maximize both your charitable impact and your overall estate planning goals.

Because every family's financial picture is different, charitable planning works best when it is coordinated as part of a comprehensive estate plan rather than considered in isolation.

Choosing the Right Giving Strategy

There is no single "best" way to include charitable giving in your estate plan. The right approach depends on your family, your financial goals, the organizations you'd like to support, and the legacy you hope to leave behind.

An experienced estate planning attorney can help you evaluate your options and build a plan that reflects your values while protecting the people you love.

Whether your goal is to make a one-time charitable gift or create a lasting tradition of philanthropy for future generations, thoughtful planning can help ensure your generosity has the greatest possible impact.

Clarity 5/28/19 Clarity 5/28/19

Wills vs. Trusts: What’s the Difference?

It All Begins Here

One of the first questions many people ask is, "Do I need a will or a trust?" The answer is simple: it depends. Every family is different, and the best estate plan is the one that's designed around your unique circumstances—not a one-size-fits-all template.

A will is the foundation of every estate plan. It lets you decide who will receive your assets, name guardians for minor children, and choose the person who will carry out your wishes. For many people, a will is exactly the right solution.

However, it's important to understand that a will does not avoid probate. If you own real estate in your name alone when you pass away, your loved ones will generally need to go through the Washington probate process before they can transfer or sell the property. Although probate in Washington is often simpler than in many other states, it still takes time, requires court filings and legal paperwork, and can delay your family's access to assets while the estate is being administered.

A Revocable Living Trust is often used when people want to make things easier for the people they'll leave behind. When your assets are properly titled in your trust, they can usually pass to your beneficiaries without probate. That can mean fewer delays, greater privacy, and a smoother transition during an already difficult time. A trust also allows someone you choose to step in and manage your affairs if you become unable to do so yourself, without the need for a court-appointed guardian or conservator.

For some families, trusts offer additional planning opportunities. Washington has its own estate tax, which can apply even when no federal estate tax is due. For larger estates, the right trust provisions may help married couples preserve available tax exemptions and reduce the amount of estate tax owed, helping more of your hard-earned assets stay with the people you love.

That doesn't mean everyone needs a trust. For some families, a thoughtfully prepared will is all that's necessary. For others, a trust provides valuable benefits. And many estate plans include both.

That's why we begin every client relationship with a Peace of Mind Planning Session. Rather than trying to fit you into a standard package, we'll get to know you, your family, your assets, and what's most important to you. We'll explain your options in plain English, answer your questions, and help you choose the planning tools that make the most sense for your life.

Our goal is to help you understand your options and create an estate plan that reflects your values, protects the people you love, and gives you and your loved ones Peace of Mind.

Clarity 5/28/19 Clarity 5/28/19

Understanding Washington Estate Tax

Estate planning is really about clarity and peace of mind—making sure the people you care about are taken care of, and that everything you’ve built is passed on in the way you intend.

Part of that conversation includes understanding Washington’s estate tax and how it may or may not apply to your situation.

Estate planning is really about clarity and peace of mind—making sure the people you care about are taken care of, and that everything you’ve built is passed on in the way you intend.

Part of that conversation includes understanding Washington’s estate tax and how it may or may not apply to your situation.

What is the Washington estate tax?

Washington has an estate tax that applies to the total value of a person’s estate at death, before assets are distributed to beneficiaries.

It’s important to note that Washington does not have an inheritance tax. This means your children or other beneficiaries do not pay tax simply because they inherit from you. If estate tax applies, it is handled by the estate during administration—not by the people receiving the inheritance.

What are the rules?

As of July 1, 2026, Washington’s estate tax generally applies when an estate exceeds an exemption amount of $3 million.

If an estate exceeds the exemption amount, Washington estate tax is calculated using a graduated system. Only the portion of the estate that falls within each tax bracket is taxed at that bracket’s rate. The rates begin at 10% on the lowest taxable amounts above the exemption and increase in tiers up to 20% at the highest level.

In simple terms, smaller portions of the estate are taxed at lower rates first, and higher amounts are taxed at higher rates.

What counts as part of your estate?

When people think about “their estate,” they often think only of their home. In reality, your estate can include a much broader picture, such as:

Your primary residence and any other real estate
Investment and brokerage accounts
Retirement accounts
Business interests
Vacation or rental property
Personal property such as collections, artwork, or jewelry
Certain life insurance proceeds, depending on how ownership is structured

Because these assets add up over a lifetime, it’s not unusual for an estate to be larger than expected—especially when real estate and long-term investments are involved.

Why this matters in planning

Estate tax isn’t something most people deal with day-to-day, but it becomes important when thinking about how smoothly things will transition later on.

For some families, the focus is simply making sure everything is organized and easy for loved ones to handle. For others, especially where estates are larger or include significant real estate or business assets, it may also be helpful to understand how estate tax fits into the overall plan.

Either way, the goal is the same: reduce uncertainty and make things easier for the people you leave behind.

Where trusts fit in

A Revocable Living Trust is one of the most common estate planning tools we use. Its primary purpose is not tax avoidance—it’s organization, privacy, and ease of administration.

A properly funded trust can help your family avoid probate for assets held in the trust, provide continuity if you become incapacitated, and allow your plan to be carried out without unnecessary court involvement.

In some situations, especially for larger or more complex estates, trust-based planning can also provide flexibility when it comes to estate tax considerations. That might include preserving options for married couples, coordinating how assets pass between generations, or simply ensuring your plan continues to work as laws or circumstances change over time.

A practical, personal approach

During your Peace of Mind Planning Session, we’ll take a close look at your situation—your assets, your family, and what matters most to you.

We’ll explain how Washington estate tax works, whether it’s something you need to think about, and what options make sense for your goals. If it’s not a concern for you, we’ll say that clearly. If it is, we’ll walk through it in a way that feels straightforward and manageable.

The focus is always the same: helping you put a plan in place that makes life easier for your loved ones and gives you confidence that everything is handled the way you want it to be.