Estate Planning
Wills, Trusts, and Medical Directives
Estate planning should not be put off until retirement. Life happens, sometimes in unexpected ways.
People talk about estate planning and end-of-life decisions in many different ways. But it all begins with the three big, blunt questions:
1. Who do I want to have my stuff?
2. Who do I trust to have power to make important decisions for me if I cannot make them myself?
3. What medical procedures do I want or not want in the event of a serious medical condition?
These questions need direct and clear answers, even if it is uncomfortable, emotional, or scary to think about. Answering these questions now, rather than later, can save your loved ones and you from unnecessary stress in hard times.
I will walk you through the process and help draft documents that preserve your wishes and comply with Washington State law so that there is no question as to what will happen to you and your assets.
Estate planning is a gift to your loved ones. It minimizes stress during sad or difficult times by not requiring your people to try and guess what you want.
Business Formation and Advising
Starting a New Business
You are ready to start your business, you have your plan, your product, your people……now what? What appears simple on the surface (file the proper documents and away I go!) becomes a little more complex.
1. What kind of business works best for me?
2. Am I a sole proprietor? Do I have partners?
3. Should we incorporate?
4. How do I get certified as a minority-owned business?
5. How do I best shield myself from liability if things take a wrong turn?
I can help you figure out what you need to do and how to do it, from simple advising of all your options to specific licensing requirements. I also collaborate with local experts in marketing, communications, social media, and other areas.
Contract Drafting and Review
Before you sign or offer that contract or proposal, let’s look it over and make sure you are not missing something that could negatively affect you and your business. We can work together so that you know your risks and your rights should something go wrong. More importantly, we can make sure your contracts meet your needs and keep you growing in your business.
HR Consulting for Small Businesses and Non-profits
Contracts & Document review
It’s hard running a business or an organization whose purpose is to deliver vital services to folks. Let me help you give your best to your employees.
Unusual situation and you don’t know the answer? Let me find it for you so you can proceed to resolve the problem with confidence.
Document Review
Is your handbook accurately reflecting what your employees can expect? Are your NDAs, Confidentiality requirements and non-competition clauses in compliance with what is required by law? Let’s review your employment documents to make sure you are not exposing the organization to liability or making things unnecessarily complicated for your employees.
Legal Education
I can provide simple and effective presentations on a number of issues for management, non-management or both. ADA compliance, hiring policy, and employee harassment are just a few of the topics that organizations can benefit from as either a refresher or to help set policy.
Compliance Support
The law is complex and always changing. And so are organizations, both its needs and its people. Let’s make sure your policies are in alignment with what is required by the law, the needs of the organization to meet its goals, and what your employees need to help achieve those goals.
Trauma-Informed Workplace Policy
We’ll help you apply trauma-informed principles while developing, implementing, or changing organization-wide HR practices. Doing so will allow you to support a healthier and more productive organizational environment.
Non-traditional Family Support
All chosen forms of families
Non-traditional families, platonic co-parents, polyamorous families and other forms of chosen family all deserve legal services and support in order to protect the rights and strengthen the security of the family. While the law has not raced to meet the needs of the present in this area, creative solutions may be found.
Estate planning and power of attorney designations are powerful tools that allow non-traditional families to plan for and implement personal and financial protections.
Principals of contract law may be used to craft enforceable agreements as it relates to family resource management, equitable distribution of wealth and labor contributions.
Adoption options may be a good strategy for strengthening legal bonds regarding chosen family that includes minor children.
Until the law meets the demands of today’s non-traditional relationships, we will look at what tools are available for us right now. I look forward to creatively and empathetically using my role as a legal practitioner and advisor to help you and your family.
Nobody Likes Hidden Costs
These are My rates
*Disclaimer: Everyone’s situation is different. Flat fees may not be applicable if issues arise which require more complex legal work. If your case falls outside of the scope of a flat rate package, I will let you know immediately, and we can work together to find the best solution for your needs. Hourly rates will require a minimum retainer. Flat fees and hourly rate do not include court costs, licensing fees, notary services, and non-legal costs.
Description: Will, Medical Directive, POA.
Cost: $800, $1300 for a couple, $300 each additional person. Does not include filing or notary fees.
Who is this for? Single adults, couples and polycules with assets under $2,000,000 including real property in the state of Washington.
Description: Will, Medical Directive, POA.
Cost: $400 flat fee, $800 per couple, $300 each additional service. Does not include filing or notary fees.
Who is this for? Single adults, couples and polycules with assets under $2,000,000 including real property in Washington.
Description: Medical Directive.
Cost: $100 flat fee. Does not include filing or notary fees.
Who is this for? Any adult.
Description: Durable Power of Attorney.
Cost: $200 flat fee. Does not include filing or notary fees.
Who is this for? Any adult.
Description: Living Trusts and Special Needs Trusts, Testamentary trust formation, Community Property and Real Estate Transfers.
Cost: $200 flat fee. Does not include filing or notary fees
Who is this for? Adults who need further estate planning work beyond simple wills. Examples: Needing to set up a living trust, wanting a trust structure laid out if the Will creates a trust, Special Needs planning for beneficiaries with disabilities, re-deeding real property, community property agreements.
Description: Reviewing contracts and business documents for legal/liability issues.
Cost: $300 flat fee for simple contract and document review (two pages or less), $200 per hour for reviewing complex documents and contracts, $200 per hour contract drafting.
Who is this for? Marketed towards solo and small business entrepreneurs.
Description: Solo and Micro-Business LLC or Partnership formation, professional licensing, and incorporation.
Cost: $600 Flat fee for solo or no more than two additional employees for partnership or LLC formation and licensing issues – Includes advice, document prep and instructions.
$200 per hour for larger businesses and incorporation.
Does not include filing or notary fees.
Who is this for? Marketed towards solo and small business entrepreneurs.
Description: Two-hour consultation (discussion of needs and options to legally and financially protect polycule members and/or non-intimate domestic partners – includes referrals to poly-friendly family or adoption attorneys if applicable). Estate planning, property ownership, business formation and contracting if applicable.*
*Although it is a popular concept on internet poly sites and discussions, incorporating a family unit as a business in and of itself, at best has no standing and at worst is fraudulent. A business must be actually engaged in commercial, professional or industrial activity.
Cost: Two-Hour Consultation $200 flat fee.
Who is this for? Polycules and non-intimate domestic partners.
Description: Legal Research, Compliance Support and Review, Document Review, Legal Education, Trauma-Informed Workplace Policy.
Cost: $200 per hour.
Who is this for? Small Business and Human Service Organizations.
