MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S.

    Attorney at Law    

WHEN TO CHANGE A 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.  Please feel free to set an appointment with one of the attorneys at MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S., to review your will and estate plan.

The free information contained in these pages is not intended to be legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult with an attorney before taking any action. Feel free to contact an attorney at MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S. at 425-255-4542 to schedule an appointment and discuss these issues with you.

 

Our law firm consists of four lawyers practicing in our Renton, King County, WA law office (easily accessible to the greater Seattle area), so you can find an attorney / lawyer who is a good fit for you.  Our experienced trial lawyers are knowledgeable and aggressive in protecting your legal rights under the Washington state marriage and divorce laws. We use our knowledge and experience to obtain the best help and results for our clients. Our emphasis is in Washington family law, divorce (contested and uncontested), simple wills and estate planning documents, probate, and personal injury.  Please click on the Helpful Legal Information button for free information and details about these areas of practice in the state of Washington, including divorce, family law, legal separation, property division, child support, spousal maintenance, parenting plan, custody, visitation, custody relocation, child support modification, custody modification, maintenance modification, parenting plan modification, contempt, third party custody, restraining order, domestic  violence, Social Security Benefits, paternity, adoption, wills, Washington Community Property Agreement, Durable Power of Attorney, living will, probate and personal injury legal rights.

Our law firm is conveniently located in Renton, King County, WA, just off the freeway at the intersection of I-405 and I-167, easily accessible from Seattle and Bellevue Washington. Our four family law and divorce attorneys represent clients in the greater Seattle area and throughout the State of Washington, including the communities of Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Fairwood, Cascade, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Auburn, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Skyway, Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent Meridian, Lake Youngs, Burien, SeaTac, Factoria, Covington, Medina, Fox Island, Gig Harbor, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Seahurst, Redondo, Enumclaw and most of south King County. Call 425-255-4542 for a free telephone consultation with an experienced family law and divorce attorney / lawyer. Our attorneys represent both men and women in divorce and the drafting of simple wills, and are members of the Christian Legal Society. Our lawyers offer affordable rates (reasonably priced) for uncontested divorce.

The free information and help contained in these pages is not intended to be legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult with a lawyer before taking any legal action. Feel free to call us at 425-255-4542 for a free telephone consultation with a family law lawyer for help regarding your marriage, divorce (contested or uncontested), custody, complex property division, child support and maintenance, adoption, will, estate plan or probate. We offer inexpensive (cheap) discount package deals and for our wills, simple will and estate planning documents. We offer a Christian perspective in our practice, yet are aggressive in protecting your rights.  Our attorneys are licensed to practice only in the State of Washington, and are easily accessible to the greater Seattle area.

Serving both male and female clients in the Seattle, King County, WA area, including the communities of Kent, Renton, Tukwila, Southcenter, Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Federal Way, Maple Valley, Des Moines, SeaTac, Burien, Fairwood, Cascade, Covington, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Issaquah, Factoria, Black Diamond, Algona, Covington, Fall City, Hobart, Medina, North Bend, Pacific, Buckley, Highline, Wilkeson, Newport Hills, Clyde Hill, Coal Creek, Fox Island, Gig Harbor, White Center, Boulevard Park, Rainier Beach, Rainier Valley, Bryn Mawr, Redondo, Covington, Kent Kangley, Cougar Mountain, Preston, Ravensdale, Kanaskat, Palmer, Cumberland, Redondo, Midway, Georgetown, Riverton Heights, McMicken Heights, Eastgate, Kennydale, Medina, Overlake, Boeing, Microsoft, Paccar, Kenworth, East Renton Highlands, Preston, Kent East Hill, Lake Meridian, Green River, Star Lake, Lake Sawyer, Duwamish, Seward Park, Columbia City, Georgetown, Holly Park, Sodo, Sammamish, Seahurst, Snoqualmie, Soos Creek, Emerald Downs, Muckleshoot, Twin Lakes, Skyway, Bellevue, Enumclaw and most of south King County, WA. This includes zip codes of 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059, 98030, 98031, 98032 98042, 98038, 98040, 98045, 98168, and 98188, and area codes of 206, 253, and 425, .  We represent clients from Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Weyerhaeuser, Valley Medical Center, various hospitals and insurance companies, T-Mobile, and many other employers.  We serve clients of all nationalities and ethnicities, including African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Caucasian, black, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Ethiopian, Italian, Vietnamese, Pacific Islander, Philippine, Irish, English, French, German, and Chinese.  We receive clients of all faiths and religions, including Christian, Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Judaism, Baha'i, New Age, Scientology, Mormon, LDS Catholic, Protestant, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Foursquare, Evangelical, Assembly of God, Jehovah Witness, Episcopal, Foursquare, Lutheran, Bible, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Adventist, Unitarian, atheist, secularist, and agnostic. We also represent clients who are members of labor unions (Teamsters, AFL-CIO, Teachers Union, NEA), unemployed or stay-at-home parents, members of service organizations (Kiwanis, Lions, Masons, Rotary, Shriners, AARP, etc), Democrat and Republican, veterans and military personnel.  Please call to talk to an affordable (inexpensive) Washington state family law attorney / lawyer for help about your divorce (contested or uncontested), complex property division, simple wills, probate or other legal issue.