Robert J. Blazak Law Office - Wills

A Will is a document properly executed by the decedent which says who gets the decedent's assets. The decedent's Will is probated, their debts are paid, and the remaining assets are distributed according to the Will. The Will also names a person responsible for acting on behalf of the estate. The duties of this person include:

Hiring an attorney to represent them.
Identifying and taking control of all the assets of the decedent.
Identifying and paying all the debts of the decedent.
Distributing the assets according to the provisions in the Will.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wills

What is a Will?

A Last Will and Testament is nothing more than the written instructions of a person describing what they would like done with their assets upon death. The Will can be straightforward, for example, leaving a person's entire estate to another person, such as a spouse or a child or children, or very complicated by leaving specific assets to various people. Further, a person in their Will can put assets into a trust to benefit minor children or have funds placed in trust to be distributed upon a particular heir's birthday or some other event. There is great flexibility in what a person can do with their assets.
Do I need a Will?

This is a personal decision. Most people feel more comfortable having a Will. However, depending on what they would like done, it is possible that if they die without a Will, the same result would be achieved according to State law as if they had a Will.
How much does a Will cost?

This depends on the attorney and how sophisticated a Will needs to be. Costs typically range from a few hundred dollars on up.
How long does it take to make a Will?

The complexity of the Will has a great deal to do with how long it takes to craft a Will. You should ask your attorney when they expect to provide you with a draft of the Will once you hire the attorney to prepare your Will.
What is a Living Will?

A Living Will is also known as a Directive to Physicians. This document tells your doctor when to withdraw life-sustaining support under certain circumstances.
What is a Community Property Agreement?

I thought Washington was a community property state.
Washington is a community property state, meaning all assets acquired during a marriage are presumed to be community assets. However, there are certain important exceptions. A Community Property Agreement is an agreement between a husband and a wife, generally having three provisions. One provision states that all the assets acquired by the husband and the wife during their lifetime, whether acquired during the marriage or not, are community assets. A second provision typically provides that all property the husband and the wife acquire in the future, no matter how they acquire it, is community property. The final provision typically provides that the survivor spouse gets all the parties' assets when one party dies. Under certain circumstances, a community property agreement can take the place of a will.