Aside from its people and its strong sense of community, one of the most precious things about the Skagit Valley is its land. Most of us either own some or aspire to own some. And those who do own some—whether it’s the family home, the family farm, or both—usually have a clear idea about where they want it to go and how they want it used in the future. Continue Reading…
“Estate planning” and “wine and cheese party” don’t typically appear in the same sentence. But we say, why not? When making big decisions, it’s nice to have a support group around you. And even better if that support group is made up of close friends—friends with wine and cheese in hand! Not the wine and cheese crowd? How about beer and crafts? Or something festive, like a cookie recipe exchange? You know your friends, so pick something that will appeal to them. Continue Reading…
Predictable, stress-free estate planning is our mission.
While we customize each of our estate plans to meet your unique situation and goals, there are certain core documents that you can expect from every Adaptive Law estate plan—in addition to our estate planning guarantees. Here’s a quick overview. Continue Reading…
Worried that creating a living trust will turn your children into spoiled “trust fund kids”? Or that you need millions of dollars to create one? Don’t let these myths stop you from setting up a revocable living trust. Here’s why. Continue Reading…
Most working Americans estimate that their own chances of experiencing a long term disability are substantially lower than the average worker’s. Given the high costs of care, this underestimation often leaves Americans ill prepared to pay for the costs of long term care. This blog examines the eye-opening statistics surrounding disability and some of the common disability planning options. Continue Reading…
A federal appeals court has ruled that Medicaid officials must accept applicants’ short-term annuities, providing more certainty for Medicaid applicants’ use of this important planning tool. Continue Reading…
Is your estate plan outdated? Yes or no.
If you don’t have a valid will or trust, then state laws will determine how your assets pass, to whom they pass, and when they pass. This is perhaps the most costly and emotionally draining way to pass assets to your loved ones. Continue Reading…
Faced with the increasing cost of higher education, students and their families must begin saving for college from an early age—often from birth. 529 College Savings Plans offer families a great opportunity to set aside money for a child’s college education, especially since funds held in 529 Plans grow tax-free. However, when a child with special needs is setting aside money for college, a 529 Plan may not be the best option. Continue Reading…
To choose or not to choose.
By far the most difficult decision that parents face when preparing their estate plan is selecting their child’s guardians. If you’re lucky, you have tons of options to choose from, and it’s “simply” a matter of picking the best one (and, of course, getting your partner to agree). If you’re not so lucky, it may come down to making sure certain people do NOT become guardian of your children. Either way, you are not alone if the dilemma of choosing your children’s guardian has prevented you from doing anything. But trust us when we say that, in this area, something is absolutely better than nothing. Continue Reading…
Yesterday morning, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples have the right to marry in all 50 states.The Court’s historic decision in Obergefell v. Hodges held that states cannot deny applications for marriage licenses for same-sex couples, and states must recognize same-sex marriages that were legally entered into in other states. Same-sex couples now have the same legal rights that opposite-sex couples enjoy. Here’s a quick overview of what the Court decided, and what this landmark case means for estate planning. Continue Reading…