What is a Living Trust?

A trust is one way to hold and manage one’s estate. There are two ways to create a trust:  Either in a will (a testamentary trust) or by means of a written trust agreement (a living trust) that takes effect when you transfer property into the trust.  A living trust is a legal document that can act as a substitute for a will.  The function of this document is to put your assets into the trust so that they may be administered according to your wishes during your lifetime.  When you pass away these assets transfer to your beneficiaries without the necessity of probate.

 

Here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding if a living trust is right for you…

1.  What does a living trust do for ME?

2.  Is it helpful if I become incapacitated?
3.  Who should I appoint as the trustee?
4.  How will my assets transfer to the living trust?
5.  What are the negatives concerning this type of trust?

If you are considering drafting a living trust, contact the law office of Lyle M. Clark Jr.  Sit down for a free consultation with Attorney Clark and he will help you decide the right course of action.

For 35+ years he has been the choice of many as a Bellevue, WA area estate planning attorney.  Pick up the phone and dial Lyle at (425) 452-3092 for any and all questions about wills and trusts in Washington.

Choosing the Right Divorce Attorney.

You are emotionally distressed.  Never in your life have you faced this before.  You have decided to get a divorce in the state of Washington.  Please understand the semantics first and foremost.  In the Evergreen State it is known as a “dissolution of marriage”.  Please take a deep breath and make the correct decision in hiring the right representation to suit your needs and personality.

At a time like this, too many people just go to the internet and look up a list of family lawyers who serve the Seattle and Bellevue area.  This could be a financial and emotional mistake.  Take a minute.  Do you want someone who has handled divorce cases in the area for well over three decades?  Do you want someone who will give you his full attention and not just hand your case off to a junior partner?

Consider the law office of Lyle M. Clark Jr.  When you sit down for a free consultation with Mr. Clark he will listen to your situation with compassion and understanding.  There is not much that he has not encountered in his 35+ years of handling Bellevue area dissolution of marriage cases.  After you have considered all of the variables pick up the phone and dial Lyle at (425) 452-3092.

The Bellevue Collection Bellevue Family 4th

Bellevue Family 4th

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July 4th - 2pm - 10:30pm

 

Celebrating 25 years of the Eastside's most dazzling 4^th of July fireworks extravaganza!

The Eastside’s largest 4th of July event in Bellevue Downtown Park will honor America’s birthday for the 25th consecutive year, featuring a live performance by the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra and a spectacular fireworks display.

 

 

Why Have a Trust?

Why is having a trust important to you?  The very name indicates strength doesn’t it?  Some of the chief advantages of having a trust are as follows:

1.  To make sure that your worldly possessions are properly allocated when you pass away.

2.  To reduce those nasty gift and estate taxes.

3.  For proper distribution to your heirs in the amounts that YOU see fit.

4.  To make sure that lawsuits cannot deplete the estate.

5.  For naming a trustee that can speak for you after you are gone.

Trusts are many and varied and a qualified attorney will break them down for you.  The cost of setting up a trust is also varied and will depend on such variables as setting up a will, a living will, and a health care proxy for example.  You must protect your assets in the name of the trust.  Anything that is not titled may go to someone you did not intend when you die.

Whom do you “trust” to formulate your trust?  For over three and a half decades that man in Bellevue Washington is Seattle area personal estate attorney Lyle Clark.  Attorney Clark has handled hundreds of wills and trusts from his office located at 40 Lake Bellevue Suite 100.  Get the peace of mind you deserve and make an appointment by calling (425) 452-3092.

What is Collaborative Divorce in the State of Washington?

Is collaborative divorce right for you and your spouse?  It has become a popular new alternative to traditional divorce in this country.  It is best described as a method by which both parties come to an agreement through cooperative techniques.  Everyone tries to resolve conflicts without litigation having to be a part of what can become a messy process at best.

In the beginning both attorneys and their representatives sign what is known as a “Participation Agreement”.  This is understood as a pact that the issues of the dissolution will be settled in a non-adversarial manner.  Both parties trust that their respective attorneys will assist them in reaching a settlement without the expense of court costs.

In finding the perfect attorney to assist you as your representative look for someone who wants his clients to avoid expensive fees and costs.  Preferably that will be a veteran of Seattle-area family law who has seen every side of the issue of divorce for more than 35 years.  That choice is clear.  Place a call to Bellevue WA collaborative divorce attorney Lyle Clark today at (425) 452-3092.

12 Ways to Rock Your Memorial Day Weekend

12 Ways to Rock Your Memorial Day Weekend

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"We know many Seattle families will be hitting the highways and mountain passes this Memorial Day Weekend with cars packed full of camping gear. But for those families sticking close to home (you know who you are… been there, done that, never again with little ones), we’ve rounded up 12 activities to keep everyone in your crew happy and entertained over the three-day weekend."

Drafting a Proper Will in the State of Washington.

Drafting a will is like pre-arranging a funeral.  Nobody wants to think about it, but those that plan ahead are saving their loved ones a great deal of angst in the future.  Why even draft a will?  Well, what happens to a lifetime of possessions is out of your control if you don’t.  Now is the time to protect the people you care about the most from an uncertain financial future.

Fortunately, in Washington state if a will has to go to probate because property is involved the process is less expensive and less complicated than in other areas of the country.  In other states the courts get involved in the process.  In the Evergreen state the courts keep their nose out of the proceedings unless there are issues that are being contested.

Before you begin the process of drafting a will know this - it is a complex and important process.  You definitely should seek the assistance of a lawyer.  Once you have made the correct decision then be careful and choose the right one.  Attorney Lyle Clark has been practicing estate and probate law for more than 35 years.  Enough said…experience counts.  Call Lyle Clark today at (425) 452-3092.