Caring and Experienced Estate Planning Lawyers Serving Kitsap County
The loss of a loved one can bring emotional strain along with many practical responsibilities. We know this can be a difficult time for you and your family. At Ryan, Montgomery & Saunders Inc., P.S., our attorneys provide knowledgeable, compassionate guidance through probate and estate planning.
As trusted estate administration lawyers, we help families make informed decisions and protect what matters most. Contact us online or call 360-307-8860 to request a consultation.
Why Choose Our Estate Attorneys in Silverdale, WA
For more than 60 years, families throughout Kitsap County have trusted Ryan, Montgomery & Saunders Inc., P.S., to handle personal legal issues with care and discretion. Attorney Jim Ryan has been with our firm since 1975 and has focused much of his career on real estate, estate planning, and probate law. He is experienced in settling both small and large estates.
When you work with our estate planning lawyer, you gain:
- Decades of hands-on experience: A seasoned estate attorney in Silverdale, WA, who has guided hundreds of families through wills, trusts, and probate.
- Deep local knowledge: As probate lawyers in Washington, we understand the state’s probate court procedures and estate laws.
- Compassionate, personal service: You speak directly with an attorney, not a call center.
- Full-service support: We provide support from drafting your first will through completing estate administration.
- Local service throughout Kitsap County: We serve clients in Silverdale, Bremerton, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Manchester, Olalla, and surrounding communities.
Serving all of Kitsap County, including Silverdale, Bremerton, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Manchester, and Olalla.
What Is Estate Planning?
Estate planning involves creating a plan for how your property, finances, health-care decisions, and other affairs should be handled during your lifetime and after your death. Depending on your circumstances and goals, an estate plan may include a will, trust, durable power of attorney, advance health-care directive, beneficiary designations, and other legal documents.
A properly prepared estate plan can help communicate your wishes, identify who should manage your affairs if you become unable to do so, and establish how certain assets should be distributed after your death.
The right estate planning documents depend on your family situation, assets, goals, and applicable Washington law.
Taking the Burden Off You During the Estate Administration
If you recently lost a family member, you may want to consider locating an experienced estate administration lawyer. Our firm handles every detail so you can focus on your family. As your estate probate attorney, we will:
- File the appropriate documents with the probate court on your behalf
- Retitle assets to the correct beneficiaries
- Work with financial advisers to assist in the distribution of assets
- Deal with creditors of the estate
- Coordinate with accountants as necessary on federal and state tax returns
You do not need the added burden of dealing with these unfamiliar processes on your own. Put the work in the hands of our probate lawyers, and we will guide you through this process from start to finish.
What Is Probate in Washington?
Probate is the court-supervised process used to administer certain estates after someone dies. Depending on the circumstances, probate can involve validating a will, appointing or recognizing a personal representative, identifying and collecting estate assets, addressing valid debts and claims, and distributing property to beneficiaries.
Not every asset necessarily passes through probate. Certain assets may transfer outside probate through mechanisms such as beneficiary designations, joint ownership, trusts, or other nonprobate arrangements.
Whether probate is required depends on factors including how the deceased person owned their assets, whether beneficiary designations apply, the existence of a trust, and the nature and value of the estate.
Comprehensive Estate Planning Attorney Services
A thoughtful estate plan protects your assets, wishes, and the people you love. Our estate planning attorney team assists clients across Washington with a full array of services, including:
Wills
A properly drafted will makes sure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Our will attorney services help you name guardians for minor children, designate an executor, and avoid unnecessary complications for your loved ones.
Trusts
Trusts can help your family avoid probate, reduce tax exposure, and maintain privacy. We prepare revocable living trusts and other trust vehicles tailored to your goals.
Durable Powers of Attorney
A durable power of attorney appoints someone you trust to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so yourself.
Advanced Health Care Directives
Also known as a living will, this document lets your medical wishes be honored and relieves your family of difficult decisions during an emergency.
Transfer on Death Beds
A transfer on death deed allows real property to pass directly to your chosen beneficiary without going through probate. It’s a valuable tool for many Washington homeowners.
Probate & No-Probate Administration
Whether an estate requires full probate or qualifies for a simplified process, our estate administration lawyer team will determine the most efficient path forward.
What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will?
When someone dies without a valid will, they are considered to have died intestate. Washington’s intestacy laws determine which eligible relatives inherit the estate and how the estate is distributed.
The result may differ from what the deceased person would have wanted. Estate administration may also become more complicated when family members disagree about assets, beneficiaries, or other issues.
Our probate attorneys can help surviving family members understand the Washington probate and intestacy process and the legal options available to them.
What Is the Difference Between Estate Planning and Estate Administration?
Estate planning happens during a person’s lifetime and establishes how their assets and affairs should be handled. Estate administration happens after a person’s death and involves carrying out the applicable estate plan, addressing debts and expenses, and distributing assets to beneficiaries or heirs.
Estate planning may involve wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance health-care directives, and beneficiary designations.
Estate administration may involve probate, asset collection, creditor issues, tax matters, beneficiary distributions, and other responsibilities.
Help Your Loved Ones By Planning Ahead
If you lost a loved one who did not have a will, you may already know how difficult estate administration can become. You can help spare your family from similar stress by creating a comprehensive estate plan with an experienced estate planning lawyer.
Planning ahead is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. A well-prepared estate plan can reduce stress, prevent disputes, limit unnecessary costs, and clearly communicate your wishes.
Contact our Washington estate planning attorneys today or call 360-307-8860 to request a consultation.
Our Estate Planning & Probate Process
We make working with an estate planning attorney straightforward and stress-free:
- Consultation: We listen to your goals, answer your questions, and explain your options.
- Custom plan or case review: Our team designs an estate plan or evaluates the estate that needs administration.
- Document preparation & filing: We draft your documents or file the appropriate probate paperwork.
- Guidance & follow-through: We stand by you until every detail is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning & Probate
Get the Representation You Need to Feel Protected!
Whether you need a will attorney to plan for the future or probate lawyers to help settle an estate, Ryan, Montgomery & Saunders Inc., P.S., is here to help.
Request a consultation by filling out the contact form or calling 360-307-8860. We offer appointments during our regular business hours.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
