- SEATTLE: 206-621-1110
- TACOMA: 253-572-1000
Assisting clients with issues related to the validity of trusts and wills in Washington State
The law related to wills, trusts, and probate is extremely complicated and varies greatly from state to state. In Washington, the law that governs the creation of trusts and wills is set forth in Title 11 of the Revised Code of Washington1.
In order for a will or trust to be valid, there are several formalities that must be followed – if they are not, the will or trust will fail and a deceased individual’s estate will be distributed according to the rules of intestate succession2. Often, this will result in a much different distribution of assets than was intended by the deceased individual, potentially resulting in an extremely unfavorable result.
The rise of “do-it-yourself” wills and trust legal assistance can often result in defective wills and trusts, as can attorney errors or malpractice. The unfortunate fact is that these errors will often go unnoticed until it is time to execute the will or trust, at which point the true intent of the deceased individual can be impossible to determine.
Fortunately, there are many ways that an experienced defective will and trust attorney can help family members ensure that their loved one’s true wishes are carried out.
To schedule a consultation with of our experienced will, trust, and probate litigation attorneys, call Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess today at 206-621-1110 OR 253-572-1000.
What causes wills and trusts to fail?
There are many potential reasons that a will or trust may be deemed unenforceable by a Washington court. Some of the more common reasons include the following:
- Inconsistent or ambiguous terms
- Terms that are contrary to public policy
- Noncompliance with formalities such as being signed or the required number of witnesses
- Void for lack of funding
- An invalid trust purpose
A trust or will may be deemed invalid for other reasons as well. Of course, the best way to avoid this situation is to create your will or trust with the assistance of an experienced attorney.
For beneficiaries and other who have found themselves dealing with a defective will or trust, contacting legal counsel immediately can ensure that your issue is brought to a successful resolution as soon as possible.
Contact a Seattle and Tacoma defective will and trust attorney today
The lawyers of the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess have over 100 years of combined experience helping people engaged in defective will, trust, and probate litigation. CONTACT OUR OFFICE NOW AT 206-621-1110 OR 253-572-1000 TO SCHEDULE A FREE 15-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS.
1 https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=11
2 https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=11.04.015
Featured Testimonial
“I have had the opportunity/pleasure to work with Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess. The entire staff is very knowledgable and congenial. They are very competent when it comes to all facets of their business. I would highly recommend them to anyone inquiring about their services and look forward to a continuing successful relationship with this highly trained and professional group of people. Please contact me if you would like more details but be rest assured when you work with Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess you can expect nothing but the best service, highest form of expertise and continued support throughout the process. Thank you Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess!”
Attorney Robert Dickson
The core of Rob’s legal practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction, real estate, and business law. He represents a wide range of clients, from large construction companies to individual homeowners. His is a practical approach to law, which strives to balance the need for a successful legal outcome with a client’s financial goals (or constraints). Outside of his private practice, Rob serves as an adjunct professor at the Seattle University School of Law where he teaches real estate litigation. [ Attorney Bio ]
Thomas L. Dickson
Tom is an experienced litigator and the founding partner of the firm. For over 30 years, he’s helped clients prevail in their real estate, construction, and business law matters.
Heather Burgess
Heather represents property owners and developers in all phases of real estate development, from pre-acquisition due diligence through local permitting and appeals.
Robert P. Dickson
The core of Rob’s legal practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction, real estate, and business law. He represents a wide range of clients, from large construction companies to individual homeowners.
Daniel J. Frohlich
Dan’s legal practice focuses on civil litigation, real estate law, business law and probate law. He has more than 10 years of experience as an attorney serving clients throughout Western Washington.
Mark S. Johnson
Mark’s legal practice focuses on civil litigation, real estate law, business law and family law. He works tirelessly to help his clients achieve the outcome they are looking for.
Trevor A. Zandell
Since graduating with honors from law school in 2005, Trevor has been serving the legal needs of businesses, individuals, and families across Southwest Washington.
Daniel E. Pizarro
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Daniel is active in the firm’s civil litigation department. His practice is mainly centered around real estate law, landlord-tenant law, construction law, and probate law.
Alexander J. Wisbey
Alexander Wisbey comes to the firm with 5 years of experience as a litigator and trial attorney. He has first chaired several jury trials and has extensive experience handling arbitrations, mediations, depositions, and settlements.
Andrew Hata
Andrew is the head of our Transactional Department and focuses his practice on corporate governance, real estate transactions, commercial contracts, and corporate finance.
Kelley Duggan
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kelley practices in a wide range of areas, including estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and intellectual property law.
Cambria A. Queen
Cambria is an Associate with Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess in the civil litigation department, where she practices primarily real estate and probate law.
George Knight
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, George is active in the firm’s civil litigation and transactional departments. His practice is mainly centered around business law, real estate law, construction law, employment law, and probate law.
Chris Pierce-Wright
Chris comes to Phillips Burgess Tacoma from Seattle, where he served as an associate attorney focused on insurance litigation with Wilson Smith Cochran Dickerson.
Jennifer Yoo
Jennifer is an associate attorney at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess where her current practice focuses on real estate law, contract and commercial disputes, and business law.
Katherine E. Baals
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Katherine practices in a range of areas, including real estate, construction, business, and civil litigation.
Kenneth Chan
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, PLLC, Kenny is active in the firm’s civil litigation and transactional departments. Prior to working at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kenny was an in-house attorney for a Fortune 100 company.
Brian Buske
Following his graduation from Lewis & Clark Law School, Brian garnered valuable client experience working on international compliance and intellectual property issues.
Kyla S. Bennett
As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kyla practices in a range of areas, including real estate, land use, and civil litigation.
