Criminal Defense: DUI If you are stopped for suspected DUI, the law enforcement officer may: ask if you have consumed any alcohol or drug-related substances. ask you to take a field sobriety test. ask you to submit to a breath test. If you blood alcohol content is .08 or higher, you may be cited and […]
About Ed Shoemaker
Posts by Ed Shoemaker:
Theft and Property Crimes
Criminal Defense: Theft and Property Crimes There are three degrees of theft ranging from a class B felony to a gross misdemeanor. Theft in the first degree occurs when property is taken from another without permission that amounts to over five thousand ($5,000) dollars in value. This is a class B felony. Theft in the […]
Revocable Living Trust
Estate Planning Tools: Revocable Living Trust A Revocable Living Trust has become popular estate planning tool to pass property to heirs after you die and to avoid probate. Like a will, the trust is revocable so you can modify or eliminate it at any time. The written trust agreement appoints a trustee to administer your […]
When to Change Your Will
Estate Planning: When to Change Your Will Clients often ask us when it is appropriate to change your will. The following is a brief listing of when you might want to change your will: Marriage: A new, post-will spouse can take a share of the estate if not mentioned in the will. Separation: If a […]
Washington Codicil
Estate Planning: Washington Codicil In Washington, a codicil is simply an amendment to a will. If you need to make changes to your will, you can either redo the entire will, or if it is only a minor change, you can do it by codicil. With a codicil you usually revoke a paragraph and replace […]
Washington Directive to Physician (Living Will)
Estate Planning: Living Will A Directive to Physician or Living Will as it is commonly known, is a legal document that directs your treating physician to discontinue life support systems if you are in a permanently vegetative state, with no chance of survival without artificial medical intervention. This directive will overrule anyone else’s desires. If […]
Durable Power of Attorney
Estate Planning: Durable Power of Attorney In thinking through your estate planning, a document you should consider is a Durable Power of Attorney (POA). This is a document that gives someone else the power to legally sign documents and make decisions on your behalf. Without adequate safeguards, this can be a dangerous document because that […]
Community Property Agreement
Estate Planning: Community Property Agreement Washington is a community property state, which means that all property in the state of Washington is either community property or separate property. Separate property is that which is owned before the marriage or received as a gift or inheritance during the marriage. All other property acquired during marriage as […]
Washington Will
Estate Planning: Will A will is a legal document that determines what happens to your property after your death. A will states who receives property and in what amounts. It can also be used to name a guardian for any minor children or to create a trust and designate a trustee to handle an estate […]
Small Estate
Washington Probate: Small Estate The State of Washington has an cost effective and efficient method to clear an estate after someone’s death, if their estate is considered a “small estate”. This procedure allows you to pay debts and transfer assets without the necessity of going through a full probate, which can take more time and […]