Seattle, WA · Estate Planning
Estate Planning Attorneys in Seattle, Washington
View Ridge Law prepares wills, trusts, and complete estate planning documents for Seattle families, with a case evaluation that starts the moment you call 206-966-4020. If your estate planning has been sitting on the to-do list for years, you are exactly who this page is for.
Estate planning for the family you actually have
Most Washington families need more than a will. A complete plan usually covers who raises your kids if something happens to you, who can make medical and financial decisions if you are incapacitated, and how your property passes without unnecessary court involvement. Washington is a community property state, which changes how married couples should think about ownership and inheritance, and it is one of the reasons working with an estate planning attorney in Seattle beats a fill-in-the-blank form from the internet.
We build plans around real family structures, including blended families, so the documents match your life instead of a template. Start with a call, the case evaluation form below, or the free estate-planning download that has always lived on this page.
How we handle estate planning
Estate planning at View Ridge Law starts with your family, not with paperwork. Because our estate planning is integrated with family law, we plan for the family you actually have: first marriages, second marriages, stepchildren, unmarried partners, and kids from different relationships. A plan for a blended family in Seattle looks different from a plan for a single parent in Snohomish County, and both deserve documents written for their situation.
A deliberately simple process
You schedule a case evaluation, coordinated by one of our Client Services Directors, where we review your legal needs and explain how our team works. If you decide to move forward, we coordinate a meeting with an attorney, design the plan together, and get your documents drafted, reviewed, and signed. The goal is an estate plan that is done, valid under Washington law, and off your plate.
Comparing Seattle estate lawyers?
If you are comparing Seattle estate lawyers, or searching for a wills and trusts attorney anywhere in Washington, ask each firm how they handle families like yours. That answer tells you most of what you need to know.
The free estate planning download
Not ready to talk to anyone yet? Grab the free instant download on this page. It walks you through estate planning basics so you can come to the case evaluation with clear questions.
What your estate plan may include
Depending on your circumstances, your plan may include a last will and testament, one or more trusts, and guidance on how probate would apply to your estate.
Last will & testament
Most Washington adults need at least a will. It tells the probate court who should receive your property and who should administer your estate.
Trusts
Worth adding when you want to avoid probate for certain assets, provide for minor children over time, or manage property for a blended family.
Probate guidance
A will does not avoid probate. Washington probate is more streamlined than in many states, and tools like trusts and community property agreements can keep some assets out of the process entirely.
At your case evaluation we look at what you own and who depends on you, then recommend the simplest structure that actually does the job.
Why Seattle families choose View Ridge Law
View Ridge Law was founded in 2014 by Mackenzie Sorich and has grown into a team of 13 attorneys serving King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties. The firm covers wills, trusts, and probate. You can meet the full group on our team page.
A reputation real families vouch for
Clients have left 179 Google reviews with a 4.5 star rating. A long record of people who would refer a friend is the proof that counts.
A full team, not a solo office
Founded in 2014, View Ridge Law has grown into a team of 13 attorneys, with estate planning integrated with family law under one roof.
Attorneys who know Washington families
Serving King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties, with plans built around real family structures rather than templates.
Recognized for our work
Honored by readers and the legal community
Seattle Times “Best in the PNW” People’s Choice Winner in 2024 and 2025, Expertise.com Best Divorce Lawyers in Seattle, and a top Avvo rating. Mackenzie’s estate planning guidance reached Seattle readers in “Estate Planning Tips with Mackenzie Sorich,” published in Laurelhurst and Windermere Living Magazine in 2022.
Meet Evelyn Emanuel, Estate Planning Attorney
Evelyn Emanuel
Estate Planning Attorney, View Ridge Law
Estate planning at View Ridge Law is led by Evelyn Emanuel, an estate planning attorney who graduated cum laude from Seattle University School of Law in 2012. She believes an estate plan is your final statement — a way to communicate what was important to you, who you remember, and who you trust — and she approaches every client with empathy, open communication, and a plan built around their particular wishes.
Evelyn is a member of the WSBA Elder Law Section and the Washington Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, serves on the Editorial Board of the WSBA’s Bar News, and volunteers with the Washington First Responder’s Clinic and KCBA’s Kinship Care program. In her view, proactive planning is the key to preserving wealth, protecting assets, and leaving a legacy that reflects your values.
Credentials: J.D. cum laude, Seattle University School of Law (2012) · WSBA Elder Law Section · Washington Academy of Elder Law Attorneys · Editorial Board, WSBA Bar News · Read Evelyn’s full bio →
Estate planning questions Seattle families ask
Do I need a will or a trust in Washington State?
Most Washington adults need at least a will, and a trust is worth adding when you want to avoid probate for certain assets, provide for minor children over time, or manage property for a blended family. At your case evaluation we look at what you own and who depends on you, then recommend the simplest structure that actually does the job.
What happens if I die without a will in Washington?
Washington’s intestacy statutes decide who inherits, and because Washington is a community property state, your share may pass in ways your family does not expect. Unmarried partners and stepchildren generally receive nothing under intestacy, which is why estate planning is urgent for blended families in Seattle.
Does a will avoid probate in Washington?
No, a will does not avoid probate; it tells the probate court who should receive your property and who should administer your estate. Washington probate is more streamlined than in many states, and tools like trusts and community property agreements can keep some assets out of the process entirely.
What should a blended family include in an estate plan?
A blended family plan should spell out exactly what goes to a current spouse, what is preserved for children from earlier relationships, and who serves as guardian and decision-maker, because Washington’s default rules rarely match those intentions. View Ridge Law plans around real family structures, so these conversations are the starting point, not an afterthought.
How much does estate planning cost in Seattle?
The cost depends on how complex your estate and your family situation are, so we review your circumstances at a case evaluation and explain the scope before any work begins. A straightforward will package is a different project from a trust-based plan for a blended Seattle family, and you will know what yours involves up front.
Schedule a Case Evaluation
Stop putting off your estate plan. Call 206-966-4020 or fill out the case evaluation form, and one of our Client Services Directors will promptly set a time that works for you, review your legal needs, and coordinate a meeting with an attorney if you decide to move forward. Get your Washington estate plan done, documented, and off your mind.
View Ridge Law
3418 NE 65th St, Suite A
Seattle, WA 98115
206-966-4020
By appointment.
