Mercer Island Estate Planning Lawyers

We help families and business owners plan for now and the future. This is done through estate planning and business planning. Our process is to educate clients about opportunities - and problems - they or their family may encounter down the road. Next, we help them identify their priorities and goals, and then develop a plan to accomplish those goals. This sometimes involves using advanced legal structures and techniques, but we keep the explanations straight forward and understandable. After all, a great plan isn’t that great if you don’t understand it. Quality planning that you understand is...

Attorney Shane McKinnie is a former criminal prosecutor, and has experience working for both large and small law firms in the Seattle area. Shane approaches his cases from a practical perpective and above all, seeks to help his clients solve their problems in the way that best suits their circumstances and desires.
Shane is a fourth-generation Washingtonian and military veteran. He grew up in Snohomish County and attended Washington State University where he was a member of the Honors College and president of a fraternity. Shortly after graduating from WSU, he attended Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned as...

After being admitted to the Washington State Bar Association, Ms. Ramirez practiced law in the private sector with emphasis on family law, bankruptcy, estate planning and elder law matters. Ms. Ramirez compassionately advocates on behalf of her clients while she assists them in successfully resolving difficult disputes and navigating through litigation and complex legal issues.

Professional Memberships/Organizations
Ms. Ramirez is licensed to practice in the State of Washington and the United States District Court. She is also a member of the following professional associations:
Washington State Bar Association, Member
King County Bar Association, Member
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, Member

Education
Seattle University School of Law,...

Leavitt Legal Group is a full-service law firm founded to accomplish a single goal: deliver unmatched results to our clients regardless of their legal needs. At Leavitt Legal Group we understand that when our clients come to us with their legal problems they are trusting us to help them navigate a complex and often confusing legal system. For this reason, Leavitt Legal Group focuses on providing straightforward, common-sense counsel to our clients in order to help them understand their legal options as well as more fully understand the legal process they are facing. Counseling with our...

Home-grown in the Seattle area, Josh was raised in his dad's law firm. Soon enough Josh realized that he wanted nothing more than to follow in his father's footsteps. Josh and his high school sweetheart went off to the University of Washington, both with the desire to attend law school. They both graduated the UW in three years and headed off to Seattle University to complete their legal training. With his girlfriend now his wife, Josh was pushed to his best and made easy-work of law school.

With their law degrees under their belt, Josh and his wife, Sarah, began their...

A valued GTH partner, Julie Dickens has been with the firm since 1999. She focuses her practice on estate planning, real estate, and general business, representing individuals and their closely held businesses in all stages of their planning. Besides Wills, trusts, prenuptial agreements and probates, she helps her clients with entity formation, shareholder agreements, real estate purchase and sale agreements, leases, easements, and financing transactions.

Julie enjoys her practice because it offers her the opportunity to interact personally with her clients as she learns their life stories and collaborates with them to develop effective strategies for securing their future. She...

Christopher Small is the owner of CMS Law Firm LLC, the Northwest's premiere estate planning, probate, and trust administration law firm. CMS Law Firm focuses on estate planning for one reason - legacy and family protection are at the forefront of their philosophy and beliefs. Christopher is the proud father of three kids, Blakely, Jackson, and Dillon, and understands how important it is to make sure families have the protection and safety they need to excel no matter the circumstances.

Some of the routine matters we handle include, wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney, health care...

Theresa is an expert in legal matters pertaining to Tax, Business, Estate Planning, Immigration and Probate. With a Masters in Taxation from UW, her knowledge and expertise in these matters surpass the majority of her peers. She uses her abilities to give back and add value to Seattle-Tacoma, which has nurtured her into the attorney she is today.

Bruce Pruitt-Hamm is an attorney who can litigate, mediate or collaborate.
Litigation- As an attorney with over 20 years experience, Bruce Pruitt-Hamm has been awarded the highest rating by the national lawyer-rating service, Avvo.com. Since graduating in 1994 from the University of Washington School of Law near the top of his class, he has litigated over one thousand cases in a wide variety of areas of the law. Bruce volunteers for the Washington State Bar Association’s “Moderate Means Program“, offering reduced rates to people of moderate means. Bruce’s standard rate is $280/hr.; but he offers discounts for those on legal insurance...

May is a licensed Attorney and CPA with a J.D. degree, specializing in business law, financial, and tax advisory. With extensive experience in providing strategic guidance and practical solutions, May offers holistic advice tailored to the unique needs of individuals, small businesses, and corporations. Fluent in English, Mandarin, and conversational Japanese, May excels in effective communication and client service, catering to an international clientele. Known for meticulous attention to detail and maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards, May is committed to delivering tailored solutions that drive success in complex legal and financial landscapes.

I have been practicing law since 1990 when I graduated from a top-ranked Canadian law school, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. After 3 years as a trial lawyer in Canada I moved to California where I gained admission to the California State Bar. I practiced law in West Hollywood California for 13 years until my relocation to Redmond, Washington in 2007. Since 2008 I have practiced family law in the Seattle area, and I have extensive trial experience in King County. While I love being able to fight for my clients in the courtroom I also recognize that fair settlements...

Jamie founded Phinney Estate Law in 2007 as a way of addressing a need she saw in the community for affordable, values-based estate planning and as a way to develop a legal practice that was consistent with her own values and legal philosophy. Before founding Phinney Estate Law Jamie worked as a litigation associate at Cozen O'Connor, as an attorney advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, and as legal intern for Northwest Immigration Rights Project and Northwest Justice Project. Jamie began her work in estate law in 2005 as a pro bono attorney with King County...

Peter W. Mogren was born in Seattle, Washington, May 20, 1955; admitted to Washington bar, 1981; also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington. Employed at Mogren, Glessner & Ahrens, P.S. since 1980, and managing partner since 1987. Preparatory education, Seattle Pacific University (B.A. 1977); legal education, University of Oregon (J.D. 1980). Fraternity: Christian Legal Society. Member: Seattle-King County, South King County and Washington State Bar Associations. A CLC and ValueOptions Referral Attorney. Peter enjoys running (5K's), skiing (water and snow) and working with his church youth group

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Harkiran K. Sekhon is the founding attorney of Sekhon Law, PLLC. She is a Seattle University School of Law graduate and a postgrad participant in the Seattle University Incubator, a program dedicated to improving accessibility of legal services. From the start, her goal has been to make estate planning accessible and less daunting. This is because everyone can benefit from having an estate plan. The reality is that none of us know when death or incapacity might happen. Estate planning helps prepare for these unknowns so families and loved ones are not left scrambling. What makes Harkiran unique...

Justin Mishkin received his undergraduate degree from University of Washington, with certificates in Political Science and Economics. After undergraduate school, Justin attended law school at University of La Verne College of Law, a small private law school in Southern California. While in law school Justin spent two years at a family law clinic donating his time to helping those who could not afford to pay for legal representation. While at the legal clinic, Justin helped to prepare hundreds of family law petitions. After law school, Justin served as general counsel for a company that...

My practice focuses on probate, guardianships, estate planning, TEDRA (Trusts and Estate Dispute Resolution Act of Washington) litigation and alternate dispute resolution.

Do you need assistance navigating the complex probate process? Lead Attorney Sheila Ridgway from Ridgway Law Group, P.S. has more than 28 years of legal experience in this area and she can help guide you every step of the way. She focuses primarily on probate issues such as estate and trust litigation, guardianship, TEDRA, will contests, elder law, fiduciary services and mediation. Sheila has taken on very contentious and challenging cases in the past, but she has a proven track record of case victories under her belt. Attorney Ridgway provides individualized representation to her clients that are tailored to meet...

Janna enjoys the constructive aspect of her business law, estate planning, and adoption practices. She offers pragmatic advice to businesses of all sizes regarding their formation and organizational needs, provides comprehensive estate planning services to families, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives, and guides all types of families through the adoption process from the dual perspective of an attorney and an adoptive parent. Janna has been selected to the Washington Rising Stars list of outstanding lawyers each year from 2009 to 2017. Outside the office, Janna spends most of her time exploring West Seattle with her...

Darol Tuttle is an elder law attorney in Seattle, WA, Kirkland, WA and Tacoma, WA. Darol is an accredited attorney with the Veterans Administration, a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the Washington State Bar Association, Elder Law Section. Education: • J.D., Seattle University, 1996 • B.A., University of Washington, 1993 • B.A., Washington State Univ., 1986 Professional Affiliations: • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys • Elder Counsel • Washington State Association for Justice • Elder Law Section, Washington State Bar Assoc. • Pierce County Bar Association • Washington...

Mark graduated from Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) in 1974 with a B.A. in History. He then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (San Francisco, California) where he was the Articles Editor of Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal, and graduated in 1977 with a Juris Doctor degree. Mark was an instructor at the University of Puget Sound, School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law) from 1977 to 1979 before entering private practice in Seattle. He is admitted to practice in California as well as Washington. He is also admitted to...

Ms. Duncan graduated from Seattle University School of Law. She has experience in criminal law and guardianship, trust, and estate litigation. Before entering law school, Ms. Duncan taught middle school Special Education in San Antonio and in Seattle Public Schools. While in law school, she placed first in the American Bar Association Moot Court Appellate Competition, was a King County Bar Association Scholar, and received the Jeff Robinson Equity and Racial Justice Award. Ms. Duncan also worked for the Honorable Chief Justice Steve Gonzalez at the Washington State Supreme Court and prosecuted misdemeanors at Seattle City Attorney’s Office and the...

Heather focuses her practice on employment law representing individuals in claims involving wrongful termination, age, gender and race discrimination, workplace harassment, and workplace retaliation. Heather is experienced in multiple aspects of litigation including settlement negotiations, mediation, and arbitration. Additionally, Heather has represented clients in both State and Federal Court and before governmental agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Washington State Employment Security Department. Heather’s experience with employment issues includes Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, Washington Minimum Wage Act, Washington Paid Sick Leave and the Washington Law Against Discrimination. Heather also assists clients in negotiating severance...

Prior to law, I was a financial advisor and coach to other financial advisors. As a financial advisor, I discovered that there was a need for quality estate planning that actually addressed people's concerns and goals. I applied to law school for this express reason. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University (â04). I received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington School of Law (â11) and served as the Director of Operations for the Pacific Rim Law and Policy Journal. I also studied at the University of Edinburgh, Oxford University, and Tsinghua University. I have my legal...

Geniel M. Ashcraft has helped hundreds of clients complete their estates and assist in probate administration. Ms. Ashcraft is known for her service, attention to detail, and down to earth manner. Ms. Ashcraft mainly conducts her business through house calls. Her clients find they appreciate the convenience, her easy-to-understand approach, and personal attention. Geniel started her law practice in 2002. Geniel is admitted to practice in both Washington and Utah. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western Washington District and the United States District Court of Utah. She...

Our firm is committed to providing access to legal services for all income levels and we work with each client individually to determine how to best fit their needs.

I have been practicing law in Washington for 38 years. My practice has focused solely on family law including such issues as divorce, support modifications, parenting plans, paternity, prenuptial agreements and gay and LGBT family law.

I am a seasoned, tenacious legal professional who offers practical and honest advice about making your legal matters efficient and cost-effective.

I have been married 39 years and have two children and two grandchildren. In my free time I enjoy golf, gardening and spending time with my family.

Synthia Melton is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Dimension Law Group. Synthia’s practice focuses on Business Law and Commercial and Residential Real Estate, including Landlord-Tenant matters. Synthia works primarily with real estate investors and small business owners on matters involving complex transactional and litigation matters. She also serves as general counsel to various small to mid-size businesses throughout Washington State. Since 2016, Synthia was named a “Rising Star” each year by Super Lawyers, an award given to less than 2.5% of lawyers in the state. Synthia has a passion for working with Seattle’s small to mid-size business owners, assisting with...

Bill Fleming practices in Keller Rohrback’s business group, where he focuses on estate and small business planning, charitable giving, and trust and estate administration. A graduate of Williams College and Harvard Law School, Bill formerly practiced with the New York City law firm Simpson Thacher and Bartlett, and the Seattle firm Preston, Gates and Ellis.

Gurpreet Gill is a business, real estate, and estate planning attorney at Gill Legal Strategies PLLC. A Washington native, he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and his law degree from Seattle University. After graduating from law school, Gurpreet practiced corporate litigation at a large defense firm primarily focusing on insurance coverage and casualty matters. For the past few years, Gurpreet has assisted clients in real estate, business, estate planning, and landlord/tenant matters working at a boutique firm in Tacoma, Washington. With a background in corporate litigation, transactional work, and a finance degree from the Foster School...

Joy Lee Barnhart graduated from University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law) in 1981. After working as an independent contractor primarily doing family law, she started her private practice in the 1990s. Since then, she has worked in estates and probate, guardianships, and consumer and small business bankruptcies. Her current work focuses on consumer bankruptcies and guardianships, and she continues to offer estate planning and probate services. She also does pro bono work through King County Volunteer Legal Services. When she is not working, Ms. Barnhart is active in her faith community and has served...

Vijay Gosalia is a founding member of Ortiz & Gosalia, PLLC. He currently provides legal services in the areas of tax controversy, bankruptcy and estate planning. Prior to establishing Ortiz & Gosalia, PLLC, Mr. Gosalia provided legal services as a solo practitioner at Gosalia & Associates, LLC from 2009 through June 2011. Mr. Gosalia currently serves as an attorney at the Federal Tax Clinic at the University of Washington providing pro-bono tax services to clients and has done so since 2008. In addition to being admitted to practice in the State of Washington, Mr. Gosalia is admitted...