<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">Jordan - </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">Jumping onto what Anna said - and I am just getting out of a meeting and cannot find the precise new law but the legislature 2 or 3 years ago (the year they DID NOT fix the inflationary measure on the estate tax) did say that if the only reason that the estate going to a surviving spouse was OVER the taxable threshold was being of their primary residence, they would NOT have to file an estate tax return. So if you have a deceased spouse with 3.2 million and 800k of that was the half value of the primary residence, no need for the estate tax. Of course, I cannot find the specific provision right now......but here is the DOR Link: <a href="https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/other-taxes/estate-tax/estate-tax-spousal-personal-residence-exclusion#:~:text=For%20people%20who%20pass%20away,or%20exceeds%20the%20filing%20threshold.">https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/other-taxes/estate-tax/estate-tax-spousal-personal-residence-exclusion#:~:text=For%20people%20who%20pass%20away,or%20exceeds%20the%20filing%20threshold. </a></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">Regarding the execution - for Wills or any documents where I have accepted a fiduciary role here is my process: </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">1) There must be a conflict waiver. I am attaching a redacted version of my attorney as a fiduciary role conflict waiver that every client of mine signs if they ask me to serve. See RPC 1.7 and 1.8</font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">2) I also add this into the paragraph of the Will. Here is an example language. </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt"><br></span></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">I nominate my attorney, <b>Brent Williams-Ruth</b>,
presently operating from 500 S. 336<sup>th</sup> Street, Suite 2142; Federal
Way, WA 98003, telephone number (253) 285.7551 to serve as my Personal
Representative....</span><span style="font-size:12pt">A specific conflict waiver has been signed with
my attorney, pertaining to his relationship as my fiduciary and my legal
counsel. I reiterate in this document my express consent to his service, and
authorize the expenses associated with both service as fiduciary and
attorney-of-record.</span></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt"><br></span></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">This may be far more belts and suspenders than is formally required but far too many of our colleagues will insert themselves and slip in language like "I expressly state that their regular attorney fee can be charged in service as the Executor" - to that I call BS - no court would ever find it reasonable to charge $300, $400, $500, $800 an hour to sort through someone's clothes for donation, counting spoons, taking out the trash, and other non-legal jobs an Executor has to do or coordinate. So my response to those colleagues is to put it all out front, stated clearly, obtain express authorization and consent in as many different forms and locations as possible. </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">3) As a matter of strict course - and this could be me being too tough on myself - I NEVER serve as a witness (or notary) if I am in the document in any way. I also don't allow anyone to be a witness if they are in the documents. </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">I may be tainted by too many years of service to the WSBA where I heard from the public who were scammed by unethical attorneys and the system let them down. For me, I simply want to protect my client, their beneficiaries, and myself so that if anyone were to challenge my actions I have not 1 but 10 different defenses saying that my client knew what they were signing. </font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">Brent</font></div></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brent
Williams-Ruth</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> (pronouns: he/him)<br>
<i>Attorney-At-Law</i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law
Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font size="1">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</font></span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal
Way, WA 98003</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><font color="#ff0000">Mailing Address:</font> </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling
Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><font color="#ff0000">(253) 285-7751</font></span></p><p><font color="#ff0000" face="Times New Roman, serif">For All Meetings & Scheduling: <a href="mailto:info@williams-ruthlaw.com" target="_blank">info@williams-ruthlaw.com</a></font></p><p>
</p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> / <a href="http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/" target="_blank">website</a> /</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">facebook</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 3:25 PM Jordan Kostelyk <<a href="mailto:jordan@everlastinglegalsolutions.com">jordan@everlastinglegalsolutions.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div>
<div>Hello Everyone,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I have two very different questions any insight will be appreciated.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Can anyone explain to me if this is accurate: upon the death of one spouse with a 6MIL estate the other spouse would be able to use the marital deduction and would not have to pay any WA Estate tax? How does this work? Does the party still file for taxes?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Are there any issues (ethical or otherwise) with a lawyer drafting a will, witnessing it, and then being designated as the PR?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Thank you,</div>
<div>Jordan</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>
(<em>Ms.</em>) Jordan D. Kostelyk, Esq.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<strong><u>Tel:</u></strong> 425-244-5196
</div>
<div>
<strong><u>Email:</u></strong> <a href="mailto:jordankostelykatlaw@gmail.com" target="_blank">jordan@everlastinglegalsolutions.com</a>
</div>
<div>
<strong><u>Website:</u> </strong><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="https://everlastinglegalsolutions.com/" target="_blank">https://everlastinglegalsolutions.com/</a> </span>
</div>
<div> </div>
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