NW Legacy Law

05/22/2026

Your homeowners' insurance covers your house if a tree falls on it.

This policy doesn't cover your furnace when it fails in January. That bill can run $8,000-$12,000. Most people discover this gap when they're already in the middle of the problem.

We see the same thing with estate plans.

The document looks complete. The notary signed it. But the beneficiary form on the retirement account still names an ex-spouse. The trust was funded once and never updated after the refinance. The gap only shows up under pressure — when it's too late to fix it easily.

When did you last review your plan — financial, insurance, and estate documents together?

A Strategy Session will be a discussion with one of our attorneys to examine what changes may be needed. Schedule one at www.NWlegacylaw.com

05/21/2026

Vancouver's mayor called the planned downtown performing arts center 'a legacy opportunity,' a chance to build something lasting for this community.

What's yours?

Most young families aren't thinking about legacy. They're thinking about school pick-up and weekend plans and whether there's anything left in the budget at the end of the month.

But legacy doesn't start when you're old. It starts the day you decide what matters.

A will. A guardian for your kids. A healthcare directive. Simple documents. Real meaning.

If something happened to you and your partner tomorrow, does your family have a plan? Does anyone know what you'd want?

Schedule a Strategy Session with one of our expert attorneys to help you plan for your future.

05/17/2026

You got gold?

Most people updating their portfolios right now aren't updating the one document that controls what happens to those assets.

Gold just closed its best year in nearly five decades!

Families across Clark County are shifting savings into physical metals and hard assets as a hedge. That's a reasonable financial move.

It's also one that quietly creates an estate planning gap.

Physical gold doesn't have a beneficiary form. It doesn't transfer automatically. It doesn't show up in an account statement someone can find after you're gone. If your plan was built around traditional accounts and IRAs, those hard assets may be completely invisible to it.

The asset shift happened. The plan update usually doesn't.

If you've made moves like this in the last year or two, one question worth asking your estate planning attorney is, does my plan reflect where my assets actually sit today?

05/14/2026

Goldfish Swim School is hosting a free Water Safety Day this Saturday.

Water safety is something parents in Clark County take seriously. We learn the rules. We watch at the pool. We teach our kids to swim.

We build protection actively.

But a lot of parents who do everything right to keep their kids physically safe haven't taken the one step that matters most if they're not there: writing down who raises their kids and how.

A guardian designation and a simple family trust don't take long to put in place. They just require making a decision.

Is your family's plan in writing? If not, give us a call, we can help make a plan for your family. 360-342-9402

On Saturday, May16th from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm, Goldfish Swim School will open its doors to the community for a FREE Celebration of Water Safety!

05/14/2026

Calling all fishing lovers! The Kids Fishing Fest is this Saturday at Columbia Springs.

Ages 5 to 14. Poles provided. No experience needed. Just show up.

Events like this are why a lot of us love raising kids in Clark County. They're also quiet reminders of what we'd want our kids to keep experiencing, no matter what happens to us.

Are you taking your kids to the Fishing Fest Saturday?

Register here

Join the fishy fun at our annual fishing festival put on in partnership with the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Clark Public Utilities.

04/24/2026

Millions in assets go unclaimed every year.

Not because families didn't care — but because no one knew what to look for, or where to find it.

Lottery winnings, forgotten accounts, old policies, misdirected transfers. The pattern is always the same: assets that existed, but weren't connected to a plan.

Your family shouldn't have to hunt for what's theirs.

One of the most practical things an estate plan can include is a clear inventory — a documented record of what you own, where it is, and who handles it. Not just for big assets. For everything.

We see the alternative play out in probate. Families spending months trying to piece together a financial picture their loved one knew well — but never wrote down.

That's a solvable problem.

Does your family have a clear, written record of your assets — or is that knowledge only in your head?

📎 Source: https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/wa-lottery-unclaimed-prizes-expire

04/22/2026

Watching kids pitch business ideas at a children's fair is honestly one of the best things happening in Vancouver right now.

Here's a thought for the parents in the room:

Your child's future is worth planning for.

Not just college. Not just "being responsible." But actually documenting who raises them if something happens to you. Who manages money on their behalf. When they receive it — and how much at a time.

The families who get this right aren't just leaving money. They're leaving structure. Clarity. A plan that protects their kids financially and emotionally.

And the families who skip it? They leave the decisions to courts, conflict, and chance.

An estate plan for young parents isn't complicated. It just has to exist.

What do you want your kids to inherit from you — and is that documented anywhere?

Have questions? We always answer our phones call us at 360-342-9402 or visit us at www.nwlegacylaw.com

04/16/2026

Everyone's favorite week! Tax week. Well, not even close to our favorite week.

Most people assume their IRS bill is fixed. It often isn't.

Penalties compound every month, but many of them can be reduced. Settlement programs exist for the underlying balance. Tax relief options are available that most people never pursue because they didn't know to ask.

The same is true in estate planning. Most families assume the tax exposure on their estate is what it is. It rarely has to be. The right structure, trusts, beneficiary designations, and gifting strategies can significantly reduce what the government takes.

The families who know their options end up in better positions than the ones who assumed they had none.

Always glad to talk more. Find us at www.nwlegacylaw.com

04/08/2026

A new state bill has just been passed to protect Clark County farms and forests from unintended development. It sets limits. It establishes rules. It makes sure what families built over generations isn't taken from them by forces they didn't anticipate.

An estate plan does the same thing — for any family, not just those with farmland.

It doesn't matter whether you own 200 acres or a family home. A documented structure means your assets go where you intend, not where the default rules send them.

Home  / Bills, meetings, and session  / Bills  / Bill summary  / SB 5820 Search for another bill Search for another bill or initiative Search bills by Bill Initiative Number Biennium SB 5820 - 2025-26 Concerning the responsibility of certain counties to include freight rail dependent use ove...

04/06/2026

$3.4 billion was stolen from adults over 60 in a single year. Not through hacks — through data brokers. Name, address, phone number, estimated income. Available for a few dollars to anyone willing to pay.

If your parents are in that age range, this is the conversation worth having — not just about cybersecurity, but about who has legal authority to step in quickly if something goes wrong.

A durable power of attorney means you can act when they need protection. Without one, your hands are tied even if you're standing right there.

Protect them before someone else takes advantage. Start the conversation at www.nwlegacylaw.com.

04/02/2026

The Pink Hard Hat Awards recognize women breaking ground in construction and development across our region.

Vancouver is growing — and the people building it deserve recognition. Building things takes vision.

Whether that's a development project, a business, a family, or a financial legacy — the intentionality behind it matters. The professionals we respect most in this community approach their work the same way.

They build relationships slowly, refer with care, and think about what they're actually creating for the people they serve. Estate planning works the same way. It's not a transaction. It's a structure built deliberately, designed to protect what someone spent decades creating.

Congratulations to every woman recognized in this year's Pink Hard Hat Awards. The work you're doing in Clark County is building something that will last.

Who in your professional network is doing work in this region that deserves more visibility?

The 2025 Pink Hard Hat Awards honored outstanding women in Clark County’s building industry, recognizing their leadership and contributions to construction and development.