Roers Legacy Law

Estate Planning · Snohomish, Washington

Thoughtful plans for the people you love.

Wills, trusts, and powers of attorney for Washington individuals and families, explained clearly and prepared with care.

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Services

How we can help

A complete estate plan is a set of documents that work together, protecting you during your life and carrying out your wishes afterward.

Wills

A clear Will that says who receives your property, who carries out your wishes, and who you would want to raise your minor children.

Revocable Living Trusts

A flexible Will substitute that can let your family avoid probate, keep your plan more private, and simplify property in more than one state.

Powers of Attorney

Durable financial and health care powers of attorney so the people you trust can act for you, without a court-supervised guardianship.

Health Care Directives

Put your wishes about life-sustaining treatment in writing so your loved ones don’t have to guess during a hard time.

Planning for Children

Guardian nominations and trusts that provide for your children’s care, education, and inheritance if you can’t be there.

Trusts for Beneficiaries

Testamentary trusts that protect an inheritance from creditors or divorce and guide how it is used over time.

Beneficiary Coordination

Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by designation. We align them with your Will or Trust so nothing works at cross-purposes.

Digital Asset Planning

Give your fiduciaries the authority and the roadmap to manage email, photos, online accounts, and cryptocurrency.

Plan Reviews & Updates

Married, divorced, had a child, or moved to Washington? We review existing plans and update what no longer fits.

Portrait of attorney David Roers

About

David Roers

Attorney & Founder

David Roers founded Roers Legacy Law to give Washington families clear, practical estate plans and the confidence that comes from knowing their wishes will be carried out.

David earned his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1997. He began his career in Tacoma, practicing estate planning, real estate, tax, and business law for about six years, with a one-year detour as a senior tax accountant at a CPA firm to sharpen his tax skills. He then spent roughly 25 years in the technology industry, keeping his law license active throughout, before returning to practice to focus on estate planning and related matters.

David believes estate planning should feel like a conversation, not a transaction. He takes time to understand each family, explains options in plain English, and designs plans that are easy to keep current as life changes.

David moved to Snohomish from Bellevue in 2018. He lives there with his wife, six cats, three mini-pigs, and one chicken, a household that has taught him a thing or two about planning for everyone you love.

  • PracticeEstate planning
  • AdmittedWashington State Bar, 1997 · WSBA #27133
  • EducationJ.D., Seattle University School of Law, 1997
  • Based inSnohomish, Washington

What to expect

A simple, unhurried process

  1. Initial conversation

    We start by learning about your family, your goals, and your concerns. You’ll leave understanding your options.

  2. Plan design

    We recommend a plan, including Will or Trust, fiduciaries, guardians, and how assets should pass, and explain the trade-offs plainly.

  3. Review & signing

    You review drafts and ask questions. Then we sign your documents with the witnesses and notary Washington law requires.

  4. Follow-through

    We help you coordinate beneficiary designations and fund any trust, then revisit your plan as life changes.

Why work with an attorney

Why not just use online forms?

Online forms can be a reasonable choice for some people. If you’re single, have modest assets, and your wishes are simple, a form-based Will may be enough. For most families, though, a plan is more than a set of fill-in-the-blank documents.

Questions a form can’t ask

Blended families, a child who isn’t ready to manage money, a beneficiary who receives disability benefits, a guardian who lives out of state. We talk through your situation and shape the plan around it.

Documents that work together

Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by beneficiary designation, not by your Will, and a trust avoids probate only if your assets are actually titled to it. We coordinate the pieces so nothing works at cross-purposes.

Built for Washington law

Washington is a community property state with its own estate tax and its own signing requirements. Your documents are drafted for Washington and signed with the witnesses and notary they require.

Mistakes surface too late to fix

Problems with a do-it-yourself plan usually appear only after a death or incapacity, when your family is left to sort them out, sometimes in court. Getting it right now spares them that.

And when life changes, you’ll have an attorney who already knows your plan. Already made a plan with online forms? Bring it to a free 15-minute call and we’ll talk about whether it covers what you need.

Book a free 15-minute call

Resources

Guides to read before we meet

Plain-English explanations of the decisions most people face when creating an estate plan.

FAQ

Common questions

Why not just use online forms or a do-it-yourself kit?

For some people, a form is enough. If you’re single, have modest assets, and your wishes are simple, a form-based Will may meet your needs. For most families, though, the value of working with an attorney is in the questions a form can’t ask, coordinating your Will or Trust with beneficiary designations and account titles, drafting for Washington’s community property and estate tax rules, and signing everything correctly. Read more about the difference.

Do you offer a free consultation?

Yes. You can book a free 15-minute call online at any time that suits you. It’s a chance to talk through your situation, ask questions, and decide whether we’re a good fit, with no obligation.

What happens if I die without a Will in Washington?

Washington’s intestacy laws decide who inherits your property, and a court appoints someone to administer your estate. If you have minor children, the court chooses their guardian without your input. A Will or Revocable Trust lets you make those decisions yourself.

Do I need a Will or a Revocable Trust?

It depends on your goals and circumstances, such as whether you own real estate in more than one state, how much privacy matters to you, and whether you plan to move. Our guide Should I Have a Will or a Revocable Trust? walks through the main considerations, and we’ll help you decide during your consultation.

Isn’t estate planning only for wealthy people?

No. Powers of attorney and a health care directive protect anyone who might become unable to make decisions, and parents of young children need to nominate a guardian regardless of their assets. A basic plan keeps decisions in your family’s hands rather than the court’s.

How often should I update my plan?

Review your plan after any major life event: marriage or divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, the death or incapacity of someone named in your plan, a move to a new state, or a significant change in your assets. Otherwise, a review every few years is a good habit.

What should I bring to our first meeting?
  • A list of your major assets and debts with approximate values
  • Any existing Wills, trusts, or powers of attorney
  • Recent retirement account and life insurance beneficiary designations
  • Names of the people you are considering as fiduciaries or guardians
  • Your questions; no question is too small

Our Basics of Estate Planning guide is a good place to start.

Does contacting you make me a client?

No. An attorney–client relationship begins only after we have checked for conflicts of interest and both signed an engagement agreement. Until then, please don’t send confidential information through this website or by email.

Contact

Let’s talk

Free 15-minute call

Not sure where to start? Pick a time that works for you and we’ll talk through your situation, with no cost or obligation.

Book a free call

Or send a message using the form and we’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Please share only general information. Don’t include confidential details until we’ve agreed to work together.