Estate Planning·Bellevue, Washington
Your Family's Estate Planned Future, Thoughtfully Protected
Estate Planning guidance for Washington families as inexpensively as possible using MetLife Legal Plans (MLP) — Enroll in MetLife Legal Plans — $22/month → Community & Separate Property Revocable Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney for Finances & Health, Living Wills, Advance Directives, Transfer on Death Deeds, Beneficiary Designations & Spousal Consent Forms. Christopher S. Mulvaney, Esq. brings clarity and care to life's most important decisions.
Please include your MetLife Eligibility ID and a brief summary of your Estate Planning issue in an email to Christopher S. Mulvaney — [email protected]
Once you have completed and returned the Intake Form (PDF) or the Online Intake Form, I will prepare a draft of an Estate Plan for your review, and schedule a no-cost, no-obligation Zoom consultation with Christopher Mulvaney to discuss your estate planning needs. I will answer all of your questions — in a calm, confidential conversation about what matters most to your family.
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— ID: 3659297112 | Passcode: MeetMulv | Christopher is a Remote Online Notary — Email a photo ID to [email protected].
What We Do
Mulvaney Law Offices, PLLC — Law Firm Services
View All ServicesRevocable Living Trust
A living trust allows your assets to pass directly to your loved ones without the delays and costs of probate. All trust property is community property unless separately titled. Assets acquired before marriage, gifts, and inheritance are presumed to be separate property — add them to an account titled in your name as Trustee of your Trust and keep them from commingling with community assets. After signing, open a Trust Checking and Savings Account and transfer your money into it — this is called Funding the Trust.
Last Will & Testament
Post-Covid, Wills are not necessary. Because all signing at Mulvaney Law Offices is electronic and unwitnessed, and an Electronic Will may become invalid without a "Qualified Custodian" in continuous possession, we do not execute Electronic Wills. A Will is not required for Probate — and you should not need Probate at all if you record Transfer on Death Deeds and use Beneficiary Designations.
Financial Power of Attorney
A Power of Attorney appoints a trusted person to act on your behalf in a Principal-Agent relationship — the Agent may renounce the appointment. A Financial POA allows your Agent to handle financial matters for you; between spouses it is often effective immediately as a convenience. An alternate Agent for finances can prevent a contested guardianship proceeding if you become incapacitated. Powers of Attorney are more likely to benefit you personally than your Will or Trust, which primarily benefit your heirs.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Appoint someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf. Governed by Chapter 11.125 RCW, your Healthcare POA grants your agent immediate HIPAA access — so they can review medical charts, speak to doctors, and handle insurance billing right away, even while you are still capable.
Living Will / Advance Directive
A Living Will names someone you trust to make medical decisions if you cannot, and documents your wishes about life support, feeding tubes, and IV fluid. A separate Mental/Behavioral Health Advance Directive covers mental health and addiction care — including whether your agent may authorize voluntary inpatient treatment.
Estate Plan Review & Updates
Life changes — and your estate plan should too. Christopher reviews existing plans and updates them to reflect new family members, assets, changes in Washington State law, or long-term care planning needs.
Prenuptial / Postnuptial Agreements
A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement defines how assets and debts will be divided in the event of divorce or death, protecting both parties and clarifying financial expectations before or during marriage.
Legal Name Change
Christopher assists Washington State residents with legal name changes through the court process — whether following marriage, divorce, gender transition, or personal preference.
Uncontested Divorce by Mail
An uncontested divorce allows spouses who agree on all terms to dissolve their marriage without a court appearance. Christopher guides Washington State residents through the process entirely by mail and Zoom.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 bankruptcy provides a fresh start by discharging most unsecured debts. Christopher advises Washington State residents on eligibility, exemptions, and the filing process.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to reorganize your debts into a manageable repayment plan while keeping your assets. Christopher guides Washington State residents through the process.
Deed Recording
Christopher prepares and records Transfer on Death Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds, and other real property instruments with the appropriate Washington State county recorder's office.
Planning for Young Adults
Every adult over 18 needs a Healthcare Power of Attorney and Financial Power of Attorney. Without them, parents have no legal authority to help their college-age children in a medical emergency or financial crisis.
About the Attorney
Christopher S. Mulvaney, Esq.
Founder, Mulvaney Law Offices, PLLC
Christopher Mulvaney founded Mulvaney Law Offices with a single purpose: to help Bellevue families protect what matters most. With deep expertise in Washington State estate law, he brings a calm, methodical approach to every client relationship — ensuring no detail is overlooked and no question goes unanswered.
He believes that estate planning is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your family. His personalized process begins with listening — understanding your values, your concerns, and your vision for the future — before crafting a plan that truly reflects your wishes.
Licensed to practice in Washington State, Christopher serves clients throughout the Eastside, including Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Mercer Island.
Learn More About ChristopherWhy Families Choose Us
A Different Kind of Law Firm
Personalized Attention
All Attorney's Fees for preparation and execution of Estate Planning documents are fully covered by MetLife Legal Plans. If you lose coverage, there are 180 days from that date to complete service — what matters is that we begin while you are covered.
WA Estate Tax Planning and Separate Trust Funding are not covered by legal insurance and are not part of the flat-fee documents. The WA Estate Tax Exemption is fixed at $3 million for single people.
For married couples, increasing the exemption from $3 million to $9 million requires Separate Trusts with the required legal language — signed by both spouses — available for a discounted rate of $1,500 via Zelle.
Using Separate Trusts to Avoid Estate Tax (PDF) →
Gifts to beneficiaries over age 25 are outright and free of trust. Under age 25, gifts are subject to the sole and absolute discretion of the Successor Trustee, guided by the Grantors' most recent Letter of Instruction.
Non-Notarized Letter of Instruction (PDF) →
The Successor Trustee also has full legal authority to manage digital assets under Washington's RUFADAA (RCW Chapter 11.120).
Washington State Expertise
Deep knowledge of Washington's community property laws, estate statutes, and real estate deed recording requirements.
Nothing is certain but death and taxes. — Benjamin Franklin
Washington Estate Tax: The filing threshold and exclusion amount after July 1, 2026 is $3 million (SB 6347), with marginal rates between 10% and 20%. A WA Estate Tax Return must be filed by the Successor Trustee if the gross estate exceeds $3 million. One way to avoid WA Estate Tax is to move to a state without one — the twelve states that levy state estate tax are Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Federal Estate & Gift Tax: The IRS Lifetime Unified Exclusion is $15 million per person ($30 million per couple) in 2026, inflation-adjusted annually. The Federal Annual Gift Tax Exclusion from reporting is $19,000 per recipient per year — file IRS Form 709 if you give more than that to anyone other than your spouse. Tax is owed only above the exclusion amount by the giver, not the recipient. Christopher also recommends practical steps every client should take: annual credit reports, credit freezes with all three bureaus, the National Do Not Call Registry, and opting out of junk mail through the DMA.
MetLife Legal Plans — $22/Month
MetLife Legal Plans (MLP) has such an excellent, low-cost plan that becomes effective on the first day of the month after purchase — as long as you enroll before the 23rd day of the month — that I ask all clients to enroll. All clients who formerly paid directly are asked to purchase MetLife Legal Plans (MLP) Insurance Annual Premium Plan instead of paying directly.
MetLife Legal Plans (MLP) Individual Premium Insurance Coverage: $22/month — $264 for one year. Cancel anytime after the first year.
MetLife Individual Premium Plan (PDF) →
Please forward the email you receive from MetLife Legal Plans (MLP) that contains your legal insurance effective date. We can start work before the effective date. If you already have MetLife Legal Plans, please send your 9-character alphanumeric MetLife Legal Plans (MLP) Eligibility ID so I can confirm your coverage.
You can get your Eligibility ID and confirm your enrollment at: members.legalplans.com.
A Policy Number or Confirmation Number is not sufficient to confirm coverage.
If you lose coverage, we have 180 days (6 months) to complete service after your termination date.
Get Started
Ready to Protect Your Family's Future?
Once you have completed and returned the Intake Form (PDF) or the Online Intake Form, I will prepare a draft of an Estate Plan for your review, and schedule a no-cost, no-obligation Zoom consultation with Christopher Mulvaney to discuss your estate planning needs. I will answer all of your questions — in a calm, confidential conversation about what matters most to your family.