Lynnwood Law Blog

When someone passes away, friends and family members of the deceased often experience heavy emotions. On top of the loss, there are a number of important matters that must be handled. The estate executor, sometimes referred to as the estate administrator, is responsible for making sure these matters are resolved. In some cases, the deceased will name an executor in the last will and testament.  If the deceased did not appoint one, however, the state may appoint someone to carry out those duties.

Upon a person’s passing, the estate administrator is the person that will receive critical documents, including the will and death certificate. The executor should then contact creditors and insurance companies to inform them of the death. This will allow the administrator to collect life insurance policies and any other money owed to the estate. If the estate must go through the probate process, the estate administrator must oversee the procedures. In addition, all property and assets belonging to the estate must be gathered and appraised. Any remaining taxes and debts are then taken out of the estate’s value. During the probate process, the executor must ensure that all of the property and assets are protected from theft or vandalization.

There is nothing quite like having neighbors. Unless you are best friends with the people that live immediately around you, it will undoubtedly take time for you to get to know who lives in the homes next door and across the street from you in Seattle. At Riach Gese Jacobs PLLC, we have been actively involved in helping people to solve disputes that have occurred between themselves and their neighbors. 

While it is not uncommon for you to have a different opinion than another person, depending on that person's relationship with you, you may be careful about the way you go about voicing your disagreement. Neighbors, for one thing, can be a challenge in that both they and you are sharing a property line. There will most likely be situations where you cross each other's paths or are affected by each other's behavior. Understanding what it means to be a good neighbor and being proactive in your efforts to show grace and civility is critical to your ability to maintain a cordial relationship. 

One of the things that draws many people to the Pacific Northwest is the proliferation of greenery and trees. This is something people are willing to tolerate rainy Washington State weather for in many cases. However, while having beautiful trees line a neighborhood and back yard is often desired, a tree can quickly become a sore spot between neighbors. Limbs from a tree in one yard may cascade over to an adjacent yard and the roots can travel into a neighbor's yard or even plumbing.

Identifying the responsibility for matters involving trees is not always black-and-white, making it important to get proper legal advice before taking action. In general, however, homeowners should know that cleanup, such as raking leaves in the autumn, is always the responsibility of the person who owns the property on which the leaves fall according to San Francisco Gate.

You may prefer to limit your interactions with your Washington neighbors to a friendly wave. When neighbors cause water damage to your home, though, a wave typically will not fix the situation. It is important to know how you should handle these scenarios so you can get the damage fixed as peacefully as possible.

You may think your neighbors are responsible for damage caused by any water from their property. FindLaw says that people are typically liable for this damage only if changes they made to their yard caused more water to run into your yard. After your home or yard incurs water damage because of a neighbor's actions, it is a good idea to contact your homeowner's insurance company. Sometimes, though, this insurance may not cover all of the damage, or there may extra costs associated with the repairs, such as a hotel bill if you have had to vacate your home.